The Crisis of Legitimacy in Salim I Sultanate and its Association with the Battle of Chaldiran

Since the early10th/16th century, religion developed into an effective factor in the relationshipbetween the Safavid and Ottomans. Although the effect of the political and religious changes in Iran and establishment of the Shiite as official religion was influential; the internal developments within the Ottoman State had an important impact on the relationship between two governments. In fact, at the end of Bayizid II reign(918-926/1512-1520), the competition among the Ottoman princes to obtain the throne, influenced the process of developments in such a way that the Ottomans decided to use religion in their relationship with the newly established Safavid state. Salim I who had a little chance to get the throne, tried to prevail the power and so his father had to relinquish the throne. After seizure of power by Salim I, in addition to this process which involved him into a crisis of legitimacy, massacre of all the male members of the Ottoman dynasty, made the situation worse. Hence, aiming to resolve the crisis, Salim I took an offensivereligious policy against Shiites and Shah Isma’il. However, Shah Isma’il avoiding from military confrontation, Salim raided to the Safavid realm that led to the battle of Chaldiran.