COMPANION

Despina Khatun

1438 - Today

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Theodora Megale Komnene (Greek: Θεοδώρα Μεγάλη Κομνηνή), also known as Despina Khatun (Persian: دسپینا خاتون; from the Greek title despoina and Turco-Mongol title khatun, both meaning "lady"), was the daughter of John IV of Trebizond and Bagrationi who married the Aq Qoyunlu ruler Uzun Hasan in 1458. She became the mother of Halima Alamshah Hatun who became the mother of first Safavid king, Shah Ismail I. Some older writers refer to her as "Catherine". Charles Diehl has shown that it was based on Du Cange’s misunderstanding of the Mongol title "Khatun" as "Catherine". John IV agreed to the marriage only if his daughter was allowed to continue her Orthodox Christian religion, a condition which Uzun Hasan agreed upon. Read more on Wikipedia

Her biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Despina Khatun is the 425th most popular companion (down from 405th in 2019), the 548th most popular biography from Türkiye (down from 526th in 2019) and the 18th most popular Turkish Companion.

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Among COMPANIONS

Among companions, Despina Khatun ranks 425 out of 784. Before her are Margaret of Bohemia, Queen of Hungary, Princess Christina of the Netherlands, Ermentrude of Orléans, Matilda of Frisia, Duchess Marie Gabrielle in Bavaria, and Ingeborg Magnusdotter of Sweden. After her are Berengaria of Barcelona, Ælfthryth, wife of Edgar, Natalia Sedova, Duchess Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, John I, Duke of Bourbon, and Anne Sophie Reventlow.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1438, Despina Khatun ranks 8. Before her are Stephen Tomašević of Bosnia, Philip II, Duke of Savoy, Sultan Husayn Bayqara, Melozzo da Forlì, Edmund Beaufort, and Peter II, Duke of Bourbon. After her are James II of Cyprus, and Margaret of Bourbon.

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In Türkiye

Among people born in Türkiye, Despina Khatun ranks 548 out of 1,347. Before her are Anna of Savoy (1306), Crantor (-400), Manuel I of Trebizond (1218), Köprülüzade Fazıl Mustafa Pasha (1637), Asclepiades of Bithynia (-120), and Emine Hatun (1398). After her are Heraclius the Elder (600), Halit Ergenç (1970), Princess Fahrelnissa Zeid (1901), Muzafer Sherif (1906), Bardaisan (154), and Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus (-120).

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Among COMPANIONS In Türkiye

Among companions born in Türkiye, Despina Khatun ranks 18. Before her are Maria Laskarina (1206), Licinia Eudoxia (422), Irene Angelina (1181), Maria of Antioch (1145), Anna Porphyrogenita (963), and Irene Doukaina (1066). After her are Artakama (-350), Neslişah Sultan (1921), Anicia Juliana (462), Laodice I (-300), Çiçek Hatun (1431), and Marcia Euphemia (500).

Turkish born Companions

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