How Selim I Doubled the Size of the Ottoman Empire (Video)

Selim I, also known as Selim the Grim, reigned as Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1512 to 1520 and oversaw a remarkable expansion of Ottoman territory. In just eight years, he expanded the empire’s size by approximately 70%, annexing strategic regions such as the Levant, Egypt, and the Hejaz, which included the holiest cities of Islam—Mecca and Medina. This territorial growth laid a strong foundation for his successor, Suleiman the Magnificent, to extend Ottoman dominance into Europe.

One of the central conflicts of Selim’s reign was his confrontation with the Safavid Empire, led by Shah Ismail I. The rivalry between the two empires was not only territorial but also religious, with the Ottomans adhering to Sunni Islam and the Safavids primarily following Shia Islam. Selim decisively defeated the Safavids at the Battle of Chaldiran in 1514, a victory largely attributed to the Ottomans’ superior use of gunpowder weaponry, including muskets. This battle crippled Safavid power and allowed Selim to briefly occupy the Persian capital, Tabriz.

Selim then turned his focus to the Mamluk Sultanate, which controlled Egypt, Syria, and the western Arabian Peninsula. After a series of campaigns, he defeated the Mamluks at the Battle of Marj Dabiq in 1516 and the Battle of Ridaniya in 1517, effectively bringing Egypt and its wealth under Ottoman control. This conquest not only secured key trade routes but also granted Selim the prestigious title of Protector of Mecca and Medina, marking the beginning of the Ottoman Caliphate.

Beyond his military accomplishments, Selim enacted policies to strengthen the empire’s internal stability and economic dominance, including a trade embargo against the Safavids and a purge of ineffective officials. His short yet impactful reign transformed the Ottomans into a leading power in the Muslim world and beyond.

Top image: Selim I.        Source: Public Domain

By Robbie Mitchell