# Ilkhan Ghazan converts to Islam (1295)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/1295-ilkhan-ghazan-converts-to-islam
Location: Ilkhanate (Persia)
Themes: Politics

Ghazan, Mongol ruler of Persia, embraces Islam when he takes the throne. The Ilkhanate, where Church of the East Christians had enjoyed Mongol favour, becomes a Muslim state, and attacks on churches and Christians follow. At this point in the timeline (1295), the Bishop of Rome was Pope Boniface VIII (24 December 1294 – 11 October 1303).

## Why it matters
It closed the brief window in which the Mongol rulers of the Middle East might have favoured Christianity.

Pope at the time: [Pope Boniface VIII](https://christianity-history.com/popes/pope-boniface-viii)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Ghazan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghazan)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Ilkhan Ghazan converts to Islam](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Ilkhan+Ghazan+converts+to+Islam)
- [Wikipedia — Medieval Church (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Catholic_Church#Middle_Ages)