# Ghazan converts to Islam and reforms the Ilkhanate (June 1295)

URL: https://allhistories.com/mongolia/timeline/1295-ghazan-converts-to-islam-and-reforms-the-ilkhanate
Location: Tabriz, Iran
Themes: main-event

Mahmud Ghazan converted to Sunni Islam in June 1295, reportedly to secure military support from Nawruz, taking the Islamic name Mahmud. Wikipedia says he took the Ilkhanate's throne in October 1295 after defeating and executing Baydu, a figurehead put in power by nobles. The conversion took place before his accession. He standardised weights, measures and coinage, introduced a bi-metallic currency, ordered a new census and improved the yam postal system. He banned interest-bearing loans and exempted Christians from the jizya. He appointed Rashid al-Din as vizier from 1298 to 1318 and commissioned the Jami' al-Tawarikh. He defeated the Mamluks at Wadi al-Khazandar in December 1299 but suffered a decisive defeat at Marj al-Saffar in 1303. He died near Qazvin on 11 May 1304 and was succeeded by his brother Öljaitü. Thereafter the Ilkhanate's rulers ruled as Muslim kings while maintaining Mongol military institutions. At this point in the timeline (1295), Temür Khan (1294 – 1307) reigned as Yuan emperor and Great Khan, in a state seen as both a Mongol khanate and a Chinese dynasty.

## Why it matters
Ghazan's conversion turned the Ilkhanate into a Muslim state and set the pattern for other Mongol successor khanates.

Ruler at the Time: [Temür Khan (Chengzong)](https://allhistories.com/mongolia/rulers/temur-khan-chengzong)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Ghazan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghazan)
- [Wikipedia — Ilkhanate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilkhanate)
- [Wikipedia — Jami' al tawarikh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jami%27_al-tawarikh)