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

eport that Şahkulu’s force was reinforced by the participation of deceived sipāhis; they
spoiled tents, clothes, slaves and other properties of the Ottomans. The power balance
was so changed in favor of the rebels that if aid would not arrive soon the fortress would
inevitably fall. 1267
6.3. THE REBELLION
As already mentioned, Prince Korkud left the Province of Antalya in 915 / 1509. After
an adventurous journey to Egypt, Korkud felt remorse for having left his government
without permission and wrote letters to the Porte expressing his penitence. Eventually he
was allowed to return to his province in 916 / 1510. 1268 Ottoman sources do not clarify
whether or not a provisional governor was appointed to Antalya during his absence.
Later events suggest, however, that Antalya was devoid of a firm government during this
era.
After his return, Korkud did not stay long in Antalya. Without having the
permission of the Porte, he left Antalya for Saruhan (Manisa) in the early months of
1511. 1269 According to Ottoman chronicles, he moved to Saruhan upon hearing that
1267
TSA, document E. 6321. This document was first published by Uluçay and later reused by Tekindağ.
See ULCY1, p. 65; Tekindağ, pp. 38-39.
1268
ULCY1, p. 59.
1269
According to Kemalpashazāde, Korkud felt uncomfortable with the ‘dirty Turks’ (Etrāk-i nā-pāk) of
this province. Accordingly he decided to go to the province of Saruhan, where had been his former
province. “Sultan Korkud mahrūse-i Mısır’dan gelüb Antalya şehrinde bir mildar ikāmet itdükden sonra,
ol vilāyetün Etrāk-i nā-pākinden, ki sūretā ādem ve ma’nāda bir nice hayvan-ı lā-yefhem idiler, tab’-ı
şerifi ziyāde bī-huzūr u mükedder olduğu ecilden ol yörede ikāmet etmekden ferāgat idüb Saruhan
vilāyetine, ki kadīmī taht-gāhıydı, gitmeğe niyet itdi.” KPZ8b, p. 42. HSE follows same line of arguement:
“Gerçi ol ilin halkı onun (Korkud) adāleti gölgesinde güven ve huzur içinde oldular. Ama ol dıyārda
yaşayan Türklerin varlıkları doğuştan yaramaz olup, yaradılışlarından dik başlı olduklarıından başka,
huysuzluk da onların aşağılık yapılarında bir huy gibiydi. Ol insanlıktan eksik kişilerin nifākla dolu
yüreklerinde bin bir türlü fesād gömülü olub her biri insan biçiminde laf anlamaz hayvana benzer
kişilerdi. Şehzādenin ince gönlü ol çirkin suratlılardan işrenmeğin eskiden sancağı olan Saruhan Đli’ni
arzulayıp kapusu halkından birkaç yiğidi hazinesini koyup taşımak için geride bırakarak bir gece ansızın
Saruhan’a doğru yola çıktı.” HSE4, pp. 42-3. For similar claims regard also ANMB, p. 172; MNB, p.
384