Ubaidullah Khan’s father Mahmud Sultan was a murid (follower) of the spiritual leader of the Sufi Tariqa Naqshbandi Ubaidullah Shashi (better known as Khoja Ahrar). He was able to transform the order from an organization of dervishes into a powerful political force that ruled Transoxiana under the Timurids and Sheibanids as viziers under the Ottoman sultans.
Mahmoud named his only son after the saint.
In addition to the name, he gave his son the Bukhara vilayet, which he conquered with his saber. Ubaidullah became his sultan at the age of 17, after the death of his father.
Unlike most of his relatives, who grew up among a nomadic lifestyle and barely knew how to read and write, Ubaidullah was literate, spoke Persian and had a penchant for versification. He was well versed in Islamic theology and the history of the surrounding Uzbek peoples.
These abilities set him apart from other princes and Mohammed Sheibani appreciated him. He confirmed him on the throne of Bukhara and provided him with all possible support.
Muhammad Sheibani (1451 — December 2, 1510) was an Uzbek khan, the founder of the Sheibanid dynasty and khan of the Bukhara Khanate. The son of Shah Budag Sultan, grandson of the ruler and founder of the state of nomadic Uzbeks Abulkhair Khan (1428-1468). Genghisid, a descendant of Khan Shiban, the third son of Jochi — Wikipedia
After the death of Sheibani Khan in 1510, the Sheibanid federal state almost fell under the rule of the Kyzylbash. Ubaidullah Khan made a deal with them and recognized their authority over Khorasan. It was the right move, which did not find support from other Sheibanids. His uncles Suyunchodja and Kuchkunji and their son Abu Said Khan tried to revive the empire of Timur (they were descendants of Tamerlane) and fought with the Kyzylbash for Khorasan to the last Uzbek.
Khorasan has long been under the cultural influence of the Persian civilization. The population of Khorasan did not want to take over the power of the Uzbek nomads. Ubaidullah understood this, and sought to limit the Uzbek statehood within the limits of the complimentary Transoxiana.
But as long as the elders were alive, and Ubaidullah himself was considered a renegade (in a nomadic environment, this is very insulting), he could do nothing. Therefore, he focused on his Bukhara possession, which he was able to formalize under Muhammad Sheibani as hereditary — that is, he became a khan with the right to transfer power.
Despite his rather low authority among the nomads, Ubaidullah was able to gain respect from the Sufis, the local Tajik population, and most importantly, by establishing diplomatic relations with the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman ambassadors began to appear at his court, who brought him weapons, craftsmen and military men (including gunners). In turn, Ubaidullah Khan implicitly recognized the authority of the Ottoman Sultan as a Sunni Caliph.
Ubaidullah was not a brilliant commander, but he understood well that the Kyzylbashi and Uzbeks were only well-motivated Turkic cavalry. Such cavalry could be resisted by a modern army that had firearms and possessed tactical methods, and not just the ability to shoot down.
Portrait of an Uzbek warrior in the middle of the XVI century
When the Kyzylbash army invaded Transoxiana in 1512, it was Ubaidullah Khan who was able to present such an army. He had guns and firearms, and most importantly Turkish specialists who could use them. Therefore, he became the commander-in-chief of the united Uzbek army.
In the battle of Gijduvan, Ubaidullah Khan led the shooters to the center and they held off the onslaught of the Kyzylbash. Meanwhile, selected Uzbek troops bypassed the Kyzylbash and hit them in the rear. The Kyzylbashi were completely defeated and their dreams of conquering Transoxiana were put to an end for a long time.
After the Battle of Gijduvan, Ubaidullah Khan’s authority grew much and he was able to rule calmly in his Bukhara Khanate, becoming a virtually independent ruler. It was only in 1533, at the age of 45, that he legally became the Supreme Khan of the Sheibanid State. At the same time, his elevation to the khan’s throne was held in Bukhara, which henceforth became the capital of the state.
The affairs of the khanate, according to ancient custom, were handed over to the eldest sultan, who was Kuchum Sultan. His heir was Suyunjik Sultan, but he died before Kuchum Khan; then Janibek Sultan became his heir, but he also followed Suyunjik Sultan. After him, they were followed by Kuchum Khan. The khanate was ruled by Abu Sa’id, the son of Kuchum Khan. When he also vacated the throne of the khanate, Ubaydallah Khan took his place. Although he was in charge of all the affairs of the Shaibanids until the end of the reign of the above-mentioned khans, and if he had assumed the title of khan, then, in all conscience, no one would have opposed him, however, following the ancient custom, he transferred the khanate to the one who was older. This continued until after Abu Saeed Khan there was no one who was older than Ubaydallah Khan. He sat on the Khan’s throne and refreshed the sense of smell of the world with marshmallows of justice and kindness — MIRZA MUHAMMAD HAIDAR->TARIKH-I RASHIDI->PUBLICATION 1996->BOOK 2. CHAPTERS 35-44
After becoming the supreme khan, Ubaidullah Khan continued the struggle against the Kyzylbash. Usually his actions are interpreted as an attempt to return Khorasan. But he made only predatory trips there, not trying to gain a foothold. His main goal was to fight jointly with the Ottoman sultans against the Kyzylbash as representatives of Shiism alien to Sunnis.
Ubaidullah Khan happily ruled the Sheibanid state for seven years, neutralizing all separatist manifestations of the tribal Uzbek leaders during his reign. At the same time, he relied on the local Tajik population and the Sunni clergy, for which he was nicknamed Muizz al-din, which means «glorifying the faith.»
In his foreign policy, his priority was the recognition of the Sheibanid state within its borders by his neighbors. His ambassadors even visited the court of the Emperor of Minsk. Therefore, the main merit of Ubaidullah is the historical borders of Central Asia within modern limits, recognized precisely during his reign.