Selim I

Reign: 1512 – 1520
Life: 1470–1520

Despite lasting only eight years, his reign is notable for the enormous expansion of the Empire, particularly his conquest between 1516 and 1517 of the entire Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt, which included all of the Levant, Hejaz, and Egypt itself. 3 million sq mi), having grown by seventy percent during Selim's reign. Selim's conquest of the Middle Eastern heartlands of the Muslim world, and particularly his assumption of the role of guardian of the pilgrimage routes to Mecca and Medina, established the Ottoman Empire as the pre-eminent Muslim state. His conquests dramatically shifted the empire's geographical and cultural center of gravity away from the Balkans and toward the Middle East. By the eighteenth century, Selim's conquest of the Mamluk Sultanate had come to be romanticized as the moment when the Ottomans seized leadership over the rest of the Muslim world, and consequently Selim is popularly remembered as the first legitimate Ottoman Caliph, although stories of an official transfer of the caliphal office from the Mamluk Abbasid dynasty to the Ottomans were a later invention.

During Selim I's reign, Henry VIII of England ruled England, Manuel I of Portugal ruled Portugal, and Zhengde Emperor ruled China.

Want to learn more? Further reading

Lords of the Horizons: A History of the Ottoman Empire by Jason Goodwin

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The World During Their Reign

The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

Meanwhile in history

One “meanwhile in history” story each week: who ruled where, and what was happening on thrones across the world.

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From the library

Go deeper on Selim I

Hand-picked histories and biographies for readers who want more than the timeline: the same era, told in full.

Lords of the Horizons: A History of the Ottoman Empire

Jason Goodwin

Goodwin on Selim I's conquest of the Mamluks and assumption of the caliphate.

Find this book on Amazon

Some book links on this site point to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, WhoWasRuling.com may earn from qualifying purchases.

Selim I

The World During Their Reign

Meanwhile in history

Go deeper on Selim I

Lords of the Horizons: A History of the Ottoman Empire

Osman's Dream: The History of the Ottoman Empire 1300–1923

Lords of the Horizons: A History of the Ottoman Empire