Physicians as Envoys: a Persian Medic in the Court of Moldavian Principality

Abstract

In all societies, considering the nature of physicians' profession, regarded as one of the confident groups among other social strata as well as in the courts, physicians had very high dignity and acquired kings' revere accordingly. However, in diplomatic relations confidence strengthens mutualties. Isaac Beg was one of Iranian medics who arrived in the palace of Stephan III in 1474. In the aforementioned era, European rulers grappled with the Ottomans who tried to gain control over seas and disturbed the process of trade in the Levant. King of Aq Qoyunlu after suzerainty over the domestic rivals could gain power in Persia and inclined to dominate Anatolia in 1473. On the other hand, by gaining initial success in Anatolia, Sultan Mohamed II stood against Aq Qoyunlu ambitions, but Uzun Hasan held his dogged point to accomplish the mentioned goal. Although Europe languished in chaos and the continuous outbreaks on Wallachia exhausted and blurred lifestyle, Stephan III launched some sterunous marches but when battles bursted between rulers of Hungary and Moldavia, the latter was injured and entreated Uzun Hasan to dispatch a physician to cure his wounded leg. This article tries to portray the attempts of Aq Qoyunlu ruler in invoking Europeans to open an outlet to trade and to beginning a new crusade against Ottoman progress.