Qoyunlu

Qoyunlu is an ethnographic and political term that refers to a confederation of Oghuz Turkic tribes organized around a pastoralist lifestyle. The name literally means “sheep people” in Turkish, and it is most famously associated with two rival dynasties that ruled large parts of the eastern Middle East during the late medieval period: the Aq Qoyunlu (White Sheep) and the Kara Qoyunlu (Black Sheep). The Aq Qoyunlu, founded in the mid‑14th century by the charismatic chief Qara Iskander, expanded under the leadership of Uzun Hasan and at its zenith controlled territories that included modern eastern Turkey, western Iran, and Iraq. Their rule is noted for the consolidation of Turkmen tribal structures and the promotion of Persian cultural influences, especially in administration and literature.

The Kara Qoyunlu emerged a generation later, initially as a rival faction vying with the Aq Qoyunlu for dominance over Iraq and eastern Anatolia. Under leaders such as Qara Ilyas and later Jahan Turan, they managed to seize Baghdad briefly in 1446 but were ultimately defeated by Uzun Hasan’s forces. Both confederations were characterized by a semi-nomadic economy, a warrior ethos, and a patronage system that blended Turkmen tribal customs with Persian bureaucratic practices.

By the end of the 15th century, internal divisions, military overextension, and rising Safavid and Ottoman influence led to the dissolution of both Qoyunlu dynasties. The legacy of the Qoyunlu lies in their role as a bridging force between the remnants of the Mongol Ilkhanate and the emerging centralized states of the Safavid and Ottoman empires, contributing to the cultural and political fabric of the region.