A Revised History of Mongol, Kart, and Timurid Patronage of the Shrine of Shaykh Al-Islam Ahmad-I Jam

Abstract

This article proposes revisions to scholarly perspectives on patronage of the shrine at Turbat-i Jam. Firstly, the chronology established by Lisa Golombek in Iran IX (1971) is materially amended. Secondly, it is argued that a gunbad attributed to a minor Ghurid ruler could have been funded by other parties. Thirdly, it demonstrates that patronage by the Kart kings (maliks) of Herat (r. 1245–1381) came primarily from Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad Kart (r 707–29/1307–29), and that patronage was virtually eliminated by his son, Mu˓izz al-Din Muhammad Kart (r. 732–71/1332–70), who was estranged from his affines at Turbat-i Jam, several of whom had participated in a failed coup against the malik. Fourthly, the paper shows that Shah Rukh patronised Ahmad's shrine through waqf endowments, thus weakening the argument that he had disallowed “minor semi-independent ‘amirates’” that could threaten Herat's authority.