| 1.
Bayındır Branch :
It is the Oguz community from which the Akkoyunlu dynasty had emerged.
2. Pürnek (or Pornak) Tribe:
It was a powerful tribe of the Akkoyunlu State. They still survive in
the north of Selim nowadays. There is a village called with the name.
3. Musullu Tribe :
It is the second most powerful tribe of the Akkoyunlu State.
4. Hamza-Hacılu, Kara-hacılu, Izzedin Hacılu Tribes:
These are the secondary tribes.
5. Emîrlü,
6. Aleppo Turkmens:
Most of these Turkmens were composed of Afshar Turkmens. Among these
Turkmens, particularly the Afshar people under the dominion of Mansur Bey and the Bayat
group that was another Afshar community called as Kutbegilüler can be mentioned.
When Akkoyunlu State gained power, various Turkmen communities joined to this
confederation. We can mention about Dulkadirli nation, Çepniler, Agaceriler, Kacar and
Doger communities among these groups.
Before the establishment of a political union, these communities lived in the summer
camping groups within the environs of Euphrates River and Tigris River in Urfa and Mardin
in the south and in Bayburt in the north. They lived in these plateaux in the winters and
wandered around during the season. The cruel struggles with the Karakoyunlu Turkmens who
were their greatest enemy caused both communities to suffer from heavy losses and the
destruction of the regions in which they lived.
Pursuant to the collapse of the Ilhanli State, these two tribes were involved in the
struggles among the dynasties of Celayir, Coban and Sutay that fought with one another in
relation with the wreckage of the Ilhanli State. Of these two tribes, Karakoyunlu group
was in the service of Celayirli dynasty while Akkoyunlu community was the rival of this
dynasty and they were in the service of Sutayogullari dynasty that dominated in the
regions of Mosul and Diyarbekir.
As a result of this situation, the dynasty had to withdraw to the
Central Anatolia. The Akkoyunlu State had collaborated with Artukogullari principality
that dominated in Mardin and they established dominion in some cities and castles within
the environs of Diyarbakir. Therefore, the Akkoyunlu tribe started to gain power and
subdue the other tribes and branches gradually. They started to turn into a nation. The
tribes and clans that joined them became Akkoyunlu although they preserved their names.
Tur Ali Bey, the chief of the Akkoyunlu tribe that settled in the
region of Diyarbakir had attacked to Trebizond-Greek State and even to the capital of this
state in the years of 1340-1341 and 1343. He advanced towards Trebizond together with the
emirs of Bayburt and Erzincan in the year of 1348, but he could not attain any success.
Aleksios III, the emperor of Trebizond wanted to please Tur Ali Bey who was the strongest
one among these allied Turkish beys and thus, to prevent the attacks of the other beys.
Therefore, he provided the marriage of his sister, Maria Despina with Kutlu Bey who was
the son of the aforesaid bey (1352/1352).
The mother of Kara-yülük Osman Bey who was the founder of the
Akkoyunlu State was this princess stated above. Kutlu Bey had probably replaced his father
towards the year of 1364, and went to Trebizond with his wife, Despina in order to visit
Aleksios. The emperor paid him the visit in the same year. Kutlu Bey's son, Kara-yülük
Osman Bey was also married one of the daughters of Aleksios.
Kutlu Bey was involved in most of the struggles for the emirate that
carried on in the Eastern Anatolia in the second half of the century XIV. He had provided
service for those who claimed for bey principality in return for his benefits. Upon the
death of his Ruler, Pir Huseyin (1378), Mutahharten captured Erzincan. Upon the attempt of
the Sivar ruler to capture this city in the same year, he asked help from the Akkoyunlu
State. The Akkoyunlu army under the command of one of Kutlu Bey's sons defeated the forces
of Sivas sent towards them.
Upon the declaration of sovereignty by Kadı Burhanettin in Sivas
(1381), Kutlu Bey's son, Ahmed Bey advanced towards Sivas. Then, he defeated and killed Emîr
Yusuf Çelebi who was assigned as an officer to defend the city. But, he could not capture
this city. However, after six years, Kutlu Bey's sons took shelter in Kadı Burhaneddin
and begged pardon due to their attitudes. Upon the acceptation of their requests, they
left their little brother, Kara-yülük Osman Bey as security and departed. According to
another rumour, Kara-yülük was afraid of his brothers that envied his courage and fame.
Therefore, he left them and got into the service of Kadi Burhaneddin.
to be continued
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