Sultan Khalil


Sultan Khalil Mirza was an Aq Qoyunlu Governor of the province of Fars, and briefly Sultan of the Aq Qoyunlu State, ruling from 6 January 1478 to July 1478.

Life

He was son of Uzun Hasan and Seljuk Shah Khatun. He was Governor of Shiraz for his father during the decade from 1468 to 1478, following the Aq Qoyunlu capture of Shiraz by Uzun Hasan in 1468-69. He was succeeded as Governor of Shiraz by Alvand Beg, from 1478 until 1497.
He was appointed as the governor of the Persian province of Fars during his princely years.
In his early years, he had a fight with his brothers and uncle for the throne. He captured his younger half-brother Maqsud Beg and executed him. His other younger full brothers Yaqub Beg and Yusuf Beg were exiled.
He was enthroned as the new Sultan of the Aq Qoyunlu when his father, Uzun Hasan, died on January 6, 1478. In the same year, he defeated his uncle Murat Bey Bayandur and reached the height of his power.
His younger brother Sultan Yaqub led a military rebellion against him, and defeated him in battle near the town of Khuy, northwest of Tabriz. On the order of Sultan Yaqub, he was executed on a Monday.
His half-brother Ughurlu Muhammad was taken by Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II and married his daughter Gevherhan Hatun. Their son Ahmad Beg finally took the throne but died in battle shortly after.

Literary works

Several manuscripts are dated to the time Sultan Khalil was Governor of Shiraz in 1468-1478, following the Aq Qoyunlu capture of Shiraz by his father Uzun Hasan in 1468, such as a Divan of Ali-Shir Nava'i. A Tabriz manuscript dedicated to him in 1478 is also known. Sultan Khalil is also known to have worked on a copy of the Khamsa of Nizami while in Tabriz.
Khalil also appears in person in an illustrated manuscript of the Diwān of Hidayat, written in Azarbayjani Turkish. The manuscript contains several depictions of Khalil during various activities, such as holding court in a garden, giving audience from his palace balcony, on a hawking expedition, and relaxing in a vinery. It displays typical Turkman figures with small rounded faces.

Family

It is known that he has two sons from an unknown woman.