CONCEPTION OF POLITICAL POWER AND THE TIMURID CULTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS DURING THE REIGN OF SULTAN HUSAYN BAYQARA

Date

2023-5-11

Author

Erdoğan, Özden

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After Temür's death, a multi-centered political structure emerged in the Timurid geography. The system, based on Temür's personality was fragmented after his death and caused the emergence of some local powers. While Temür's charismatic presence kept different centers under control as a balance factor, this control disappeared with his death. Therefore, as in the Turco-Mongol tradition, seen in the previous periods, the patrimony was shared horizontally and as a result of this division, the Timurid princes took their share and started to rule in a multi-centered system. It is possible to explain the phenomenon, which manifested itself as political rivalry on the one hand, and joint rule of the country on the other by compromise, within the framework of the understanding of power-sharing (ülüsh), which was an important part of the Turco-Mongol political tradition. According to this understanding, the realm was considered the common property of the ruling family and was shared by the family members. Thus, each member of the dynasty had the right to sovereignty. In this sense, the lands, shared among the Timurid princes (mirzas), were autonomous both politically and economically. In the 15th century, the background of the cultural and artistic revival seen in the Timurid geography and called the "Timurid Renaissance" by western scholars, thus, constitutes a structure in which sovereignty was shared. In other words, this revival was the result of the cultural and artistic patronage of the Timurid rulers, who were in a transition period in the multi-centered competitive environment created by the principle of power-sharing.

Subject Keywords

Power-sharing, Ülüsh, Husayn Bayqara, Timurids, Timurid Renaissance

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/103113

Collections

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis