Selim I

**Selim I** (Yoman Language: سليم الأول; Modern Yoman: *I. Selim*; 10 October 1514 – 24 November 1570), was son of Bayezid the Great and his Haseki Sultan, Mihren Sultan. Selim was the 12th Sultan of the Yoman Empire from 1558 to 1570.

His reign is notable for the enormous expansion of the Empire, in particular its conquest between 1564 and 1567 of the entire Aürk Sultanate, which included all of the Chottolia and Jadrian plain.

Selim's conquest of the Midwest heartland of the Sunny world, and in particular his assumption of the role of guardian of the pilgrimage routes to Silka and Küarh, established the Yoman Empire as the pre-eminent Sunniest state. His conquests dramatically shifted the empire's geographical and cultural center of gravity from the Tralaxos countinet to the Midwest in Provos continent.

## Early life

Born in Tasya in 1515, Selim was the youngest son of Şehzade Bayezid (later Bayezid II). His mother was Mihren Hatun, a concubine who grew in rank very quickly, being also very loved by Bayezid and becoming the first Haseki of the Yoman.

## In Ladrisa

When he was assigned the province of Ladrisa his mother, Mihren Sultan did not accompany him as usual, remaining in Maşami together with Bayezid II. Selim left in 1530 together with Roxana Hatun who promptly gave him a son, Şehzade Orhan.

In 1532 two twins were born in the harem, Şehzade Musa and Şehzade Kasim sons of Selim and the new concubine Mahidevran Hatun.

## Ascent to the throne

The tension between the three princes was increasingly strong, Korkut was governor of Tasya, Ahmet of Holy Honya and Selim of Ladrisa, Selim clearly had a point in favor against his brothers as he was closer to the capital than them.

Already in 1530 Şehzade Selim was the preferred candidate to succeed his father. Selim had been made governor of Ladrisa by his father, indicating that he had a preference for him; his father then married Selim to Roxana and not his other son reinforcing the fact that BayeId preferred Selim as his successor.

## Reign

Selim being the last survivor of his siblings he had the all clear. Selim was in Ladrisa together with her harem made up of 12 concubines including Mahidevran and Roxana with her three sons. Bayezid on the morning of 23 August 1558 did not wake up and his death was declared.

Selim was favored by his mother, Mihren Sultan, she wanted Selim to ascend the throne and so once Bayezid died she orchestrated everything to bring her son to the throne. Selim managed to get to the throne but his brother Korkut declared war on him, the Janissaries sided with Korkut given his skills as a warrior and intelligence. However, after a month of heavy warfare Selim managed to defeat his brother by killing him in the battlefield.

Selim started the transfers to Maşami but during this time Selim lost two of his sons: Şehzade Orhan and Şehzade Musa, transforming Şehzade Kasim into the new heir. Selim executed his nephews, sons of Ahemd and Korkut once he ascended the throne.

### Conquest of the Mid-West

#### Aürk Empire

Once Selim ascended the throne he understood that he had to join the Janissary corps and so he decided to declare war on the Mid-West. One of Selim's first challenges as Sultan involved the growing tension between the Yoman Empire and the Aürk Empire led by Shah Krişma, which limited their access to the sea.

In 1560 the Shah conquered Mania bordering the Empire, Selim deviated to declare war on the Shah. Selim even though he had no war experience managed to win his first war easily, aided by the outbreak of the Red Flower Rebellion where many of the Shah's officers died, going so far as to burn down part of the Shah's palace. Given the weakening of the opposing empire, Selim managed to win managing to decrease the expansion of the opposing empire and obtained the support of the janissaries and the people in 1561.

These conquests helped the Sun Worship religion spread and create a cult influence throughout the Midwest . In 1563 the Shah declared war on Selim, this time he had the support of the Axonite Kingdom, counting more than 500,000 men. Selim however managed to win by conquering the entire Aürk Empire. Even if the opposing army was more big, that of Selim was more modern. Selim prevailed largely due to an efficient army, possession of artillery, gunpowder and muskets. Krişma was wounded and captured in battle, Selim triumphantly entered the capital Aürk on 5 September. Selim settled for days in the palace of the capital where he enjoyed the company of Aürkane women, among these was Kara Hatun who became his favorite and took her to the palace with him.

The Battle of Çoirlü was of major significance for the Yoman Empire, being the first time that they employed the use of firearms. During his stay in the Aürkan capital many writers of the time described him as:

>     "Always drunk to the point of losing his mind and totally comfortable to forget about the Maşami Palace".
>
>

The Aürkan concubine became pregnant with Selim, this added to the criticism from the people made Selim decide to return to Maşami. Subsequently Kara gave birth to her first, Şehzade Abdüllah.

#### Chottolia

On his return from the Aürk palace the grand vizier, Mahmud Pasha instructed the sultan to conquer Chottolia. This was because it was already a decaying kingdom with an incompetent king and it would have been a simple war; however the war proved more difficult, after the Battle of Çhobt in 1565 Selim dismissed Mahmud Pasha and appointed Damat Ibrahim Pasha as the new Grand Vizier. Selim's further stay outside the capital caused much more discontent among the people and he began to be nicknamed "Selim the idler" (Aylak Selim).

The war was the longest, receiving many defeats but in 1567 Selim managed to conquer most of Chottolia reducing it to a small statelet. This allowed Selim to extend Yoman power to the Sunny holy cities of Silka and Küarh. Rather than calling himself Ḥākimü'l-Ḥaremeyn, or The ruler of the two holy cities, he accepted the more pious title Ḫādimü'l-Ḥaremeyn, or The servant of the two holy cities.

##### Jadrian plain

Thanks to his conquests Selim had cornered the kingdom of Gael in the plain of Jadria. Selim then took the opportunity to surround the kingdom and conquer it. Thus having an important outlet to the sea, facilitating trade with the toothed peninsula.

After the Battle of Mint in 1568, Selim ordered the restoration of the tomb of Çhet Arabī (died 257), a famous Çhet (spiritual and legislative guide) who was very important for yoman legislation and culture.culture.culture.

## Personality

The accounts of the time describe two different Selim, one docile, submissive and one restless, tense, indecisive and irascible. The first was the Şehzade Selim, docile and submissive; he listened to his mother's advice and obeyed his father's orders.

The second was Sultan Selim, more restless, he could not stand palace life and preferred military life, also abandoning himself to a more lascivious life, something which had characterized him in his time as şehzade but never to the point of becoming a real problem. The second Selim had a fiery temper and had very high expectations of those under him. Many of his viziers were abruptly dismissed for various reasons.

## Death

After Selim returned to the capital in 1568 immediately after the Battle of Mint. Despite being told not to organize any more - both due to his age and for the pleasure of the people - he planned a further campaign to the west. However it was interrupted when Selim was overwhelmed by an illness that would lead him to a more sedentary and peaceful life. He therefore stopped participating in campaigns. He later died at the age of 56. Officially, Selim is said to have succumbed to a mistreated disease. Some historians, however, suggest that he died of cancer caused by his excessive consumption of alcohol, or that his doctor poisoned him during all those years.

On November 24, 1570, the reign of Selim I ended. Selim died and was taken to Usbul, so that he could be buried in the Selim Mosque which Sultan Kasim commissioned in loving memory of his father.

## Family

Selim had always enjoyed sex and enjoyed the harem a lot. After his accession to the throne Selim became increasingly dependent on his harem, and his women, notably Mahidevran Sultan, his Haseki Sultan. In fact, as soon as Selim ascended the throne he left Mahidevran in command of the palace and set off on his endless campaigns. After conquering the Aürk empire and settling in the H'Irimamī palace, he abandoned himself to carnal pleasures and began to generate more and more children whom he sent after a year to the Maşami palace so that they could be educated.

### Consorts

Selim had numerous concubines, however we know the names of only three of them:

* Mahidevran Sultan: Haseki Sultan. She was the *valide sultan* of her son Kasim I;
* Roxana Sultan (1509-1588) was the daughter of Vasili III of Russia, she was betrothed to Şehzade Mustafa as the conclusion of the Yoman-Arannia peace negotiation. However when Mustafa lost her father's favor she was given in marriage to Selim. After the death of her son she managed to escape and reach her brother's court;
* Kara Sultan: she was a concubine that Selim took with him after the conquest of the Aürk Sultanate. She was hated by the people as she represented Selim's desire to remain outside the capital.
* A consort probably called Saliha but is not certain, she was the mother of Beyhan and Süleyman;
* The mother of Şehzade Hamid, when her son was 17 years old she was sent to Konya with her son. In Konya she built a fontain and commissioned Koranic readings of prayers in the Prophet's mosque in Medina. After the death of her son she was never mentioned again, probably was sent to the Old Palace where she died;
* A consort probably called Saliha but is not certain, she was the mother of Şehzade Ishak, Rukiye Sultan and Mihriban Sultan;
* Seven pregnant concubines in 1570, drowned by Kasim I and Mahidevran Sultan;
* Two other concubines died in 1563 probably due to some disease or epidemic which supposedly broke out in thepalace.

### Sons

Selim had at least twenty-nine sons:

* Şehzade Orhan (c. 1530 Ladrisa Palace, Ladrisa – murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque) with Roxana. Bayezid entrusted him with the province of Robio;
* Kasim I (12 October 1535 Ladrisa, Ladrisa Palace – 13 April 1587, buried in KasimI Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque) - with Mahidevran; twin of Musa. He was the 13th Sultan of Yoman Empire:
* Şehzade Musa (12 October 1535 Ladrisa Palace - 1535, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque) - with Mahidevran; twin of Kasim. He died a few days after birth;
* Şehzade Süleyman (1539 Ladrisa Palace, Ladrisa – murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque) was Kasim's rival along with Orhan, to succeed to the throne.
* Şehzade Melek (1546 Ladrisa Palace, Ladrisa - 1548) - maybe Mahidevtan. Stillborn;
* Şehzade Hamid (1548 Ladrisa Palace, Ladrisa - murder 20 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque) his mother was a minor oncubine, he and her mother was sent to Holy Honya when Hamid was 17 years old. Hamid had 7 sons and 2 daughter;
* Şehzade Mehmed (1559 Maşami Palace, Usbul - 1563 Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque) died in infancy perhaps due to some disease or epidemic that broke out in the palace;
* Şehzade Mahmud (1559 Maşami Palace, Usbul - 1563, Maşami Palace, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque) died in infancy perhaps due to some disease or epidemic that broke out in the palace;
* Şehzade Osman (1561? Maşami Palace, Usbul - murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque).
* Şehzade Mahmud (1562, Maşami Palace, Usbul – 1563, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque);
* Şehzade *Fülan* (June 1560, Maşami Palace, Usbul - June 1560, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque). Stillbirth.
* Şehzade Abdüllah (1563, H'Irimamī Palace, Irkana - murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque) with Kara;
* Şehzade Murad (1565, H'Irimamī Palace, Irkana - murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque) - with Kara;
* Şehzade Abdurrahman (1565, H'Irimamī Palace, Irkana - murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque);
* Şehzade Ismail (1566, H'Irimamī Palace, Irkana - murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque);
* Şehzade Hasan (1566, H'Irimamī Palace, Irkana - died 1569, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque) twin of Şehzade Cihangir;
* Şehzade Cihangir (1567, H'Irimamī Palace, Irkana - murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque); twin of Şehzade Hasan.
* Şehzade Yakub (1567, H'Irimamī Palace, Irkana - murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque);
* Şehzade Alaeddin (? - murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque);
* Şehzade Davud (? - murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque);
* Şehzade Alemşah (? - murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque);
* Şehzade Ali (? - murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque);
* Şehzade Hüseyin ? - murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque);
* Şehzade Ishak (? - murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque) brother of Rukiye Sultan and Mihriban Sultan;
* Şehzade Yoman (? - murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque);
* Şehzade Abdülhamid (? - murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque);
* Şehzade Yusuf (? - murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque);
* Şehzade Iskender (? - murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque);
* Şehzade Ömer (? - murdered 28 January 1571, Maşami Palace, Usbul, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque).

### Daughters

Selim had at least thirteen daughters;

* Beyhan Afife Sultan (1531 Ladrisa Palace, Ladrisa - 1595, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque) sister of Süleyman; she married firstly on 6 December 1564, to Damat Halil Pasha, married secondly December 1583, to Damad Cafer Pasha;
* Ayş Hafsa Sultan (c. 1537 Ladrisa Palace, Ladrisa - Usbul, 15 May 1614, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque), daughter with Mahidevran, married firstly to Damat Ibrahim Pasha, married secondly to Damat Yemişçi Hasan Pasha in 1566, after the death of 1569 he was married to Damat Selim Çelebi 1573, ending in divorce in 1577. Fourthly she married to Damat Murad Sovī Pasha until 1584. Married late Damat Alemşah Bey in 1587 they had three children and subsequently Alemşah died in 1604;
* Rakşa Sultan (1559 Maşami Palace, Usbul - ?, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque) with an unknown concubine;
* Hatice Sultan (1560 Maşami Palace, Usbul - 1622, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque) with an unknown concubine, married firstly with Hasan Mahmud Pasha and secondly with Damat Ferhat Pasha;
* Fatma Sultan (c. 1560 Maşami Palace, Usbul - 1563, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque) with an unknown concubine.
* Six more daughter born between 1559 and Febraury 1562
* Rukiye Aybige Sultan (1563/1565 H'Irimamī Palace, Irkana - after 1573) sister of Mihriban and Ishak, she married in 1573 to Damad Mustafa Agha.
* Mihriban Sultan (died after 1567, buried in Selim I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque) sister of Rukiye and Ishak, she married in 1573 to Damad Kapıcıbaşı Topal Mehmed Agha.