Mohammad Khan Ustajlu

Mohammad Khan Ustajlu (died 1514) was a Safavid military commander and official of Turkoman origin, who served during the reign of king Ismail I (r. 1501–1524). He played a pivotal role in Ismail I's conquests and expansion in Asia Minor and Mesopotamia, and functioned as governor of the Diyarbakr Province from 1506 to 1514.[1] Mohammad Khan was killed while serving as a commander at the Battle of Chaldiran.

Biography

Mohammad Khan Ustajlu was a son of Mirza Beg Ustajlu, and had three brothers; Owlash Beg Ustajlu, Evaz Beg Ustajlu and Qara Beg Ustajlu. He was married to one of king Ismail I's sisters.[2][3] When Ismail I returned to Khoy in 1506, after some skirmishes with 'Ala' al-Dowleh, the ruler of the Zu'l-Qadr, he appointed Mohammad Khan Ustajlu as the new governor (hakem) of Diyarbakr.[2]

About two months before the decisive Battle of Chaldiran (1514), Ottoman Sultan Selim I (r. 1511–1520) and his army had reached the town of Sivas.[4] Aware of the massive approach, Mohammad Khan Ustajlu, during his retreat from his governoral seat in Diyarbakr, devastated the area, which slowed the Ottoman progress towards the east in the ensuing weeks to come.[4]

On 23 August 1514, the day the decisive battle took place, Mohammad Khan Ustajlu and Nur-Ali Khalifa were the two Safavid commanders who had first-hand experience with the Ottomans ways of warfare.[5] They both advised to attack at once, in order to prevent the Ottoman's from establishing their proper defensive positions.[5] Mohammad Khan also counseled against a frontal attack due to the strength of the Ottoman artillery.[5] This advice however, was rejected by both Durmish Khan Shamlu as well as by the king himself.[5] Durmish Khan, a high-ranking member of the Qizilbash and a prominent figure at court because of his connections, rudely rebuffed Mohammad Khan and Nur-Ali Khalifa.[5][4] Durmish Khan considered it "cowardly to engage an unprepared enemy".[4] Ismail I chose to endorse Durmish Khan Shamlu's suggestion for the attack and thus the Ottomans were allowed to prepare their defenses at their leisure.[4][6] This would prove costly, contributing to the sound Safavid defeat at Chaldiran.[4][6] Mohammad Khan, who was in command of the left wing of the Safavid army, was killed, and his men fell in disarray.[7]

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References
  1. Floor & Herzig 2012, p. 64.
  2. Floor & Herzig 2012, p. 55.
  3. Floor 2008, pp. 168, 180, 209.
  4. McCaffrey 1990, pp. 656-658.
  5. Savory 2007, p. 41.
  6. Savory 2007, p. 41.
  7. Savory 2007, p. 42.

Sources
  • Floor, Willem M. (2008). Titles and Emoluments in Safavid Iran: A Third Manual of Safavid Administration, by Mirza Naqi Nasiri. Washington, DC: Mage Publishers. p. 180. ISBN 978-1933823232.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Floor, Willem; Herzig, Edmund, eds. (2012). Iran and the World in the Safavid Age. I.B. Tauris. p. 55. ISBN 978-1780769905.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • McCaffrey, Michael J. (1990). "ČĀLDERĀN". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. IV, Fasc. 6. pp. 656–658.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Savory, Roger (2007). Iran Under the Safavids. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521042512.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Preceded by
Amir Khan Mawsillu		 Governor of Diyarbakr
1506–1514		 Succeeded by
Qara Beg Ustajlu
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