Sara Khatun

Early life

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

Diplomatic activity

Sara Khatun was a skilful diplomat and headed embassies for the purpose of regulating disputed issues.

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

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:

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.

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