Sara Khatun

Sara Khatun (Azerbaijani: Sara xatun), or Saray Khatun, was a diplomat of Aq Qoyunlu state and Uzun Hassan’s mother.

Early life

According to John E. Woods, Sara Khatun was the daughter of Pir Ali Bayandur, the ruler of Kiğı. Pir Ali was himself the son of the Aq Qoyunlu ruler Fakhr ad-Din Qutlu by his Pontic wife Maria Comnena, sister of Alexios III of Trebizond. Franz Babinger speculates that Sara Khatun was an Aramaic Christian who had grown up near Diyarbakir,[1] but this speculation is based on an earlier assumption by Vladimir Minorsky which he later renounced.[2] Sara Khatun married her paternal cousin Ali, the son of the leader of the Aq Qoyunlu federation Qara Osman.[3]

Diplomatic activity

Sara Khatun was a skilful diplomat and headed embassies for the purpose of regulating disputed issues. Sara Khatun was also famous on the west, ambassadors of foreign countries often took advantage from her influence on son.[4]

Negotiations with Mehmed II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire were especially successful.[5]

The first round of negotiations with Mehmed II was held in 1463, in Goyluhisar. There she could make peace, according to which Uzun Hassan promised not to impede seizure of Trebzond by the Ottoman Turks, and Turks had to leave the territory of the Aq Qoyunlu. She even could persuade the Sultan that the treasury of Trebizond should belong to his bride – Despine Khatun, princess of Trabzon and to bring this wealth to a palace of her son.

During these negotiations Mehmed II and Sara Khatun called each other "mother" and "son". For example, during Trabzon negotiations Sara Khatun said Mehmed II that:

“Why to waste so much efforts, my son, - she said to Sultan who accepted her, - because of any nonsense, such as Trabzon?”[6]

Sara Khatun also helped the last Trapezuntine Emperor by providing him and his family with freedom. She took his promise not to disturb the emperor and his family taking advantage of her good relations with Mehmed II. And Mehmed II redeemed his promise, given to Sara Khatun: the Emperor and his children and young nephew Alexis were graciously accepted by Sultan and were sent to Constantinople on a special ship with courtiers and all private property, except piles of jewelry which were given to Sara Khatun as a reward for her polite intermediation.[7]

Sara Khatun also was sent to the Timurid ruler Abu Said for negotiations, but these were unsuccessful.[8]

References
  1. Babinger, Mehmed the Conqueror and His Time, edited by William C. Hickman and translated by Ralph Manheim (Princeton: University Press, 1978), p. 192
  2. John E. Woods. The Aqquyunlu: Clan, Confederation, Empire. University of Utah Press, 1999; p. 34, 242
  3. John E. Woods. The Aqquyunlu: Clan, Confederation, Empire. University of Utah Press, 1999; p. 242
  4. Berchet 1865, p. 128, Commissione segreta a Giosafat Barbaro. (1473, Die il Februarij)..
  5. "ГАСАН-БЕК БАЙАНДУР (УЗУН ГАСАН)". odlar-yurdu.ru.
  6. "Падение Константинополя в 1453 году. Глава 12. Европа и завоеватель". vizantia.info.
  7. "Sara Khatun". azerbaijans.com.
  8. "Посланница мира". Azərbaycan Qadını.
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