Fakhr aI-Din Isa ibn Ibrahim

Fakhr al-Din Isa ibn Ibrahim al-Nasrani ("the Christian") (died 1303) was an Arab Christian who was a governor of the city of Mosul for the Mongol Ilkhanid ruler Ghazan Khan (r. 1295-1304).^[1] He was a bibliophile and was famous for his cultural activity, welcomed men of letters and poets at his residence.^[1]^[2]

He may have converted to Islam.^[3]

He was likely depicted in a frontispiece of Bal'ami's Persian version of Tabari's Universal History (F1957.16), enthroned and holding a hawk in his hand, a symbol of Mongol authority.^[1]

He was executed by Ghazan in 1303, following complaints of oppression and injustice by the inhabitants of Mosul.^[4]

References

1 2 3 Bloom, Jonathan M. (2006). Beyond the legacy of Genghis Khan. Leiden; Boston: Brill. p. 237. ISBN 978-9004150836. The frontal ruler bearing a hawk, a symbol of Mongol authority, in the Freer Bal'ami frontispiece may be Fakhr al-Din Isa ibn Ibrahim, an Arab Christian who governed the city of Mosul for Ghazan Khan (r. 1295-1304) and who welcomed men of letters, poets and other literati at his residence.
↑ Fitzherbert, Teresa (1 January 2006). "Religious Diversity Under Ilkhanid Rule C. 1300 as Reflected in the Freer Bal'amī". Beyond the Legacy of Genghis Khan. Brill. p. 404. doi:10.1163/9789047418573_027. ISBN 978-90-474-1857-3. For whom, then, might the Bal'ami have been designed? Ghazan's governor in Mosul was a known bibliophile named Fakhr al-Din 'lsa ibn Ibrahim. Stefano Carboni has suggested him as a possible patron, or at least recipient, for the British Library's Qazwini manuscript. For information on Fakhr al-Din 'lsa we have largely to thank Ibn al-Tiqtaqa, who composed for him a mirror for princes in thanks for hospitality while caught by bad weather in Mosul in 1302.
↑ Fitzherbert, Teresa (1 January 2006). "Religious Diversity Under Ilkhanid Rule C. 1300 as Reflected in the Freer Bal'amī". Beyond the Legacy of Genghis Khan. Brill. p. 405. doi:10.1163/9789047418573_027. ISBN 978-90-474-1857-3.
↑ Fitzherbert, Teresa (1 January 2006). "Religious Diversity Under Ilkhanid Rule C. 1300 as Reflected in the Freer Bal'amī". Beyond the Legacy of Genghis Khan. Brill. pp. 404–405. doi:10.1163/9789047418573_027. ISBN 978-90-474-1857-3. Rashid aI-Din describes the demise of Ghazan's governor in the spring of 1303, roughly a year after Ibn al-Tiqtaqa's visit: " ... the people of Mosul raised their cries for help to the seventh heaven against the hand of oppression and injustice of Fakhr-i Isa al-Nasrani, Fakhr-i Isa the Christian ... " He goes on to describe how Ghazan tricked him into thinking he was confirming his governorship of Mosul, but had him killed after a few days.

[JB-1] 1 2 3 Bloom, Jonathan M. (2006). Beyond the legacy of Genghis Khan. Leiden; Boston: Brill. p. 237. ISBN 978-9004150836. The frontal ruler bearing a hawk, a symbol of Mongol authority, in the Freer Bal'ami frontispiece may be Fakhr al-Din Isa ibn Ibrahim, an Arab Christian who governed the city of Mosul for Ghazan Khan (r. 1295-1304) and who welcomed men of letters, poets and other literati at his residence.

[2] Fitzherbert, Teresa (1 January 2006). "Religious Diversity Under Ilkhanid Rule C. 1300 as Reflected in the Freer Bal'amī". Beyond the Legacy of Genghis Khan. Brill. p. 404. doi:10.1163/9789047418573_027. ISBN 978-90-474-1857-3. For whom, then, might the Bal'ami have been designed? Ghazan's governor in Mosul was a known bibliophile named Fakhr al-Din 'lsa ibn Ibrahim. Stefano Carboni has suggested him as a possible patron, or at least recipient, for the British Library's Qazwini manuscript. For information on Fakhr al-Din 'lsa we have largely to thank Ibn al-Tiqtaqa, who composed for him a mirror for princes in thanks for hospitality while caught by bad weather in Mosul in 1302.

[3] Fitzherbert, Teresa (1 January 2006). "Religious Diversity Under Ilkhanid Rule C. 1300 as Reflected in the Freer Bal'amī". Beyond the Legacy of Genghis Khan. Brill. p. 405. doi:10.1163/9789047418573_027. ISBN 978-90-474-1857-3.

[4] Fitzherbert, Teresa (1 January 2006). "Religious Diversity Under Ilkhanid Rule C. 1300 as Reflected in the Freer Bal'amī". Beyond the Legacy of Genghis Khan. Brill. pp. 404–405. doi:10.1163/9789047418573_027. ISBN 978-90-474-1857-3. Rashid aI-Din describes the demise of Ghazan's governor in the spring of 1303, roughly a year after Ibn al-Tiqtaqa's visit: " ... the people of Mosul raised their cries for help to the seventh heaven against the hand of oppression and injustice of Fakhr-i Isa al-Nasrani, Fakhr-i Isa the Christian ... " He goes on to describe how Ghazan tricked him into thinking he was confirming his governorship of Mosul, but had him killed after a few days.

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