Battle of Otlukbeli
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Otlukbeli or Otluk Beli was a battle between Ak Koyunlu
and the Ottoman Empire
that was fought on August 11, 1473.
resulted with the Fall of Constantinople
in 1453. Byzantine rulers
secured their rule in some areas after this event. One of these dominations was the Empire of Trebizond
. When Mehmed turned his face to East to clean the remnants of the Byzantine rule in 1461, he faced with another Central Asia
n originated power, the Ak Koyunlu, a tribe that were ruling huge lands in Eastern Anatolia.
Their leader, Uzun Hasan, was continuing the tradition of close relations between the Byzantine throne and his own kingdom so he supported the Empire of Trebizond and sent them military aid but his support wasn't enough to save Trebizond from the Ottoman forces. Mehmed II conquered all of the Eastern Black Sea region. Uzun Hasan decided to seek help from Christian powers because he thought that Ottomans would return for his own kingdom. Therefore, he decided to sign a treaty with the Republic of Venice
, the rival of the Ottoman Empire at that time.
In response to Uzun Hasans treaty with Venice
, The Ottoman
Sultan
Mehmet II first sent various Janissary
contingents, commanded by various figures including Radu cel Frumos
, these contingents guarded crucial garrisons and awaited the Ottoman onslaught on the Anatolian rebels.
Another reason of the tensions between Ak Koyunlu
and Ottomans was the political standing of anoter powerful Anatolian tribe, Karamanids. Kasım Bey, the ruler of Karamanids, was supporting the growing power of Uzun Hasan. These two powers were working in cooperation against the Ottoman advance in Anatolia. In 1471, a successful Ottoman operation against Karamanids reduced the power of the tribe. This gave courage to Mehmed II to move deeper into Anatolia.
had a traditional army that contains considerable amounts of light cavalries. On the other hand, Ottoman army was using the latest technology. They came with rifles and cannons. This difference between the natures of two armies marked the result of the battle. Ottoman side gained a decisive victory. Turcoman army was nearly destroyed in a single day.
in the East. Ak Koyunlu
would be destroyed completely by Shah Ismail
of Iran in later years. This victory of the Safavid Empire would create a new enemy for Ottoman Empire in the East. The race between two empires ended with the fall of the Safavid dynasty
from power in the 18th century.
Ak Koyunlu
The Aq Qoyunlu or Ak Koyunlu, also called the White Sheep Turkomans , was an Sunni Oghuz Turkic tribal federation that ruled parts of present-day Eastern Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, northern Iraq, and Iran from 1378 to 1508.-History:According to chronicles from the Byzantine Empire, the Aq Qoyunlu...
and the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
that was fought on August 11, 1473.
Reasons for the conflict
Mehmed II's aggressive military policy to capture the throne of the Roman CaesardomCaesar (title)
Caesar is a title of imperial character. It derives from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator...
resulted with the Fall of Constantinople
Fall of Constantinople
The Fall of Constantinople was the capture of the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which occurred after a siege by the Ottoman Empire, under the command of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, against the defending army commanded by Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI...
in 1453. Byzantine rulers
Palaiologos
Palaiologos , often latinized as Palaeologus, was a Byzantine Greek noble family, which produced the last ruling dynasty of the Byzantine Empire. After the Fourth Crusade, members of the family fled to the neighboring Empire of Nicaea, where Michael VIII Palaiologos became co-emperor in 1259,...
secured their rule in some areas after this event. One of these dominations was the Empire of Trebizond
Empire of Trebizond
The Empire of Trebizond, founded in April 1204, was one of three Byzantine successor states of the Byzantine Empire. However, the creation of the Empire of Trebizond was not directly related to the capture of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade, rather it had broken away from the Byzantine Empire...
. When Mehmed turned his face to East to clean the remnants of the Byzantine rule in 1461, he faced with another Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
n originated power, the Ak Koyunlu, a tribe that were ruling huge lands in Eastern Anatolia.
Their leader, Uzun Hasan, was continuing the tradition of close relations between the Byzantine throne and his own kingdom so he supported the Empire of Trebizond and sent them military aid but his support wasn't enough to save Trebizond from the Ottoman forces. Mehmed II conquered all of the Eastern Black Sea region. Uzun Hasan decided to seek help from Christian powers because he thought that Ottomans would return for his own kingdom. Therefore, he decided to sign a treaty with the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
, the rival of the Ottoman Empire at that time.
In response to Uzun Hasans treaty with Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, The Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
Mehmet II first sent various Janissary
Janissary
The Janissaries were infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultan's household troops and bodyguards...
contingents, commanded by various figures including Radu cel Frumos
Radu cel Frumos
Radu III the Fair, Radu III the Handsome or Radu III the Beautiful , also known by his Turkish name Radu Bey , was the younger brother of Vlad Ţepeş and voivode of the principality of Wallachia, of the four brothers he converted to Islam and entered Ottoman service...
, these contingents guarded crucial garrisons and awaited the Ottoman onslaught on the Anatolian rebels.
Another reason of the tensions between Ak Koyunlu
Ak Koyunlu
The Aq Qoyunlu or Ak Koyunlu, also called the White Sheep Turkomans , was an Sunni Oghuz Turkic tribal federation that ruled parts of present-day Eastern Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, northern Iraq, and Iran from 1378 to 1508.-History:According to chronicles from the Byzantine Empire, the Aq Qoyunlu...
and Ottomans was the political standing of anoter powerful Anatolian tribe, Karamanids. Kasım Bey, the ruler of Karamanids, was supporting the growing power of Uzun Hasan. These two powers were working in cooperation against the Ottoman advance in Anatolia. In 1471, a successful Ottoman operation against Karamanids reduced the power of the tribe. This gave courage to Mehmed II to move deeper into Anatolia.
Battle
Mehmed II returned with his army in 1473 to defeat Uzun Hasan. TurcomansAk Koyunlu
The Aq Qoyunlu or Ak Koyunlu, also called the White Sheep Turkomans , was an Sunni Oghuz Turkic tribal federation that ruled parts of present-day Eastern Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, northern Iraq, and Iran from 1378 to 1508.-History:According to chronicles from the Byzantine Empire, the Aq Qoyunlu...
had a traditional army that contains considerable amounts of light cavalries. On the other hand, Ottoman army was using the latest technology. They came with rifles and cannons. This difference between the natures of two armies marked the result of the battle. Ottoman side gained a decisive victory. Turcoman army was nearly destroyed in a single day.
Aftermath
Ottomans nearly destroyed the power of the Ak KoyunluAk Koyunlu
The Aq Qoyunlu or Ak Koyunlu, also called the White Sheep Turkomans , was an Sunni Oghuz Turkic tribal federation that ruled parts of present-day Eastern Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, northern Iraq, and Iran from 1378 to 1508.-History:According to chronicles from the Byzantine Empire, the Aq Qoyunlu...
in the East. Ak Koyunlu
Ak Koyunlu
The Aq Qoyunlu or Ak Koyunlu, also called the White Sheep Turkomans , was an Sunni Oghuz Turkic tribal federation that ruled parts of present-day Eastern Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, northern Iraq, and Iran from 1378 to 1508.-History:According to chronicles from the Byzantine Empire, the Aq Qoyunlu...
would be destroyed completely by Shah Ismail
Ismail I
Ismail I , known in Persian as Shāh Ismāʿil , was a Shah of Iran and the founder of the Safavid dynasty which survived until 1736. Isma'il started his campaign in Azerbaijan in 1500 as the leader of the Safaviyya, an extremist heterodox Twelver Shi'i militant religious order and unified all of Iran...
of Iran in later years. This victory of the Safavid Empire would create a new enemy for Ottoman Empire in the East. The race between two empires ended with the fall of the Safavid dynasty
Safavid dynasty
The Safavid dynasty was one of the most significant ruling dynasties of Iran. They ruled one of the greatest Persian empires since the Muslim conquest of Persia and established the Twelver school of Shi'a Islam as the official religion of their empire, marking one of the most important turning...
from power in the 18th century.