Battle of Otlukbeli
Otlukbeli, near Tercan, Erzincan Province, Turkey
What happened
The Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II fought Uzun Hasan, ruler of the Aq Qoyunlu ('White Sheep') Turkmen confederation. Uzun Hasan ruled a large realm stretching across present-day eastern Turkey, Iran and Iraq, and had sought allies such as Venice against the Ottomans. After a long march through the mountains, the Ottoman army met his forces near Otlukbeli. One wing of Uzun Hasan's army collapsed, he left the field, and his army broke and fled.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It nearly destroyed Aq Qoyunlu power in the east. It opened the way for the Ottomans to control key positions in eastern Anatolia.
What came next
Uzun Hasan died in 1478. His grandson Ismail I later founded the Safavid Empire, which became the Ottomans' great rival in the east.
Did you know?
Mehmed II usually kept his campaigns secret, but this time he announced his plans in a letter to Uzun Hasan.
Timeline
- 1452Uzun Hasan begins his rule.
- 11 August 1473The Ottomans win at Otlukbeli.
- 6 January 1478Uzun Hasan dies.