Today, January 22nd, 1517, Battle of Ridaniyye 🗡️
Battle of Ridaniyye was fought between the Ottoman forces of Sultan Selim I and the Mamluk Sultanate forces of Sultan Tuman Bay II. This significant battle marked the Ottoman consolidation of power in the form of the transference of the title Caliph to Sultan Selim I and the acquisition of the classical heartlands of Islam and also served to robustly fuse together, Arab and Ottoman İslamic traditions, whereby prominent Arab and Persian merchants, artisans and religious leaders were absorbed into the Ottoman system and civil servant now entered the highest levels of the Ottoman administration a tradition which would last until the final year of Ottoman Empire 🗡️✨
After years of enduring and defending against encroaching Mamluk forces into Ottoman lands in Anatolia, Sultan Selim I received a fatwa authorizing him to move his army to meet with the Mamluks in battle, which he did in year 1516. The Ottoman conquest of the Mamluk Empire followed with blazingly rapid development which was increased by much of the Mamluk administration and leading officials deserting their state in hopes of finding high ranks on the Ottoman side. Ottoman military discipline, weapons, tactics and cooperation from the local Syrian population who did not want to fight for the losing Mamluk side seruced them a smooth victory in Syria. After receiving the loyalty and allegiance of all religious and political figures and leaving behind them a working government in Syria within a few months, Sultan Selim I continued his march towards Cairo and the Ottoman army triumphantly achieved a military operation which had never been possible before in history, Sultan Selim I was able to advance his troops through the Sinai Peninsula within an unbelievably short span of 5 days an amazing feat which proved his ability to command his army through the most difficult of situations 🗡️🩵
Tuman Bay of the Mamluks, in turn, gathered his forces at Ridaniyye but Sultan Selim I outflanked the Mamluks positions and overwhelmed heir forces within one day, acheiving a swift victory. Selim offered amnesty to all Mamluks forces who surrendered without force and shortly thereafter, the relatively peaceful Ottoman conquest Cairo and Egypt was secured. Following these historic events in Egypt, Sultan Selim I met with the Caliph Al- Mutawakkil III in Aleppo which called Sultan Selim I the Ruler of the holy cities of Mekka and Medina to which Selim objected and retorted that he would much rather be referred to as the Servant the Holy Cities. Subsequently Caliph Al- Mutawakkil III was safetly transported to Constatintiople ( Istanbul ) He formally surrendered the title of Caliph as was its symbol of its authority, the sword and mantle of the Prophet Muhammed to Sultan Selim I, thus making Sultan Selim I the first Caliph of 🇹🇷 origin. His consolidation of power under one banner proved to be effective in maintaining relative peace throughout the region for approximating 400 years 🖊️🩵
