Relations between the Greek State of Trebizond and the Akkoyunlu State (1340-1461)

The Crusades were military operations organized to take back Jerusalem, which is considered sacred for the three heavenly religions, from Muslims. However, these expeditions were essentially initiated to find solutions to the political, social and religious problems that Europe was experiencing at that time. After the first three Crusades organized for these purposes, the Fourth Crusade deviated from these purposes and evolved in another direction. As a matter of fact, as a result of the Fourth Crusade, the Crusaders captured Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. After the capture of the Byzantine capital, an unsafe environment devoid of central authority emerged within the Empire. Taking advantage of this situation, different political structures were formed in the lands of the empire. One of these is the Greek State of Trebizond, founded in the Eastern Black Sea by the Komnenos Dynasty. The Greek State of Trebizond has been in contact with the Muslim Turkish elements active in its surroundings since its establishment. The most important of these elements is the Akkoyunlu, which was initially a principality but later turned into an empire. Trabzon Akkoyunlu relations started when the Akkoyunlus were a principality and continued when they turned into an empire. The relations, which initially started as a struggle, generally continued as Akkoyunlu attacks. However, although there was an internal struggle in Trabzon in the same period and this situation left Trabzon weak, the Akkoyunlus could not overcome the city walls. After the period of struggle, as a result of the policy of the Greek State of Trabzon to establish good relations through political marriages, a period of alliance was entered between the two sides. The relations in this period were strengthened with the kinship relations established and turned into friendship-based relations. So much so that the Akkoyunlu Empire became the protector of the Greek State of Trabzon, protecting it from external threats. This policy of the Akkoyunlus enabled the Greek State of Trabzon to maintain its dominance in the region for a long time. However, although the Akkoyunlu tried to continue their policies against the Ottoman Empire, which was directed towards the region, they were not successful in this. As a result, Trabzon was conquered by the Ottomans.