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

dependents. When all these details are compared to Yusuf’s account of Selim’s second
incursion to Erzincan, it evidently appears that what Kemalpaşazāde narrates by
emphasizing a specific incident is identical with the second attack of Selim explained in
Yusuf’s Selimnāme. Yusuf, as usual, does not specify the date. Meanwhile,
Kemalpaşazāde’s explanation obviously puts that Selim assaulted Erzincan for the
second time during or shortly after Ismail’s campaign on Dulkadir in 1507. 1441
Kemalpaşazāde states that when Ismail learned that his artillery and valuable
faiences were grasped by Selim, he sent ambassadors to demand them. But his demand
was refused. 1442 Kemalpaşazāde does not specify to whom Ismail sent an ambassador;
whether it was to Selim or to Bayezid. But we can clarify this point from other sources.
It is recorded in Italian sources that Ismail dispatched an envoy to Istanbul in 1508. One
of Ismail’s requests delivered to Bayezid by this envoy was the restitution of the
armaments stolen by Selim. Ismail’s ambassador underscored friendly sentiments and
peaceful intentions of the shah regarding to the Ottoman Empire; and he complained
about hostile attitude of Prince Selim. He expressed that they had been fighting with
Alauddevle not with Ottomans; but as this had been the case, Selim had stolen their
artillery. 1443 Though the ambassador was treated with respect, his requests were tactfully
ignored. But it seems that Ismail’s diplomacy was not totally fruitless. Selim soon
received warning from the Porte. He was ordered not to engage attacks on qizilbash
territories and on Georgia. This case will be further examined below.
1441
Compare Jean-Louis Bacqué-Grammont, Les ottomans les safavides et leurs voisins, Istanbul, 1987, p.
24.
1442
KPZ8b, p. 30.
1443
FSH, p; 96. TNSB, p. 246; HAM2, p. 370
425