DOI: https://doi.org/10.36719/2663-4619/113/207-211
Reyhana Safarova
Baku, Azerbaijan
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5168-5216
safarovareyhane@gmail.com
The Safavid Policy of Sultan Selim I: The Eastern Strategy
of the Ottoman Empire
Abstract
At the beginning of the 16th century, the political and religious struggle between the Ottoman and Safavid states intensified, which seriously affected the domestic and foreign policies of both states. The Safavids' adoption of Shiism as an official sect and the gathering of followers in Anatolia posed a threat to the unified religious and political ideology of the Ottoman state. After Sultan Selim I came to power, he took strict measures to reduce the influence of the Safavids in Anatolia and to protect the Sunni Islamic sect of the Ottoman state. One of the most important results of this policy of Sultan Selim I was the Battle of Çaldıran in 1514. The Ottoman army defeated the Safavid forces using artillery and firearms, and as a result, the eastern borders of the Ottoman state were strengthened. Although the Ottoman army briefly took control of Tabriz, they had to retreat for strategic reasons. However, this victory of the Ottoman state significantly weakened the influence of the Safavids in Anatolia. The article highlights both the military and ideological aspects of Selim I's struggle against the Safavids. The harsh policy pursued by Sultan Selim I led to the deepening of the Ottoman-Safavid conflict, which continued until the 17th century.
Keywords: Ottoman state, Safavid state, Shah Ismail I, Sultan Selim I, Battle of Chaldiran