Edessa Campaigns (1429–1433)

Aq Qoyunlu–Mamluk War (1429–1433)
	; Aq Qoyunlu during the reign of Uthman Beg
Date	1429–1433
Location	Eastern Anatolia, Urfa, Amid
Result	Mamluk victory Temporary vassalization of Aq Qoyunlu;
Belligerents
Mamluk Sultanate	Aq Qoyunlu
Commanders and leaders
Barsbay	Uthman Beg ; Ali bey (POW); Hâbil bey (POW) #

Edessa Campaigns or Aq Qoyunlu–Mamluk War (1429–1433) was a series of military campaigns fought between the Aq Qoyunlu and the Mamluk Sultanate. The conflict started with Aq Qoyunlu raids into Mamluk territories, which prompted the Mamluks to invade. After capturing Urfa and besieging Amid, the Mamluks were eventually forced into a long stalemate. Ultimately, Uthman Beg, the ruler of the Aq Qoyunlu, decided to surrender, and the Aq Qoyunlu became a temporary vassal of the Mamluks. However, the peace treaty was broken shortly after, and the Aq Qoyunlu regained their independence.

Background

In 1299, Aq Qoyunlu ruler Uthman Beg captured Harput, making his son Ali Bey governor of the area, and sent his other son Hâbil Bey to lead several raids into Jazira. As a result, the Mamluks mobilized an army and started a campaign against the Aq Qoyunlu.

Campaigns

First campaign

In response to the raids, the Mamluks occupied Ruha (modern-day Urfa) and sacked the city, killing most of the population and Aq Qoyunlu army^[1]. Both Ali Bey and Hâbil Bey were captured by the Mamluks, and Hâbil Bey died in captivity in 1430.^[2] To take Urfa back, Uthman Beg started his own campaign but failed^[3].

Second campaign (Siege of Amid)

After the failed campaign, the Mamluks occupied Urfa for 5 years and besieged Amid in 1433, but the castle resisted and could not be captured. The Mamluk soldiers were demoralized and very dissatisfied because of this long campaign and the castle's failure to surrender. Eventually, after a long stalemate, Uthman Beg decided to surrender and made peace with the Mamluks, where Aq Qoyunlu became a Mamluk vassal^[4] ending the campaign as a pyrrhic Mamluk victory.

Aftermath

This treaty was broken by the Aq Qoyunlu shortly after, and the country remained independent. The Mamluk ruler, who regretted his expedition, did not take any new action against the Aq Qoyunlu.

References

^ Garcin, Jean-Claude (1998). "The Regime of the Circassian Mamluks". In Petry, Carl F. (ed.). The Cambridge History of Egypt, Volume 1. Cambridge University Press. p. 294. ISBN 978-0-521-06885-7.
^ Faruk Sümer (1988–2016). "AKKOYUNLULAR XV. yüzyılda Doğu Anadolu, Azerbaycan ve Irak'ta hüküm süren Türkmen hânedanı (1340-1514).". TDV Encyclopedia of Islam (44+2 vols.) (in Turkish). Istanbul: Turkiye Diyanet Foundation, Centre for Islamic Studies.
^ Petry, Carl F. (2022). The Mamluk Sultanate. Cambridge University Press. p. 35. ISBN 9781107108592.
^ "Mamluk Sultanate". History Maps. Retrieved 2025-04-19.