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

nor govern the empire efficiently, fierce struggles among the princes for the throne
broke out. As Đnalcık points out, although respected as an intellectual, versed in Islamic
law and the fine arts, Korkud, the governor of Saruhan, was thought to be less apt for the
throne. 1408 The strongest candidate was evidently Prince Ahmed, who was governing the
Province of Amasya at that time and is described in Ottoman sources as generous and
just but also easy-going, fond of having fun, and lacking any sense of monarchical
responsibility. Ahmed’s succession was supported by many major statesmen, including
the grand vizier Ali Pasha, and ulemā. 1409 For some reasons, Prince Şehinşah, who was
the governor of Karaman and would die without witnessing the end of this struggle, did
not take part in this conflict. As the youngest of four princes, Selim, at the beginning he
was not only the least favored by men of state but also geographically in the most
unfavorable situation for he was the governor of Trabzon, the most distant province to
the capital city among those governed by princes. Nevertheless, his well-designed,
coherent, and determined policy led him to the throne. Ottoman court historians agree
that he embodied all the qualities of an ideal ruler: justice, generosity, self-
determination, war-like valor, broad wisdom, and zealous devotion to Islam. 1410 At the
end, he not only disqualified his opponent brothers but also forced his father to abdicate
for the first and only time in Ottoman history.
1408 Đnalcık, “Selim I”; ULCY1, pp. 57-58.
1409 See Đnalcık, “Selim I”; Altundağ, “Selim I”, p. 423; ULCY1, p. 57.
1410 For an analysis of CLZ’s description of Selim, for example, see Celia J. Kerslake, “The Selim-name of
Celal-zāde Mustafa Çelebi as a Historical Source”, Turcica, IX/2-X, Paris, 1970, pp. 45-6. As Kerslake
indicates, CLZ regard Selim as the only prince embodied all qualities of the ideal ruler and as predestined
by God to restore the rule of the true religion in the Empire. The itinerary which Selim followed from
Trabzon to Istanbul was, according to CLZ, a Divinely-ordained path which would lead him to the
saltanat. ALI also deems him as supported by God (müeyyed min ‘indallāh). See ALI, p. 1052. Ottoman
historians describe Selim as a courageous, awe-inspiring, and wrathful man who liked ‘ilm and ‘ālim. He
had a special interest and talent in poetry (in both Persian and Turkish) and history. For the character and
appearance of Selim, see ALI, p. 1057; SLZ2, p. 1; MNB, p. 451.
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