Giosafat Barbaro - Venetian Conflict With The Ottoman Turks

Venetian Conflict With The Ottoman Turks

In 1463, the Venetian Senate, seeking allies against the Turks, had sent Lazzaro Querini as its first ambassador to Persia, but he was unable to persuade Persia to attack the Turks. The ruler of Persia, Uzun Hassan, sent his own envoys to Venice in return. After Negroponte fell to the Turks, Venice, Naples, the Papal States, the Kingdom of Cyprus and the Knights of Rhodes signed an agreement to ally against the Turks.

In 1471, ambassador Querini returned to Venice with Uzun Hassan’s ambassador Murad. The Venetian Senate voted to send another ambassador to Persia, choosing Caterino Zeno after two other men declined. Zeno, whose wife was the niece of Uzun Hassan’s wife, was able to persuade Hassan to attack the Turks. Hassan was successful at first, but there were no simultaneous attacks by any of the western powers and the war turned against Persia.