Prince Selim’s Campaign to Caffa and Edirne (1510-1511): Was the Reason for His Visit to Gain the Throne or a Desire to See His Father and Son?

Abstract

This article seeks through a reexamination of the existing historical narrative concerning Selim I’s (1512-1520) struggle for the throne. Achieving this aim, it proposes to construct an alternative narrative through a detailed analysis of relevant sources in the light of new documents. Therefore, the first part of the article discusses the reasons for the production of the narrative about Selim. Accordingly, it argues that the current narrative found in Ottoman sources arose from a fundamental necessity of amending a series of pernicious innovations (bid’ats) undertaken by Selim during his rivalry for the throne with his brothers. For this reason, it is also argued that the Ottoman authors tried to eliminate the danger that Selim’s dethroning of the existing sultan by insurrection could be taken as a model for future rivalries for the throne among the princes. Additionally, the article argues that there is a direct connection between the writing of Selimnames and the competitions for the Ottoman throne. In the second part of the article, the main elements of the existing narrative that correct and legitimise Selim’s bid’ats are discussed and an alternative narrative is proposed.