Ahmad Fanakati
Ahmad Fanākatī or Banākatī (Persian: احمد فناکتی / احمد بناکتی; before 1242 - 1282) was a PersianMuslim from Qara Khitai who was finance minister of Kublai Khan's Yuan dynasty. He became known as a chief administer under Kublai and is credited with successfully establishing the financial system of the Mongols. He was considered to be a "villainous minister" in dynastic histories because of his perceived corruption.
Life & Career
Ahmad Fanākatī came from Fanākat (or Banākat), a town on the upper Syr Darya in Central Asia, under the rule of the Qara Khitai until they were conquered by the Mongol Empire.
Ahmad obtained employment under Kublai through Empress Jamui Khatun, who had known him before her marriage. To her court he was originally attached but we find him already in high financial office in 1264.
Trusted by Chabi Khatun, Kublai's favorite wife, Ahmad was entrusted with state finances in 1262. He was successful in managing the financial affairs of Northern China and brought huge tax revenues to Kublai's new government.