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

Ottoman Empire; and on the other hand, he openly accused them of not taking necessary
measures against this serious and rising peril. 1520 He argued that if this problem was not
to handle adequately, its hazards on the Ottoman state and society could not be
recovered; thus, the problem had to be urgently treated. In the meantime, his father was
not able to handle such a great trouble because of his old age and deteriorating
health. 1521 Therefore, one of the princes had to take over the rule of the country. As a
matter of fact, the Sultan was also aware of his lack of sufficient qualities in order to rule
the empire adequately during this critical period; it was known that he wished to leave
the throne to Prince Ahmed. 1522 Idrīs does not directly say on behalf of Selim that the
true candidate was Selim himself. 1523 Nevertheless, his expression means exactly the
same thing. Idrīs reports Selim’s last words to the Porte as follows: “It is certain that the
viziers agree on Ahmed’s saltanat; but their primary concern in choosing Ahmed is not
for the good of the state but for their own profit. 1524 Nevertheless, in spite of viziers and
statesmen, holy warriors (mücāhit) and strong-fighters (yiğit) are just in opposite
opinion.” 1525
‘Ali reports that during 1510’s, Ismail’s majesty was in its climax while the
Ottoman realm was experiencing its most disastrous period. On one hand, the number of
soldiers in his army increased day by day; but on the other hand, the security and peace
in the ‘country of welfare’ (memālik-i ma’mūre), i.e. the Ottoman realm, diminished
hour by hour accordingly. The Sultan could do nothing because of his tiresome health
1520
For a similar account see HSE4, p. 12.
1521
For a similar reasoning for succession of Selim regard HSE4, p. 12.
1522
IDRS, p. 91.
1523
Ottoman historians who composed their histories during the reign of Selim or his son Süleyman
always describe Selim as the best candidate to handle the great troubles to which the empire was exposed
during the last years of Bayezid II. See, for example, HSE4, p. 17.
1524
For a similar account, see ANMB, pp. 193-4.
1525 IDRS, p. 91.
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