The birth date of Sahkulu is unknown. He was born in Teke city’s (today’s Antalya) Korkuteli town’s Yalimli village. He was the father of Shah Ismail and the son of Hasan who was one of the caliphs of Sheikh Haydar. He went to Erdebil with his father when he was a child. He was educated in Sii traditon. He settled in a cave near his birth village and tried to collect people around the idea of Sii. The most important reason led his power increase was the sovereignty struggle between Sultan Bayezid II and his sons. After Sahkulu gained enough power he started a revolt with his 10.000 soldiers. He attacked Shahzadah Korkud’s forces while they were going from Antalya to Manisa. Shah Kulu plundered Korkud’s treasure and invaded Kizilkaya, Istanoz, Elmali, Burdur, and Keciborlu towns. He killed the judges of these towns and people resisted against him. He gave the administration of these regions to his men.

He fought against Karagoz Pasha who was sent against him. He enslaved Karagoz Pasha near Kutahya and besieged the Kutahya Castle, in April 1511, but he failed to conquer it. He killed Karaman Governor Haydar Pasha and he went to north. The forces of grand vizier Hadim Ali Pasha surrounded him in Kizilkaya Strait near Karaman. He divided the circle around him and escaped to Sivas. Hadim Ali Pasha caught him in Cubukova They had a war on 2^nd July 1511, in Gokcay. Sahkulu was killed by an arrow. The Ottoman Army withdrew when Hadim Ali Pasha had died. Sahkulu’s forces went through Iran and they plundered a caravan on their way. Shah Ismail had punished them.

©Copyright 1999 FORSNeT (All Rights Reserved)