Kavus () or Kawus or sometimes Keykavus II was the 32nd ruler of

Shirvan Shirvan (from ; ; Tat: ''Şirvan'') is a historical region in the eastern Caucasus, as known in both pre-Islamic Sasanian and Islamic times. Today, the region is an industrially and agriculturally developed part of the Republic of Azerbaijan ...

. He was a son of Kayqubad and older brother of Sultan Muhammad.

Co-reign

According to

Abd al-Razzaq Samarqandi Abd-al-Razzāq Samarqandī (, ''Kamal-ud-Din Abd-ur-Razzaq ibn Ishaq Samarqandi''; 7 November 1413 – August 1482) was a Persian Timurid chronicler and Islamic scholar. He was for a while the ambassador of Shah Rukh, the Timurid dynasty ruler o ...

, he was styled as "''Lord of Shamakhi and Shirvan''" in youth. Abdulkarim Alizadeh argued that probably he was already ruling in name of his father in 1348, due to Kayqubad's advanced age. He sought to gain strong alliance with

Chupanid The Chobanids or the Chupanids () were descendants of a Mongol family of the Suldus clan that came to prominence in 14th century Persia. At first serving under the Ilkhans, they took '' de facto'' control of the territory after the fall of the Il ...

Malek Ashraf Malek Ashraf (), (–1357) was a Chupanid ruler of northwestern Iran during the 14th century. He was the last of the Chupanids to possess a significant influence within Ilkhanate. His regnal name was Giyas al-Din Shah Malek Ashraf (). Early year ...

, as he travelled to his court and submitted to him. However, Malek Ashraf then unexpectedly killed a nobleman named amir Haji Shahriman and his son in

Karabakh Karabakh ( ; ) is a geographic region in southwestern Azerbaijan and eastern Armenia, extending from the highlands of the Lesser Caucasus down to the lowlands between the rivers Kura and Aras. It is divided into three regions: Highland Kara ...

. Kavus was horrified and immediately returned to Shirvan. Soon, Malek Ashraf sent his envoys Khwaja Abdulhay and Akhijuq Malik to Shirvan and to express his desire to marry a daughter of Kayqubad. Kavus denied the demand, and frustrated because of denial, Malek marched on Shirvan but was repelled and forced to make peace. He attacked Shirvan once again in the winter of 1347, but Kavus and his father took shelter in the well guarded castles of Shirvan. After this invasion, sources do not mention Kayqubad, and he probably died of old age between 1348 and 1356.

Sole reign

After death of his father he forged an alliance with

Golden Horde The Golden Horde, self-designated as ''Ulug Ulus'' ( in Turkic) was originally a Mongols, Mongol and later Turkicized khanate established in the 13th century and originating as the northwestern sector of the Mongol Empire. With the division of ...

khan

Jani Beg Jani Beg ( Persian: جانی بیگ, Turki/ Kypchak: جانی بک; died 1357), also known as Janibek Khan, was Khan of the Golden Horde from 1342 until his death in 1357. He succeeded his father Öz Beg Khan. Reign With the support of his mo ...

and invited him to Azerbaijan. Aided by

Shirvanshahs The Shirvanshahs (Arabic/) were the rulers of Shirvan (in present-day Azerbaijan) from 861 to 1538. The first ruling line were the Yazidids, an originally Arab and later Persianized dynasty, who became known as the Kasranids (also referred t ...

, the Golden Horde army captured

Tabriz Tabriz (; ) is a city in the Central District (Tabriz County), Central District of Tabriz County, in the East Azerbaijan province, East Azerbaijan province of northwestern Iran. It serves as capital of the province, the county, and the distric ...

was executed by Jani Beg. However, Jani Beg died soon and Golden Horde army left Caucasus, leaving a power vacuum behind. A successor of Malek, Akhi Juq started to oppress former Chopanid officials, who in turn fled to Shirvan. Kavus sent his troops under his son Nodar to fight. First battle took place in Mughan in 1357. Following the battle, Kavus himself led his army to Karabakh and invaded Akhi's domains. Second battle took place on the shores of Aras river, after which sides made peace.

Relations with Jalayirids

His relationship with Shaykh Uways was complicated, as he had submitted to him at first, but rebelled later. Jalayir campaigned against him 1363 but a revolt begun by the governor of

Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...

, Khwaja Mirjan, forced him to return to reassert his authority. Kavus, using the opportunity captured

twice. Uways, in response, sent his favourite emir Bayram Beg, who besieged

Shamakhi Shamakhi (, ) is a city in Azerbaijan and the administrative centre of the Shamakhi District. The city's estimated population was 31,704. It is famous for its traditional dancers, the Shamakhi Dancers, and also for perhaps giving its name to th ...

for 3 months after which Kavus was jailed for another 3 months. He was pardoned and accepted to become Jalayirid vassal with his son

Hushang Hushang (; ), also spelled Hōshang, is an early hero-king in Iranian mythology. He is known from Avestan, Middle Persian, and Sasanian-based Persian and Arabic sources. He appears to have been one of several 'first man/king' figures in different ...

being Uways' hostage until 1372.

Death and legacy

He was a patron of the arts and science.

Arif Ardabili Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Arif Ardabili () was a 14th-century poet who is principally known for composing the Persian poem ''Farhadnama'' between 1369 and 1372. Life Not much information survives about him. He was born in city of Ardabil, in 1311. ...

, a poet from

Ardabil Ardabil (, ) is a city in northwestern Iran. It is in the Central District (Ardabil County), Central District of Ardabil County, Ardabil province, Ardabil province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. The ...

, lived in his palace and was a tutor for next

Shirvanshah Hushang Hushang () was the Shirvanshah from 1372/73 to 1382. Life He was the son and successor of Kavus, under whom the Shirvanshah kingdom came under the rule of the Jalayirid Sultanate (1335–1432). Hushang himself was brought up in court of Shaykh ...

. Kavus died in 1372 of natural causes.

References

Sources

* * 1372 deaths Year of birth unknown 14th-century Iranian people {{Iran-royal-stub