Selim I
At a glance:
- Series: Magill’s Guide to Military History
- Categories: Government and Politics, Royalty, Rulers, Nobility, Military History
- Subcategories: Empires, Dynasties, Ottoman Empire
- Curriculum: Middle Eastern History
Article abstract: Military significance: Selim enlarged the Ottoman Empire by conquering Syria, Egypt, and Arabia and driving Persia from Anatolia.
Called “Selim the Grim” for his icy ruthlessness, Selim I became sultan of the Ottoman Empire in 1512. Once secure on the throne, he resolved to punish Ismāʿīl I, the Safavid shah of Iran, for meddling in Ottoman internal affairs. Sectarian rivalry also fueled their antagonism, as the Ottoman Dynasty championed Sunni Islam while the Safavids patronized Shiism. In 1513, Selim marched against Ismāʿīl, wiping...
[The entire page is 307 words long]
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