The Bayandurids or the Tur-'Alids ruled over the Aq Qoyunlu confederation, that was founded by Tur Ali bin Pehlwan (1340-1360 C.E.), and was followed by his son Qutlugh bin Tur Ali (1360-1378/79 C.E.) and his grandson Uthman Beg respectively, the founder of Aq Qoyunlu 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. He eventually lost to the Ottoman Empire, weakening his kingdom. The kingdom was eventually absorbed into Safavid Iran.

Aq Qoyunlu rulers In letters from the Ottoman Sultans, when addressing the kings of Aq Qoyunlu, such titles as "Iranian King of Kings", "Iranian Sultan of Sultans", 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., pp. 193, 274, 315, 330, 332, 422 and 430. See also: Abdul Hussein Navai, Asnaad o Mokatebaat Tarikhi Iran (Historical sources and letters of Iran), Tehran, Bongaah Tarjomeh and Nashr-e-Ketab, 2536, pages 578,657, 701-702 and 707 Uzun Hassan also held the title Padishah-i Iran "Padishah of Iran",H.R. Roemer, "The Safavid Period", in Cambridge History of Iran, Vol. VI, Cambridge University Press 1986, p. 339: "Further evidence of a desire to follow in the line of Turkmen rulers is Ismail's assumption of the title 'Padishah-i-Iran', previously held by Uzun Hasan." which was re-adopted again in the Safavid times through his grandson Ismail I, the founder of the Safavid dynasty.

Titular Name Personal Name Reign Bey Pehlavan bey Bayandur? – 1340 C.E.Bey Bey Tur-Ali 1340–1360 C.E.Bey Fakhr-al-Din Qutlugh bin Tur Ali 1360–1378/79 C.E.Bey Ahmed bin Qutlugh Nominally Under Qara Yoluq Osman from 1396 – 1403 C.E.1389–1403 C.E.Bey Baha-al-Din Uthman Beg 1403–1435 C.E.Bey Jalal-al-Din Ali Beg 1435–1438 C.E. Bey Nur-al-Din Hamza Beg 1438–1444 C.E.Bey Mu'izz-al-Din Jahangir 1444–1451/52 C.E.Bey Qilich Arslan bin Ahmed 1451/52 – 1457 Bey Abul-Nasr Uzun Hasan 1457–1478 C.E. Bey Abul-Fath Sultan Khalil 1478 C.E.Bey Abul-Muzaffar Yaqub bin Uzun Hasan 1478–1490 C.E.Bey Abul-Fath Baysunqur 1490–1491 C.E.Bey Abul-Muzaffar Rustam Beg 1493–1497 C.E.Bey Abul-Nasr Ahmad Beg 1497 C.E. Division of Aq Qoyunlu Beylik.

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

Diyarbakır Azerbaijan Iraq Isfahan, Fars & KermanBey Qasem Beg1498 – 1499 C.E.Bey Abul-Muzaffar Alwand bin Yusuf bin Uzun Hasan 1497 – 1502 C.E. Bey Abul-Mukarram Muhammad bin Yusuf bin Uzun Hasan 1497 – 1500 C.E.Bey Zayn-al-Aibidin bin Ahmed bin Ughurlu Muhammad 1504 – 1514 C.E.Shāh Ismāʿil After invading Shirvan and taking Baku, Shah Ismail I besieged the fort at Gulistan when news arrived that Alwand bin Yusuf bin Uzun Hasan had reached Nakhchivan with an army. Ismail broke off the siege and went rapidly to combat the Aq Qoyunlu. He sent his commander Piri Beg who defeated the Aq Qoyunlu commander Amir Uthman at the Battle of Shurur near Nakhchivan thus leaving the Aq Qoyunlu to rapidly collapse as a kingdom.1502 C.E. Bey Abul-Muzaffar Sultan Murad bin Yaqub bin Uzun Hasan 1500 – 1514 C.E. Dissolution of Aq Qoyunlu in 1514. Absorbed into the Safavid Empire of Iran.

Genealogy of Aq Qoyunlu

Aq Qoyunlu

References