Il-Khans

After Ghinghis died, his successors divided the captured territory between themselves. The Great Khan Ogodei (Oktai Ghaa-aan) got the mainland Mongolia and China, Batu Nevian, Ghenghis’ grandson, got Russia, and Hologu (Holaaku Khan), other grandson of Ghenghis, got Iran. Hologu named his dynasty “Il-Khan”(1256). During the reign of Hologu and his son Abaqa, Iran was still officially a part of Mongol Empire and under the power of Great Khan, first Ogodei, then Manguk. But when Hologu’s brother, Qubilei, became the Great Khan, he gave Il-Kahns their independence.

Geikhatu(1291-1295), Abaqa's successor, was the first independent Il-Khan. During his reign, the country became bankrupt. Geikhatu’s advisers told him to publish the “paper money”, and he did, but people did not accept that. This first use of paper money failed in the east, but hundred of years later showed the world that this is the way to do business.

After Geikhatu, Arghoon and then Ghazan became Il-Khans. Ghazan was the first khan to accept Islam as his religion. Geikhatu and Arghoon were both Christians. After Ghazan came Sultan Mohammad Khodaabandeh, El-Jaito(1304-1316). El-Jaito was a Shi’it muslim, the first one to rule Iran after the death of Samaa’al Doleh Deilami (see chapter II). After him came Abusaid Bahador Khan(1316-1333). He was a very weak ruler, thus during his reign, the power shifted to his Army Commander in Chief, Amir Choopan. He forced Abusaid to marry his daughter and after awhile, he deposed him and declared the end of Il-Khans. Still, after Abusaid's death, several of his reletives gained the power for a short while, until the Il-Khans broke up completely in 1343, after the death of Suleyman.

After Il-Khans, several of their subjects began new dynasties. The most famouse one of them are: Choopanian (Amir Choopan’s descendants), and Jalaayerian (1336-1411,descendants of Hassan the Great, one of Abusaid’s Army Commanders).