Altyn, Kader; Kemurju, Elif

This article offers an in-depth analysis of the political influence exercised by women on the history of the Aq Qoyunlu state. The study focuses on the participation of khatuns—wives and mothers of rulers — in both domestic and foreign policy, as well as their roles in diplomatic and dynastic affairs. The research is based on contemporary written sources and modern scholarship on the history of Turkic peoples. New data on the diplomatic activities of Saray-Khatun and Despina-Khatun are introduced into academic discourse, along with an assessment of their impact on the balance of power within the state. Special attention is given to the unique position of women at the Aq Qoyunlu court and their involvement in strategic decision-making processes. The article also explores the significance of dynastic marriages as instruments for consolidating authority and advancing foreign policy objectives. It is demonstrated that Saray-Khatun played a pivotal role in mediating conflicts among her sons and in conducting diplomatic negotiations with neighboring powers. Furthermore, Despina-Khatun (Kirya Katerina), despite her Christian background, managed to secure a prominent position at a Muslim court and actively participated in international correspondence. The study establishes that both marriages — those of Saray-Khatun and Despina-Khatun — were of strategic importance to the Aq Qoyunlu. It is concluded that these women not only supported internal stability but also contributed to the formation of new political alliances. Ultimately, the article argues that the khatuns of the Aq Qoyunlu were not merely consorts of rulers but independent and influential political actors who left a lasting imprint on the history of their state.

Isabaeva, Nazgul A.

The folk traditions and family ties among the Van Kyrgyz, who settled from the Pamir region of Afghanistan in the Eastern part of Turkey, are considered. The purpose of the study is to analyze how the Kyrgyz traditions and customs have been preserved after 40 years of living in Turkey after the resettlement of the Kyrgyz from their homeland of the Pamirs. The novelty of the study lies in the appeal to previously unpublished in Russia studies of Turkish scientists who wrote about the history of the Van Kyrgyz, as well as to ethnographic data that the author collected over 5 years. It is noted that the Van Kyrgyz throughout their history, before settling in Turkey, were influenced by the culture of many other neighboring peoples. The reasons are indicated, among which are the constant nomadic lifestyle and close relations with the Kashkar Uighurs, contact with the culture of local Tajik and Afghan tribes in the Pamirs, life in Pakistan, etc. The impact of migration on the culture of the Van Kyrgyz and the preservation of national values is analyzed. The similarity of the traditions of the Kyrgyz of modern Kyrgyzstan and the Van Kyrgyz is being studied.