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

Both Ali Pasha and Ahmed were ordered to move together in suppressing the
rebellion. 1319 An expression recorded by Kemalpaşazāde apparently shows how the
Şahkulu affair was perceived and dealt with in the high echelons of the Ottoman
administration. Kemalpaşazāde states that the sancakbeys of Rumelia were also called to
the Porte. But since they realized the actual intention of the sultan and the grand vizier,
these begs did not hasten to go to Istanbul but waited for the result of Ali Pasha’s fight
with qizilbashes. 1320 Taking into account Selim’s chance to ascend the throne, the
sancakbeys did not want to risk their fortune. 1321 Hoca Saadeddin chronicles the same
event but with more details. To him, Bayezid II called beylerbeys of Rumelia to Edirne
for the sole purpose of protecting the city from a possible attack from Selim.
Furthermore the sultan planned that when Ahmed would come with the grand vizier
after suppressing the rebellion he would easily secure the obedience of these begs for the
rule of Ahmed. 1322
It is, therefore, possible to argue that Ahmed was in the most advantageous
position with regard to his brothers. He was just and could ascend the throne. The only
step to be the next sultan was suppressing the rebellion. 1323 Ali Pasha, on the other hand,
1319 KPZ recites that when Ahmed’s messenger informed him on Ahmed’s intention to march on
qizilbashes Bayezid felt so happy and wrote his son, “ ’Đnāyet-i Bāri yāri kılub, ol etrāk-i nā-pāki ortadan
götüresin, bī-māni’ ü dāfi’ gelüb serīr-i saltanata oturasın. Emmā gerekdür ki Ali Paşa ile dā’im
müşāvere idüb birbirinüze mu’āvin ü zāhir olasız!’ Ali Paşa’ya dahī hük mü şerif gönderilüb, vech-i
meşrūh üzre sipāriş olındı.” KPZ8b, p. 49. Regard also TNSB, p. 253; IDRs, p. 88; ANMB, p. 190;
1320 “...Ba’dehu Rumilinde olan sancakbeylerine ulaklar gönderilüb, kapuya da’vet olıındılar. Onlar dahī
maslahat tefvīz-i saltanat idüğin bilüb, bir mikdar eğlendier, Ali Paşa ile Kızılbaş-ı evbāşun savaşı ne
vechle suret bulur, bu serencāmı-ı kār ve ahvāl-ı rüzgār nice olur görelüm diye katlandılar.” KPZ8b, p.
49. Also consider ANMB, p. 191;
1321 I would like to remind here that during this time Selim was in Kefe and would sooner cross to
Rumelia. He was carrying on intense propaganda among Rumelia begs to win them for his cause.
1322 HSE4, pp. 54-55.
1323 One should keep in mind that Şahkulu affair was before all a matter of internal politics in the struggle
of princes for the throne. At that time, Seim also achieved a quite advantageous position. His press gave
result and he managed to grasp a province in Rumelia. Furthermore he got permission to summon
Rumelian troops for a ‘gazā!’ campaign on Hungary, which provided him the chance to control Rumelian
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