Battle of Sharur

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Battle of Sharur
Part of Safavid - Aq Qoyunlu Wars
Date17 July 1501
Location
Result Safavid victory
Territorial
changes
Safavids regain control of Azerbaijan.
Belligerents
Safavid army Aq Qoyunlu
Commanders and leaders
Ismail I Alvand Mirza
Karachagay Khan 
Strength
7,000 10,000 - 30,000

The Battle of Sharur occurred in July 1501. It ended with a decisive victory for the Safavid army. After this victory, the way of the Safavids to Tabriz was opened. Alvand Mirza disappeared from the political scene.[1]

Background[edit]

Ismail defeated Shirvanshah Farrukh Yasar in the Battle of Jabani in 1500 and captured Baku in the spring of 1501. While besieging the Gulustan fortress, he heard the news that Aq Qoyunlu Alvand Mirza had gathered troops and moved to fight him. Although Alvand advised him to stay in Shirvan and became its ruler.

Battle[edit]

Two armies met in the plain of Sharur. Ismail had an army of 7,000 and Alvand Mirza had an army more than 10,000. According to Roger Savory, the number of Alvand's army was 4 times more than the number of Ismail's army. Ismail won by showing great commanding ability. Seeing that his army was disbanded, Alvand Mirza fled to Erzincan.[2]

Ismail also killed in a one-on-one battle with the famous commander of the Aq Qoyunlus, Karachagay khan. Although Ismail was only 14 years old in that battle.

Aftermath[edit]

After victory, Ismail went to Tabriz. After entering Tabriz, he proclaimed himself shah and founded the Safavid Empire. With this battle, Ismail captured Azerbaijan.[3] Thus, he accumulated the rich resources needed to expand his state.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Sümer, Faruk (1976). Safevi Devletinin Kuruluşu ve Gelişmesinde Anadolu Türklerinin Rolü. Ankara.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ ROGER M. SAVORY. "ESMĀʿĪL I ṢAFAWĪ". iranicaonline.org.
  3. ^ Woods, J. E. (1976). The Aqquyunlu: Clan, Confederation, Empire. Minneapolis and Chicago.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

Sources[edit]