TURKOMANS BETWEEN TWO EMPIRES: THE ... - Bilkent University

of the Order. One feels legitimized in supposing that the success of the qizilbash
resistance against severe Ottoman pressure came from the clandestine socio-religious
organization of the society, whose religious institutions were, at least in terms of their
principal basis, already structured.
A careful analysis of the sources makes it clear that this was not simply a social
explosion resulting from discontent of a social segment. Rather it rested on a well-
organized social body, which had both ideological principals and the ability to move
coherently. Ottoman archival sources occasionally mention meetings of Şahkulu with his
adherents shortly before the rebellion. He appeared, indeed, as the foremost
representative of the Safavid Order in Anatolia and clandestinely organized the qizilbash
opposition against the Ottoman government. 1236
Archival evidence clearly points out that the Safavid disciples of the region were
organized under the leadership of Şahkulu, who was also the khalifa of the order. The
qādī of Antalya 1237 underscores that Şahkulu did not behave like a mystical guide but
like a political leader. He assembled a council (divan), which was among foremost
indications of being a temporal leader, and attempted to grasp the suzerainty. His
political ambitions, however, were not overlooked by state agents. The Subaşı, the
person who was responsible for the public security, of Antalya attacked them, captured
20 adherents of the rebellion, but missed Şahkulu.
1236 A letter from the qādi of Antalya to Prince Korkud, dated May 29, 1511, reads: “... Şimdiki hālde bu
diyarda olan Erdebil halifelerinden Hasan Halife nām kimesnenin Şahkulu nām bir oğlu zuhur bulunub
Antalya’da Dervenbaşı(?) nām menzilde temekkün edüb ve bu diyarda olan Erdebil halkı ona etba’ edüb
emirāne bir ‘āli divanhāne ve evler ve matbah yapuverüb ittifakla memlekete hükmetmeğe kast eyleyecek
Subaşı Hasan bendenüz gönderilüb mezkur Şahkulu ele girmeyüb musahiblerinden yirmi nefer kimesne ele
girüb tutulub habs olundu.” TSA, document E. 632.
1237 See above-footnote.
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