Sultan’s Letters

Digital drawing, archival pigment inkjet print on fine art paper, Limited edition of 5, 42 x 29.7 cm, 350 USD

After conquering most of Anatolia, Sultan Beyazit I was facing the biggest threat to his new empire. The recent actions of Turco-Mongol warlord Timur (also known as Tamerlane) had brought them to the edge of war. You see, Beyazit had invaded a land that had pledged allegiance to Timur; and Timur took this as a personal offense. A flurry of letters flew back and forth between the two rulers. Although the early ones were fairly diplomatic, the latter ones poured gasoline on the fire, ultimately leading to war. Thus began a long, tumultuous period in Anatolia’s history.