Arghun Aqa
13th century Mongol noble
Arghun Agha, also Arghun Aqa or Arghun the Elder (Persian: ارغون آقا; Mongolian: ᠠᠷᠭᠤᠨ; fl. 1220 - 1275) was a Mongol noble of the Oirat clan in the 13th century. He was a governor in the Mongol-controlled area of Persia from 1243 to 1255, before the Ilkhanate was created by Hulagu. Arghun Agha was in control of the four districts of eastern and central Persia, as decreed by the great khan Möngke Khan.
Early life
According to Rashid al-Din, when he was young, his father sold his son Arghun to Qadan of the Jalayir, tutor of Ögedei who passed him to his son Ilüge, while according to Juvayni his father was a mingghan commander. During his years with the Ogedeyid family, he gained reputation among the members of the ruling blood because he was well educated and versed in Old Uyghur language. Arghun started his career as bitikchi (secretary) during the reign of Ögedei. Later on, the latter's consort, Toregene Khatun, appointed him as then governor of Transoxiana - Korguz's basqaq and ultimately overall civil governor after Korguz's execution in c. 1242.
Career
He was appointed to oversee vast lands from Oxus to Anatolia with Sharaf al-Din Khwarazmi as his secretary, whom he had a distaste in. His position was reaffirmed by Güyük Khan in 1246. Ascelin of Lombardia might have met him while he was at the court of Baiju in c. 1247.
“Arghun Aqa” enters the record as 13th century Mongol noble. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Arghun, 13th and century can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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