Selim I

Selim I (Ottoman Turkish: سليم اول‎, romanized: Selīm-i Evvel; Turkish: I. Selim; 1465/1466/1470 – 22 September 1520), also known as Selim the Grim (Turkish: Yavuz Selim), was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1512 to 1520. He is remembered for his conquests in the Middle East and North Africa, particularly his defeat of the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt in 1517. This victory allowed the Ottoman Empire to control Mecca and Medina, previously under Mamluk control, and to assume the role of protector of the holy cities of Islam.

Selim I was the son of Bayezid II and Gülbahar Hatun. He ascended the throne by overthrowing his father in a coup d'état after engaging in a power struggle with his brothers, Ahmed and Korkut. He ruthlessly eliminated potential rivals, including his brothers and nephews, consolidating his power.

His reign marked a significant shift in Ottoman foreign policy, focusing on the east and south rather than Europe. He defeated the Safavid Shah Ismail I at the Battle of Chaldiran in 1514, halting the westward expansion of the Safavid Empire and annexing Eastern Anatolia. Following his victory over the Mamluks, Selim I added Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and parts of North Africa to the Ottoman Empire. He also claimed the title of Caliph, though the validity of this claim is debated by historians.

Selim I's short but impactful reign transformed the Ottoman Empire into a major world power and a dominant force in the Islamic world. He died in 1520 and was succeeded by his son, Suleiman the Magnificent.