Kart

The Kart dynasty was a Sunni Muslim family of Tajik origin, related to the Ghurids, that ruled much of Khorasan from Herat. Its founder Shams-uddin Muhammad established its power in 1245 as a vassal of the Mongols. He was poisoned at Abaqa's court in 1278; Fakhr-uddin defeated an Ilkhanid army in 1306 before Herat submitted to Öljeitü.

When the Ilkhanate fragmented after 1335, Mu'izz-uddin Husayn built an independent principality, defeated the Sarbadars at the Battle of Zava in 1342, dropped his tribute and ruled as sultan from 1349. Herat was sacked by the Chagatai amir Qazaghan around 1358, but the dynasty survived.

Herat fell to Timur in 1381. The last ruler Ghiyas-uddin Pir Ali was executed after a revolt in 1383, and the remaining Karts were massacred at a banquet by Timur's son Miran Shah in 1396.