Ахмад Алақ: Шығыс Моғолстан ханы (1487-1504)

Khan of Eastern Moghulistan from 1487 to 1504

Ahmad Alaq (1465 – 1504 winter) was the Khan of Eastern Moghulistan (Turpan Khanate) from 1487 to 1504. He was the second son of Yunus Khan. His mother was Shah Begum, fourth daughter of Badakhshan prince Lali. Ahmad Alaq was a direct male line descendant of Genghis Khan, through his son Chagatai Khan.

During his father's lifetime Ahmad was behind several rebellions against him. When Yunus Khan took up residence in Tashkent in 1484, Ahmad and a large body of Moghuls fled to the steppes. In 1487, Ahmad's father died and was succeeded in the territory he still controlled by another son, Mahmud Khan. Ahmad's reign was marked by conflicts with several of his neighbors. Conflict in the Ming Turpan Border Wars over Hami with the Ming Dynasty China resulted in an economic blockade of the region, which allowed the Chinese to eventually emerge victorious. A campaign against the Mirza Abu Bakr Dughlat, of the Dughlats of the South West Tarim Basin, who were in theory vassals of the Moghul khans, resulted in the temporary acquisition of Kashgar in around 1499. In the same year he concluded Peace Agreement with Ming China that gave him opportunity to launch three expeditions against the Kalmyks in Northern part of Moghulistan ( Jettisu ), who occupied this region since reign of Esen Taishi and his son Amasanji Taishi Ahmad twice completely defeated them. Because he slaughtered many Kalmyks during these expeditions he was nicknamed Alacha , i. e. Slaughterer. In the early 16th century, Ahmad and Mahmud decided to counter the growing power of the Uzbeks under Muhammad Shaybani. The two brothers united the forces and launched a campaign against the Uzbeks, but Muhammad Shaybani proved victorious in battle and took them both prisoner (Babur also was among his uncles' army and participated in this battle in Ferghana Valley, that had turned into disaster, but managed to flee south and hide in mountains with his mother, Kutluk Nigar Khanum, daughter of Yunus Khan, and few followers). They were soon released, but Ahmad died shortly afterwards, in 1504. He was succeeded in Uyghurstan by his eldest son Mansur Khan.