Vali Muhammad Khan

Vali Muhammad Khan as depicted in the Chehel Sotoun in Isfahan, Iran

Valī Muḥammad Khān (Chagatai and Persian: ولی محمد خان) the son of jani bek was a leader of the Ashtarkhanid (Toqay-Timurid, Janid) dynasty in the Khanate of Bukhara from 1605–1611 AD.[1]

He became leader after the death of his brother, Baqi Muhammad Khan, but was opposed by Imam Quli Khan.

In the struggle for power, the political elite of Bukhara supported Wali Mohammad, an older member of the Toqay-Timurid family, who was the governor in Balkh and Badakhshan. [2]

Vali Muhammad Khan was not the popular choice to become leader and Imam Quli Khan enlisted support of many people, especially merchants and landlords. Upon hearing of a well organised assassination attempt, Vali Muhammad Khan fled the area and headed to the palace of Shah Abbas I to try and garner support. Abbas obliged the Khan, and gave him an army and sent him back to Bukhara, but the attempting at crushing the insurgency failed and Vali Muhammad Khan died. He was succeeded by Imam Quli Khan.

  1. ^ "Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica".
  2. ^ Robert D. McChesney. Central Asia vi. In the 16th-18th Centuries // Encyclopædia Iranica — Vol. V, Fasc. 2, pp. 176−193