Aq Qoyunlu: Map & History
The Aq Qoyunlu or the White Sheep Turkomans was a Turkoman, culturally Persianate, Sunni Muslim tribal confederation.
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The Aq Qoyunlu or the White Sheep Turkomans was a Turkoman, culturally Persianate, Sunni Muslim tribal confederation. Founded in the Diyarbakir region by Qara Yuluk Uthman Beg, they ruled parts of present-day eastern Turkey from 1378 to 1508, and in their last decades also ruled Armenia, Azerbaijan, much of Iran, Iraq, and Oman where the ruler of Hormuz recognised Aq Qoyunlu suzerainty. The Aq Qoyunlu empire reached its zenith under Uzun Hasan. The ruling family was from the Bayandur clan of the Oghuz Turks.
Modern Countries Once Part of Aq Qoyunlu
At its mapped extent, Aq Qoyunlu covered territory in 6 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Iraq1440–1511 CE · nearly all
- Iran1440–1506 CE · most
- Armenia1468–1501 CE · most
- Azerbaijan1468–1501 CE · a small part
- Turkey1407–1511 CE · a small part
- Syria1415–1511 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Aq Qoyunlu's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Aq Qoyunlu in Depth
History
The name Aq Qoyunlu, literally meaning "those with white sheep", is first mentioned in late 14th century sources. They were likely so named because of the white sheep that was painted on their flags. It has been suggested that this name refers to old totemic symbols, but according to Rashid al-Din Hamadani, the Turks were forbidden to eat the flesh of their totem-animals, and so this is unlikely given the importance of mutton in the diet of pastoral nomads. Another hypothesis is that the name refers to the predominant color of their flocks.
According to chronicles from the Byzantine Empire, the Aq Qoyunlu are first attested in the district of Bayburt south of the Pontic Mountains from at least the 1340s.
Military
The military of the Aq Qoyunlu initially reflected their rather loose political structure. Decisions were taken by a council (kengač) of amirs and tribal chiefs (boy ḵānları), whose decision the sultan had to follow. A small army largely composed of tribal levies was in charge of securing pastoral lands, and essentially supported themselves through their own lands and booty. The sultan also possessed a force of personal guards (ḵawāṣṣ) provided by various nomadic groups.
Following their surprise victory over the Qara Qoyunlu confederation, many tribes previously under Qara Qoyunlu control joined the Aq Qoyunlu. The conquering armies of Uzun Hasan grew tremendously in size, probably exceeding 100,000 men.
Culture
Uzun Hassan funded the renovation of mosques in various major centers and smaller towns, and had commemorative inscriptions made to express his support of Islam. He renovated and decorated the South iwan of the courtyard of the Jameh Mosque of Isfahan, where he left a central dedicatory inscription in his name. Uzun Hassn decorated the entire surface of the South iwan with enamel tiles colored in cobalt blue.
Uzun Hassan also created the Uzun Hasan Mosque in his capital of Tabriz, a large and splendid mosque with two minarets, where Uzun Hasan and his son Yaqub were buried.
Contributions to religious architecture continued under the descendants of Uzun Hasan, as for the Kushk Gate in Isfahan, commissioned under Rustam Beg, son of Uzun Hasan (r.1493-1496).
Legacy
Despite their rivalry, the Safavids formed in a certain sense the posterity of the Aq Qoyunlu, as shown by the extent of their marital connections: Junaid, hereditary leader of the Safavid order and grandfather of the future founder of the Safavid Empire Shah Ismail, married an Aq Qoyunlu princess (Uzun Hassan's sister, Khadija Khatun). Their son Haydar Safavi also married a daughter of Uzun Hasan, Alamshah Halime Begum, a union out of which was born Shah Ismail.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Aq Qoyunlu (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Aq Qoyunlu: Key Facts
| Capitals | Diyarbakır, Tabriz, Baghdad |
|---|---|
| Official language | Persian |
| Form of government | monarchy, absolutism |
| Currency | Tenge |
| Founded | 1378 |
| Dissolved | 1508 |
Facts from Wikidata Q555994 (CC0).
Aq Qoyunlu Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Aq Qoyunlu appears, with the other states of the time.
Aq Qoyunlu Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 1,701,512 km² in 1488 CE.
Aq Qoyunlu: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Aq Qoyunlu exist?
Aq Qoyunlu is dated to 1407 CE – 1511 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Aq Qoyunlu?
The capital of Aq Qoyunlu was Tabriz.
How large was Aq Qoyunlu at its peak?
At its peak in 1488 AD Aq Qoyunlu covered about 1,701,512 km².
Other Sovereign Realms
High & Late Middle Ages • Capital: Avarga
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Söğüt, Bursa, Edirne, Constantinople
High & Late Middle Ages • Capital: Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore, Delhi