NOTE 1.—­KAIKHATU, of whom we heard in the Prologue (vol. i. p. 35), was the brother, not the uncle, of Arghun.  On the death of the latter there were three claimants, viz., his son Ghazan, his brother Kaikhatu, and his cousin Baidu, the son of Tarakai, one of Hulaku’s sons.  The party of Kaikhatu was strongest, and he was raised to the throne at Akhlath, 23rd July 1291.  He took as wives out of the Royal Tents of Arghun the Ladies Bulughan (the 2nd, not her named in the Prologue) and Uruk.  All the writers speak of Kaikhatu’s character in the same way.  Hayton calls him “a man without law or faith, of no valour or experience in arms, but altogether given up to lechery and vice, living like a brute beast, glutting all his disordered appetites; for his dissolute life hated by his own people, and lightly regarded by foreigners.” (Ram. II. ch. xxiv.) The continuator of Abulfaraj, and Abulfeda in his Annals, speak in like terms. (Assem. III.  Pt. 2nd, 119-120; Reiske, Ann.  Abulf. III. 101.)

Baidu rose against him; most of his chiefs abandoned him, and he was put to death in March-April, 1295.  He reigned therefore nearly four years, not two as the text says.

[1] Frer carnaus (I. p. 187).

CHAPTER XIX.

HOW BAIDU SEIZED THE SOVEREIGNTY AFTER THE DEATH OF KIACATU.

When Kiacatu was dead, BAIDU, who was his uncle, and was a Christian, seized the throne.[NOTE 1] This was in the year 1294 of Christ’s Incarnation.  So Baidu held the government, and all obeyed him, except only those who were with Casan.

And when Casan heard that Kiacatu was dead, and Baidu had seized the throne, he was in great vexation, especially as he had not been able to take his vengeance on Kiacatu.  As for Baidu, Casan swore that he would take such vengeance on him that all the world should speak thereof; and he said to himself that he would tarry no longer, but would go at once against Baidu and make an end of him.  So he addressed all his people, and then set out to get possession of his throne.

And when Baidu had intelligence thereof he assembled a great army and got ready, and marched ten days to meet him, and then pitched his camp, and awaited the advance of Casan to attack him; meanwhile addressing many prayers and exhortations to his own people.  He had not been halted two days when Casan with all his followers arrived.  And that very day a fierce battle began.  But Baidu was not fit to stand long against Casan, and all the less that soon after the action began many of his troops abandoned him and took sides with Casan.  Thus Baidu was discomfited and put to death, and Casan remained victor and master of all.  For as soon as he had won the battle and put Baidu to death, he proceeded to the capital and took possession of the government; and all the Barons performed homage and obeyed him as their liege lord.  Casan began to reign in the year 1294 of the Incarnation of Christ.