Battle of Çıldır
Encyclopedia
Battle of Çıldır was fought in 1578 during Ottoman–Safavid War (1578–1590)
.
and Persian (Safavid ) Empire
after the treaty of Amasya continued from 1555 to 1578. When Murat III of the Ottoman Empire ascended to throne in 1574, Tahmasp I
of Persia sent presents to Murat III. But before the Persian delegation left İstanbul
, the Ottoman capital, Tahmasp died (1576). The new shah was Ismail II
who changed the peaceful policy towards Ottomans and began hostalities in the border area. Meanwhile the governor of Luristan, a part of Persia took refuge in Ottoman lands which further created tension between the two empires. İsmail II soon died and during the interregnum following his death, Ottoman Porte decided to declare war. The war continued during the reign of Mohammed Khodabanda
in Persia.
in North east Anatolia
. The commander of the Ottoman army was Lala Mustafa Pasha and the commander of the Persian army was Tokmak Khan who had represented Persia in İstanbul after Murat III’s accession. He also had a Georgian
army under his command. (Georgian Kingdom was the vassal of Persian empire and there was a family bond by marriage between the royal families of Persians and Georgians.) Tokmak Khan tried to encircle the Ottoman army and he was about to succeed when Özdemiroğlu Osman Pasha
of Ottoman side intervened and defeated Tokmak Khan.
to Ottoman conquest. Lala Mustafa Pasha soon conquered Tiflis, the Georgian capital. The next step was the conquest of Derbent
(present Republic of Dagestan in Russia
). By this conquest Ottomans were able to reach the Caspian Sea
.
Ottoman–Safavid War (1578–1590)
The Ottoman–Safavid War was a war between Safavid Persia under Mohammed Khodabanda and later Abbas I, and the Ottoman Empire under Murad III. It began in 1577-1578 and ended in 1590....
.
Background
The peace between the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and Persian (Safavid ) Empire
Safavid dynasty
The Safavid dynasty was one of the most significant ruling dynasties of Iran. They ruled one of the greatest Persian empires since the Muslim conquest of Persia and established the Twelver school of Shi'a Islam as the official religion of their empire, marking one of the most important turning...
after the treaty of Amasya continued from 1555 to 1578. When Murat III of the Ottoman Empire ascended to throne in 1574, Tahmasp I
Tahmasp I
Tahmasp or Tahmasb I was an influential Shah of Iran, who enjoyed the longest reign of any member of the Safavid dynasty...
of Persia sent presents to Murat III. But before the Persian delegation left İstanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, the Ottoman capital, Tahmasp died (1576). The new shah was Ismail II
Ismail II
Ismail II was the third Safavid Shah of Iran.-Life:Ismail was the son of Shah Tahmasp I by a Turcoman mother, Sultanum Bekum Mawsillu. In 1547, he was appointed governor of the province of Shirvan where he led several expeditions against the Ottomans...
who changed the peaceful policy towards Ottomans and began hostalities in the border area. Meanwhile the governor of Luristan, a part of Persia took refuge in Ottoman lands which further created tension between the two empires. İsmail II soon died and during the interregnum following his death, Ottoman Porte decided to declare war. The war continued during the reign of Mohammed Khodabanda
Mohammed Khodabanda
Mohammed Khodābande or Khudābanda, also known as Mohammed Shah or Sultan Mohammed , was the fourth Safavid Shah of Iran. He was the son of Shah Tahmasp I by a Turcoman mother, Sultanum Bekum Mawsillu...
in Persia.
Battle
After an initial combat in so called Cambaz Çukuru, the main battle was around a small fort named ÇıldırÇildir
- Names :Çıldır is also called , Hiusisean; , Chrdili; , Childyr.- Background :The large Lake Çıldır in the district is an important haven for bird life....
in North east Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
. The commander of the Ottoman army was Lala Mustafa Pasha and the commander of the Persian army was Tokmak Khan who had represented Persia in İstanbul after Murat III’s accession. He also had a Georgian
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
army under his command. (Georgian Kingdom was the vassal of Persian empire and there was a family bond by marriage between the royal families of Persians and Georgians.) Tokmak Khan tried to encircle the Ottoman army and he was about to succeed when Özdemiroğlu Osman Pasha
Özdemiroğlu Osman Pasha
Özdemiroğlu Osman Pasha was an able statesman and a commander of the Ottoman Empire who had also been the grand vizier for one year...
of Ottoman side intervened and defeated Tokmak Khan.
Aftermath
Although Persians tried to attack Ottoman supply units after the battle, they were forced to retreat and when a bridge was wrecked during this retreat they further lost troops. These defeats left CaucasusCaucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
to Ottoman conquest. Lala Mustafa Pasha soon conquered Tiflis, the Georgian capital. The next step was the conquest of Derbent
Derbent
Derbent |Lak]]: Чурул, Churul; Persian: دربند; Judæo-Tat: דארבּאנד/Дэрбэнд/Dərbənd) is a city in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia, close to the Azerbaijani border. It is the southernmost city in Russia, and it is the second most important city of Dagestan...
(present Republic of Dagestan in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
). By this conquest Ottomans were able to reach the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
.