Elkas Mirza

Abu'l Ghazi Sultan Alqas Mirza , better known as Alqas Mirza ( or Elkaz Mirza; 15 March 1516 – 9 April 1550), was a Safavid prince and the second surviving son of king (shah) Ismail I (r. 1501–1524). In early 1546, with Ottoman help, he staged a revolt against his brother Tahmasp I (r. 1524–1576), who was king at the time.

Early life Alqas Mirza was born on 15 March 1516 (10 Safar 922 AH) in a winter camp near Tabriz as Shah Ismail's third son. According to a source, his name was a word play on Qisas (retaliation) referring to a desire to beat Ottomans back after Battle of Chaldiran. According to Tāriḵ-e Rawżat al-ṣafā-ye nāṣeri by Reza-Qoli Khan Hedayat, he was born as soon as the news of Selim I's death reached Safavid realm. His mother was Khanbegi khanum Mawsillu, of the Aq Qoyunlu tribe of the Mawsillu, daughter of Sufi Khalil Beg Mawsillu.

His military career started as early as in 1528, participating in Battle of Jam (near Zurabad) against Uzbeks. At the age of 16, he was trusted with the governorship of Astarabad by his brother Tahmasp with Badr Khan Ustajlu as his lala. He was tasked with raising army against his former foe Uzbeks while Tahmasp was fighting Ottomans in west. Later he was sent to conquer Rustamdar province. In 1534-1536, he joined Tahmasp in the fight against Suleiman the Magnificent.

Conquest of Shirvan Shirvan was in chaos following the death of Khalilullah II in 1535. The Shirvanese nobles brought Shahrukh, his nephew from Gazikumukh Shamkhalate and enthroned him, instead of Khalilullah's half-Safavid son Burhan Ali. This triggered Qalandar revolt, whose leader claimed to be Khalilullah's brother Muhammad and marched on Shahrukh. According to Khurshah ibn Qubad, queen-dowager Parikhan Khanum approved the revolt and sent envoys to Tahmasp, inviting him to invade the country. Although Qalandar was eventually defeated by support from Shamkhalate forces near Salyan and was killed, this was enough excuse for Safavid forces to intervene to "quell disarray". Safavid historian Iskander beg Munshi writing a century later, legitimized Safavid incursion into Shirvan emirs oppressing people and using Shahrukh as a puppet. However, there is some evidence, according to Martin Dickson, Tahmasp already planned to take Shirvan in 1532, which was stalled due to Uzbek invasion.

As a result, in March 1538 Tahmasp I ordered Alqas to move against Shirvan together with his regent Badr Khan, his father-in-law Mantasha Soltan Ustajlu, Sevindik beg Afshar, Yaqub Soltan Qajar, Qara Vali Arapgirlu, Mirza Mohammad Talysh and other emirs. After crossing Kura river with 300 men-strong garrison and 20,000 soldiers and occupying Surkhab (near modern Ərəb, Agdash) and Qabala castles (near modern Çuxur Qəbələ) and moved on to besiege Gulustan Fortress which was being defended by Nimatullah beg. Shahrukh himself was defended in Bughurt Fortress with his wakil Huseyn bey. Siege of the fortress lasted four months. Tahmasp subsequently ordered the Bughurt Fortress to be demolished on 19 October and appointed Alqas as first beylerbey of Shirvan, ending 677-year-long independent state of Shirvanshahs.

However, conquest of Shirvan was not complete yet, as Baku and Shaki were still resisting. The latter joined as a vassal state following marriage of Darvish Muhammad Khan to queen-dowager Parikhan Khanum in 1539. Conquest of Baku was entrusted to Ghazi Khan Takalu, who recently deserted from Ottomans and received Salyan, Mahmudabad (near modern Əminli) and Baku as fiefdoms around November 1540.

Rule in Shirvan Following recall of Badr Khan Ustajlu, Ghazi Khan became new lala of Alqas in 1540/41 following capture of Baku in winter. Ghazi being an adversary of Ustajlu tribe disrupted the balance between tribes and constrained the prince's autonomy. To make matters worse, his brother Ali beg Takalu was appointed as custodian of Ardabil Shrine. However, Ghazi soon started to show rebellious tendencies. Following an order from Tahmasp, Alqas executed Ghazi and his brother Mustafa beg in 1544/45. and demanded execution of Alqas' Shirvanian vizier Sayyid Mir Azizullah Shirvani. Alqas refused to carry out order, claiming that he couldn't shed blood of a sayyid. Brothers tentatively reconciled however, following an intermediation by Alqas' mother and son in May–June 1546.

Legacy Sadiqi Beg describes him as having a poetic temperament. Alqas's interest in the visual arts is evidenced by two illuminated manuscripts likely completed for him in Shirvan. His major cultural contributions went to the Ottomans, with his gift of royal Safavid treasures remaining in Topkapi Palace, influencing palace artisans. In Constantinople, he left his nishanji, Fethullah Arif who authored Shahnama-yi Al-i Osman, as well as his court librarian Aflatun Shirvani.