Şahkulu

Şahkulu ( ota, شاه قولی, Şāh Ḳulu, lit=servant of shah; died July 2, 1511), also known as Şahkulu Baba, or Karabıyıkoğlu ( 'son of black moustache' in Turkish), was the leader of the pro- Shia and pro-Safavid uprising in Anatolia – the Şahkulu Rebellion – directed against the Ottoman Empire in 1511. He was viewed as a Messiah and Prophet by his followers. His death in battle signified the end of the uprising.

Early life

His father was Ḥasan Ḫalīfe, who served Shaykh Haydar, father of Ismail I, that became his representative (''halife'') to persuade the population of Teke region. Ottoman sources claim Şahkulu was born in a village called Yalınlıköy, modern day Antalya province.

Şahkulu was a member of the Turkmen Tekkelu tribe.

Rebellion

Being inspired by Safavid missionaries, the Turkmens living on Ottoman soil, "as far west as Konya", were mobilized in a "fervent messianic movement", led by Şahkulu. Şahkulu and his followers tried to "replicate" the same type of revolt led by Ismail I several years earlier, "perhaps in anticipation of a union with the Safavids".
Şahkulu also worked as the chief of the Royal Ottoman Company of Designers in Istanbul in the early 16th century. His army burned Sunni mosques and Qurans, raped the natives, killed women and children, and sacked several Ottoman towns.

Aftermath

Şahkulu was killed in 1511, and the pro-Safavid movement was "halted temporarily". The Ottomans beheaded and then burned Sahkulu's body. But the anxiety of the Ottomans, in relation to "losing much of their Asian possessions was not eased". Nor did the hatred of the Ottomans for Ismail I cease to exist, even though Ismail apologized for the atrocities caused by the Turkmens and "disowned" Şahkulu. As the possibility existed of a "mass Turkmen exodus into the Safavid realm", Bayezid II sought to establish good relations with Ismail, "at least on the surface, and welcomed Ismail's gestures to establish good neighborly relations". In letters sent to Ismail, Bayezid II addressed Ismail as "heir to the kingdom of Kaykhosrow – the legendary great king of the '' Shahnameh'' – and to Dara (Darius) of the ancient Persian Empire". Abbas Amanat adds: "He further advised Ismail to behave royally, preserve his precious and strategically vital kingdom with justice and equanimity, end forced conversions, and live in peace with his neighbors".

After Şahkulu's followers fled to Iran, Ismail I punished the commanders of Şahkulu, who had killed 500 merchants going from Tabriz to Ottoman territory and pillaged their goods, and divided the followers among his emirs.

Bayezid II had faced a revolt from his own son Selim (who succeeded as Selim I), in the final years of his rule. Unlike his father, Selim, then still a prince, disliked his father's appeasement policies towards the Safavids. When Selim I thus ascended the throne in 1512, things changed drastically. Tensions rose, which eventually led to the Battle of Chaldiran in 1514.

In popular culture

A fictionalized version of Şahkulu appears in the 2011 video game '' Assassin's Creed: Revelations'', where he is called Shahkulu and serves as an antagonist.

He appeared in the board game '' Assassin's Creed: Arena'' with Anacletos, Odai Dunqas and Oksana Razin. It was launched on 26 February 2014.

Notes

References

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1511 deaths
15th-century people of the Ottoman Empire
16th-century people of the Ottoman Empire
Year of birth unknown
Ethnic Turkmen people
Turkish Alevis

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