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In the 15th century, Tabriz became the capital city for the two consecutive tribal unions,
i.e. Garagoyunlu and Akgoyunlu. The latter dynasty replaced the former one in 1467
and run the area until 1502 when they were defeated by Shah Ismayil in the Battle of
Sharur.
A double miniature depicting hunting scenery from Jami’s
Silsilat az-Zhahab
(
The
Golden Chain, 1549) is bound with Uzun Hassan, the founder of the Akgoyunlu
Dynasty. The miniature is nowadays kept in Saint Petersburg. The second half of the
15
th century features
The Shamakhy Anthology,
a unique work of its kind (1468, the
British Library), and
Diwan
by Hidayat (1478, Dublin).
Yagub-bey Akgoyunlu was crowned at the age of 14. Despite his young age, he got
broadly recognized as patron of arts and poetry. He succeeded in attracting two
first-class artists, Sheikhi and Dervish Muhammad. Majority of their works are currently
cherished at the Topkapi Museum, Istanbul. These include illustrations to
Khamse
(1481),
also known as Khamse by Yagub-bey.
Album of Turkish Sultan Fateh in Istanbul, delivered to the Ottoman Empire after the
Battle of Chyldyran, includes a group portrait of Yaqub-bey with the court servants.
During the last decade of the 15th century, other members of the Dynasty were ruling
in the territory of Azerbaijan until the whole Dynasty was replaced in 1502 by Shah
Ismayil Khatai who succeeded in bringing together the Azerbaijani lands under the
auspices of the Safavi State.