Ottoman campaign against Abkhazia
Abkhazia Campaign | |||||||
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![]() Principalites of Abkhazia and Migrelia in the 15th century | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Ottoman empire |
Republic of Genoa Principality of Abkhazia | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Hamza Bey | Prince Levan | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
56 galleys | Unknown |
Abkhazia Expedition was the successful naval operation of the Ottoman navy under the command of Admiral Hamza Bey , which resulted in the annexation of Sukhumi to the Ottoman territories and the subordination of the Principality of Abkhazia in June 1454 .[1]
Expedition
[edit]After Sultan Mehmed conquered Istanbul on May 29, 1453, he sent letters to the Greek Empire of Trebizond and the Georgian lords in the Eastern Black Sea region, asking them to come to Istanbul, present their allegiance and pay annual tribute .[2] In this context, Prince Liparit I of Mingrelia Dadiani became the first Georgian prince to offer his allegiance.[3]
Then, the Ottoman navy, consisting of 56 ships under the command of Admiral Hamza Bey, sailed to the Black Sea in 1454 and in June captured Sukhumi, the center of the Principality of Abkhazia and the Genoese colony called Sebastopolis.[4] Thereupon, Prince Levan from the Georgian Shervashidze Dynasty, which had ruled the Principality of Abkhazia since 1325, also pledged his allegiance to the Ottoman Empire.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "SOHUM". TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi (in Turkish). Retrieved 2023-09-13.
- ^ Mırmıroğlu, Vladimir; Dukas, Mihail (1956). Byzantine History. p. 194.
- ^ Prime Ministry Ottoman Archives, Number:44606.
- ^ Heyd, Wilhelm (1936). History of Trade in the Levant in the Middle Ages. p. 392.
- ^ Bilge, M. Sadık (2005). Ottoman State and the Caucasus. p. 33.