List of rulers of Aq Qoyunlu

This is the list of rulers of Aq Qoyunlu dynasty ("The Horde of the White Sheep"). The 1st Chief of the confederation was Tur Ali bin Pehlwan (1340 - 1360 C.E.) followed by his son Qutlugh bin Tur Ali (1360 - 1378/79 C.E.) who formed the Aq Qoyunlu Turkmen Principality. He in turn was followed by his son Qara Yoluq Osman, the founder of Aq Qoyunlu Beylik or State. The dynasty originated around Diyarbakır and ruled the territory now part of present-day Turkey, Iraq and Iran. Their capital was the city of Tabriz after 1471-1472. They gained international significance under Uzun Hasan who became their greatest leader. He conquered the Qara Qoyunlu and defeated the Timurid Empire thus adding significant portions of Iran to his kingdom but eventually losing to the Ottoman Empire weakening his kingdom which eventually was absorbed into Safavid Iran.

Aq Qoyunlu rulers

• In letters from the Ottoman Sultans, when addressing the kings of Aq Qoyunlu, such titles as Arabic: ملك الملوك الأيرانية‎‎ "Iranian King of Kings", Arabic: سلطان السلاطين الإيرانية‎‎ "Iranian Sultan of Sultans", Persian: شاهنشاه ایران خدیو عجم‎‎ Shåhanshåh Irån Khadiv Ajam "Shahanshah of Iran and Ruler of Persia", Jamshid shawkat va Fereydun råyat va Dårå deråyat "Powerful like Jamshid, flag of Fereydun and wise like Darius" have been used.^[1] Uzun Hassan also held the title Padishah-i Iran "Padishah of Iran",^[2] which was re-adopted again in the Safavid times through his grandson Ismail I, the founder of the Safavid dynasty.

• Yellow Shaded rows signify Progenitors of Aq Qoyunlu dynasty.
  • Blue Shaded row signifies Nominal rule.

References