The Relationship between Shiite Orders and Ottoman Government

The rapid development of Ottoman Empire in the early 13th century A. D. to include Byzantium and the Balkans was due to both material and spiritual factors; and in this regard, one can refer to the spiritual relationship between Baktashieh and the Ottoman Army called "Yenichiris". The positive relationship between the Shiite orders and the Ottoman rulers persisted so long as the former worked within a legitimate framework; thus, the religious leaders, the Sufi sects, and Alevis supported the ruling government. The decline of the role of religion and the religious institutions caused the public revolts. Overlooking the warnings from the religious scholars, and getting involved in a variety of corruptions, first Bayazid caused the public revolts to be conceived. The establishment of Safavid Government in 1501 A. D. encouraged the esoteric Shiites, and was a major factor in the development of the Shiite Culture. The increasing rise of the economic scandals and oppressions are also regarded as the major factors in the revolts. Explaining the above-mentioned factors, this paper is concerned to examine the various Islamic and especially Shiite revolts of the early 13th century.