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Battle of Erzincan (1471)

Type Event Region Asia Time 1471

In 1471, instigated by Venice, Aq Qoyunlu leader Uzun Hasan invaded the Ottoman eastern frontier, defeating the Ottoman garrison and capturing Erzinc…

Timeline

  1. 1470–1471Tabriz · IranDuring the Fourth Ottoman-Venetian War, Venetian envoys promised financial and naval support and urged Uzun Hasan to attack the Ottomans from the east. After mustering its main force, Aq Qoyunlu crossed the Caucasus passes into Anatolia, aiming directly at Erzincan and other key eastern frontier towns.
  2. 1471Erzincan · TurkeyUzun Hasan led Aq Qoyunlu cavalry against the Ottoman eastern garrison near Erzincan, routing them and capturing the city. Exploiting their mobile cavalry advantage, the Aq Qoyunlu forces won a tactical victory in the mountains of eastern Anatolia, and the Ottoman eastern defenses briefly collapsed.
  3. 1471–1473Constantinople · TurkeyThe fall of Erzincan shook the Ottoman court; Mehmed II suspended some western-front operations and began reorganizing the eastern frontier defenses. Though the Aq Qoyunlu could not hold all their conquests for long, the victory proved Ottoman eastern weaknesses and directly led to the sultan's personal campaign of 1473 and a vengeful counterstrike at Otlukbeli.

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