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

Kızıloğlu, Köleoğlu, Mehmed Bey, and three individuals from Çakıroğlanları.” 1261 The
testimony of Pir Ahmed also underpins this argument. As mentioned above, one of the
khalifes whom Pir Ahmed delivered the papers of Şahkulu was alaybeyi, the other being
timar-eri. There is further archival evidence, which indicates some sipāhis’ participation
in the rebellion, as well. An undated report written to the Porte by an inspector, who was
commissioned to investigate the reasons and the progress of the rebellion, does not only
ratify the argument but also uncovers the incentives of these sipāhis to participate in the
rebellion. 1262
At the beginning of his report, the inspector explains why and how the rebellion
achieved such a success. 1263 To him, Şahkulu managed to gather so many rebels not due
to the fact that the necessary preventive measures had not been taken; in contrast, the
measures had indeed been taken. But the reason behind the wide social support to the
rebellion was further deep-rooted and complicated. The inspector reports, ‘The realm is
devastated. The situation of the people (re’āya) is soiled. It is urgently required that the
conditions here be remedied. The enemy’s numbers are growing day by day.’ 1264 The
inspector reports that there were many men from the sipāhi class in the adherents of
Şahkulu. He further argues, the men who engaged in most troubles were these sipāhis.
During the fight outside the Antalya fortress they caused many difficulties. It is also
underlined that the sipāhis in the Ottoman side did not fight efficiently. The rest of the
report clearly indicates why sipāhis revolted against the Ottoman authorities. Our
inspector reports the conversation between the Ottoman authorities and rebellious
1261 “Sipahiden ibtida tanışıkda kimler vardı diyecek, Çakıroğlanlarından üç nefer kimesne vardı. Biri
dahi Kızıloğlu biri dahi Köleoğlu, biri dahi Mehmed Bey derler.” TSA, document E. 5035.
1262 Compare Tekindağ, “Şahkulu Baba Tekeli Đsyanı”, pp. 35-6.
1263 TSA, document, E. 6187.
1264 TSA, document, E. 6187.
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