Battle of Torches
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Torches was fought in 1583 during the Ottoman–Safavid War (1578–1590)
. The name of the battle refers to torches used during night clashes.
had been able to conquer most of the Caucasus
. Osman Pasha
(Özdemir Pasha
’s son) was appointed as the governor of the newly conquered territories. The capital of his province was Derbend at the Caspian
coast. However, after the Ottoman army returned to its main base in Istanbul
, the Persians under Imam Kulu began to regain some of their former territories. Although an army from the Crimean Khanate
(which was an Ottoman vassal) under Mehmet Giray was sent to Caucasus in summer 1579 as a reinforcement, they returned to Crimea
in the autumn, leaving Osman Pasha alone. Consequently, Osman Pasha had to retreat to North Caucasus. In 1582,the Ottoman Porte sent a second reinforcing force under Cafer Pasha, the governor of Caffa, to restore Ottaman dominance in the area.
irregulars, attacked again in the spring of 1583. In a first clash by the vanguard units of both armies, the Ottomans were defeated (25 April 1583). The main clash occurred in Baştepe near Derbend on 9 May 1583. On the Ottoman side, Osman Pasha was placed in the center, Cafer Pasha was at the left flank and Haydar Pasha, the governor of Sivas, was at the right flank. On the Persian side, Imam Kulu was in the center, Rustem Khan was at the right and Burhaneddin at the left.
The result of the battle was inconclusive at the end of the first day, but the battle continued during the night, both sides using torches. In the second day, there was a momentary pause in the combat. But in the third day, an Ottoman general attack marked the end of the battle. The Persian army was defeated and the Persian prisoners of war exceeded 3000.
as well as West Iran
. But these gains were not long lasting, as they were reversed in the next Ottoman–Safavid War
.
Ottoman–Safavid War (1578–1590)
The Ottoman–Safavid War was a war between Safavid Persia under Mohammed Khodabanda and later Abbas I, and the Ottoman Empire under Murad III. It began in 1577-1578 and ended in 1590....
. The name of the battle refers to torches used during night clashes.
Background
In the first phase of the war the OttomansOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
had been able to conquer most of the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
. Osman Pasha
Özdemiroğlu Osman Pasha
Özdemiroğlu Osman Pasha was an able statesman and a commander of the Ottoman Empire who had also been the grand vizier for one year...
(Özdemir Pasha
Özdemir Pasha
Özdemir Pasha was a Caucasian Mameluke general for the Ottoman Empire. He joined Hadim Süleyman Pasha's campaign to India , in 1538. Later he became the Governor of Yemen and invaded Ethiopia in 1557 for the Ottoman Empire.He died in 1561 in Sana, Yemen....
’s son) was appointed as the governor of the newly conquered territories. The capital of his province was Derbend at the Caspian
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
coast. However, after the Ottoman army returned to its main base in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, the Persians under Imam Kulu began to regain some of their former territories. Although an army from the Crimean Khanate
Crimean Khanate
Crimean Khanate, or Khanate of Crimea , was a state ruled by Crimean Tatars from 1441 to 1783. Its native name was . Its khans were the patrilineal descendants of Toqa Temür, the thirteenth son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan...
(which was an Ottoman vassal) under Mehmet Giray was sent to Caucasus in summer 1579 as a reinforcement, they returned to Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
in the autumn, leaving Osman Pasha alone. Consequently, Osman Pasha had to retreat to North Caucasus. In 1582,the Ottoman Porte sent a second reinforcing force under Cafer Pasha, the governor of Caffa, to restore Ottaman dominance in the area.
Battle
The 50,000-strong Persians under Imam Kulu, together with GeorgianGeorgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
irregulars, attacked again in the spring of 1583. In a first clash by the vanguard units of both armies, the Ottomans were defeated (25 April 1583). The main clash occurred in Baştepe near Derbend on 9 May 1583. On the Ottoman side, Osman Pasha was placed in the center, Cafer Pasha was at the left flank and Haydar Pasha, the governor of Sivas, was at the right flank. On the Persian side, Imam Kulu was in the center, Rustem Khan was at the right and Burhaneddin at the left.
The result of the battle was inconclusive at the end of the first day, but the battle continued during the night, both sides using torches. In the second day, there was a momentary pause in the combat. But in the third day, an Ottoman general attack marked the end of the battle. The Persian army was defeated and the Persian prisoners of war exceeded 3000.
Aftermath
By this victory, the Ottomans were able to establish control over all of the Caucasus. After further Ottoman victories in the south (conquest of Tebriz) both sides agreed to conclude peace. By the Treaty of Istanbul of 1590, Persians acknowledged Ottoman gains in both the Caucasus and modern AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
as well as West Iran
West Azarbaijan Province
West Azerbaijan Province or West Azarbaijan Province , is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is located in the North West of the country, bordering Turkey, Iraq and Nakhchivan, and the provinces of East Azerbaijan, Zanjan and Kurdistan....
. But these gains were not long lasting, as they were reversed in the next Ottoman–Safavid War
Ottoman–Safavid War (1603–1618)
The Ottoman–Safavid War was a war between Safavid Persia under Abbas I of Persia and the Ottoman Empire under Sultan Ahmed I. It began in 1603 and ended with Safavid victory in 1618.-Course:...
.