The spoils of war of Yavuz Sultan Selim Period (1512-1520)

The reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim, which constitutes an important period in the history of the Ottoman Empire, is a period in which important political and economic successes were achieved for the Ottoman Empire. The wars and expansion of this period, which strengthened the power of the state, also brought important economic advantages and gains. One of the important results of these wars was the spoils of war. From the foundation of the Ottoman Empire to the downturn of the 17th century, the spoils of war provided important financing to the state treasury and the army in many respects. One of the most important periods in this respect was the reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim. For this reason, in this study, while the issue of booty in general Ottoman history is examined in many aspects, in the example of Yavuz Sultan Selim period, the spoils captured in wars and conquests are tried to be revealed in detail. In this study, in the light of the historical sources and archive records of the period, the movable and immovable properties seized after the war with Şehzade Ahmed, as well as the spoils seized as a result of the Chaldiran, Mercidabık and Ridaniye field battles with the Safavids, were presented as a whole. In addition, it was understood that the spoils were an economic unit and financial opportunities that made an extremely important contribution to both the period of Yavuz Sultan Selim and the general Ottoman history until the end of the 16th century.