Kermanians were Stable against the Mongols, Clash of wisdom and sword

Document Type : Original Research

Author
Jamshid Roosta
Associate Professor, Department of History, Faculty of Literature and Social Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman.
10.48311/jhs.2025.104760.0
Abstract
Examining some recent research and even some second-hand historical sources brings to mind the idea that the people of Kerman (including rulers, statesmen, and the general population) willingly obeyed the Mongols without any political efforts or resistance, completely surrendering to them. The purpose of this article is to challenge this simplistic assumption by using the method of historical research with an analytical approach to answer the question: What was the approach of the Kermanians toward the Mongols of Genghis Khan, supported by historical reasons and evidence? What consequences and results did it have for Kerman?The findings of the research show that, firstly, the rulers and statesmen of Kerman, at the time of the Mongol invasions, considering their knowledge of the Mongols' brutality and severity, cleverly tried to follow Mongol customs to prevent the destruction of Kerman. Secondly, the statesmen of Kerman tried as much as possible to prevent the Mongols from entering Kerman and used methods such as sending hostages to the Mongol court, political marriages, and even paying taxes to maintain the political and social security of Kerman, thereby enabling economic prosperity. Although the Mongols eventually conquered Kerman during Uljaito's patriarchal period, the Kermanians resisted the Mongols for nearly a century using the same approach. They not only prevented the destruction of their land but also experienced an era of economic prosperity and cultural growth—an era whose peak coincided with the rule of Tarkan Khatun Kara Khitai. In general, the Kermanians can be considered victors in their confrontation with the Mongols.

Keywords

Subjects

historical sociology
Volume 16, Issue 2
October 2025