Roman Borohov

Selim I the Terrible (Yavuz) (Osm. سليم اول - Selîm-i evvel, tur. Birinci Selim, Yavuz Sultan Selim: 10 October 1465 Amasya, Ottoman Empire - 22 September 1520 Edirne, Ottoman Empire) was the ninth Ottoman Sultan and 88th Caliph in 1512-1520.

Selim was the son of Sultan Bayadiz II. Selim began his service under his father as governor of the Balkan province. This was to train him in statesmanship. Sultan Bayadiz was quite a peaceful ruler. He was not aggressive toward his neighbors. Be that as it may, the sultan began to favor his second son, Ahmed. Bayadiz intended to pass the throne to him. Selim was very unhappy and frightened that he would lose power. Selim rebelled against his father. He led his small army into battle with Bayadiz. This rebellion was not successful. Selim was forced to flee to the Crimea.

The sultan was concerned that his son might form an alliance with Turkey's long-time enemies, the Persians. Bayadiz makes a decision and hands the throne to Selim in 1512. The young sultan decided to thank his father. He executed all relatives who could claim the throne. After this Selim decided to bring order to Turkey and destroy all the Shiites. Selim killed about forty thousand Shiites who lived in Turkey.

Selim quickly consolidated power in the country. His plans were to expand Turkey's territory. To begin with, he made peace treaties with his western neighbors and decided to begin his expansion to the east. The first people he decided to destroy were the Persians. Selim wanted to destroy them because of their support for his brother and because the border between Turkey and Persia was inhabited by Shiites. With an army of 60,000 men Selim invaded Persia in 1515. His main army were the Janissaries. They were a cross between slaves and mercenaries. Selim's army also included infantry armed with primitive rifles, mobile artillery, and light cavalry. Discipline in his army was harsh. Any disobedience or violation was punishable by death.

In August 1515 Selim went into battle with the main forces of the Persians. There were about 50,000 soldiers. Shah Ismail commanded the troops. Selim was able to win the decisive battle of Haldiran. In September of the same year he captured the capital of Persia. However, he had to drive his troops back to his homeland. The permanent occupation of Persia required large supplies of food and weapons. Selim was going to attack Persia again. In 1516 he learned that Egypt and Syria were helping Persia and were also preparing an attack on Turkey. Selim decided not to wait. He was the first to attack Turkey. At the battle of Mej-dabik he inflicted a heavy defeat on his enemies. The year was 1516. Selim captured Gaza in October and was close to Cairo in January 1517. With great effort Selim was able to break through Cairo's defenses and capture the city.

Persia had now lost its allies. It could no longer defend itself against the Turkish forces. In just eight years of rule Selim became the dominant king of Asia Minor. He proclaimed himself sultan of Egypt. He went to Medina and Mecca. There Selim was welcomed as a leader and defender of the Islamic world. The sultan did not stop there. He planned to invade the Mediterranean. In 1520 he formed an alliance with the famous pirate Barbarossa. Together they wanted to seize Spain from the sea. However, these plans remained unfinished. In September 1520, Sultan Selim died of the plague. Immediately after him Selim's son Suleiman came to power. He was wonderfully prepared and trained, so that the empire found a new ruler. Selim radically changed the balance of power in the Middle East. He created a powerful power. He proved himself a very skillful general. Only his son would surpass him in Turkish history.