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

Vizier Ali Pasha was assigned to suppress the rebellion with the aid of some Janissaries.
Ali Pasha was obviously declaring his pro-Ahmed orientation. His plan was, as
explained in contemporary sources, to suppress the rebellion with Ahmed and then grant
him the throne. 1488 Selim must have been aware of Ali Pasha’s plan because when he
heard the Sultan’s decision to go to Istanbul, he rigorously opposed. He did not go to
Semendire but stayed in Eski Zağra, 1489 where he summoned Rumelian troops as if they
would march on Hungary. 1490 Fisher, quoting from the letter of Andrea Foscolo, a
contemporary Italian observer, dated June 24, 1511, writes: “Selim was afraid that
should Ali Pasha and Prince Ahmed be victorious, they might then be united and cross
to Europe against him. With this in mind, Selim camped near Edirne, continually
increasing the strength of his army at the expense of his father, by offering double
pay.” 1491 Foscolo calls attention to an important point, “Bayezid could find no pasha to
attack and drive Selim to his new province, because no officer, feeling that Selim would
be the next sultan, could dare to incur his wrath.” 1492
1488 KPZ8b, p. 53. ANMB states that after the Province of Semendire was allocated to Selim, some
leading statesmen wrote a letter to Ahmed. They reported him the the latest events. According to these
statesmen, if he (Ahmed) would solve the qizilbash problem, then his way to the throne would be opened.
But Selim somehow knew about this letter and decided not to go to Semendire. See ANMB, p. 214.
1489 Selim was unwilling to go to Semendire, because he thought that Bayezid decided to enthrone Ahmed
in Istanbul. One of his undated letters to Bayezid reads, “...Devletlu Hüdāvendigār hazretleri Rumeli
livālarından Semendire livāsını bu bendesine sadaka edüb akın etmek içun icāzet buyruldukda ba’zı
akıncılardan kimesneler cem’ etmek sadedinde iken ba’zı subaşılar ve sipahiler cem’ olunub Zara
Eskisi’nde sākin olub tedārikde iken nāgāh Anadolu tarafından kızılbaş üzerine Ali Paşa ile gönderilen
asker münhezim olub ve Ali Paşa’nın dahī alındığı haberi muhakkak alındukda devletlu Hüdāvendigār
yümn-i ikbālle Đstanbul’a müteveccih oldı, şol kasde ki Emrem Sultan Ahmed’i getürdüb memleketi ana
ısmarlayub kendüler ferāgat ideler deyu istima’ olındı....” KPZ states that the succession of Ahmed was
planned in Edirne, where Bayezid had granted the obedience of Rumelia begs to Ahmed. See KPZ8b, p.
56. Also regard SKB, p. 87; ALI, p. 942.
1490 According to Idrīs, one of the most pro-Selim contemporary historians, Selim would sincerely wage
gazā on Hungary if Bayezid had not decided to enthrone Ahmed. See IDRS, p. 91. In reality, Selim’s aim
was nothing than to secure the obedience of Rumelian troops.
1491 FSH, p. 107. Regard also ANMH, pp. 54-55. ANMH states that Selim behaved like an independent
ruler in Rumelia. He gathered an army of 20.000 men. In order to pay the expense of this huge army, he
confiscated all gold and silver mines; he also collected all the taxes and tariffs of Rumelia for himself.
1492 FSH, p. 108.
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