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Mohammad Khan Ustajlu


Mohammad Khan Ustajlu (d. 1514) was an early 16th-century Safavid military commander of Turkoman origin who served during the reign of king Ismail I (1501-1524). He played a pivotal role in Ismail I's conquests and expansion in Asia Minor and Mesopotamia. When Ismail I returned to Khoy, after some skirmishes with 'Ala' al-Dowleh, he appointed Mohammad Khan Ustajlu as the new governor (beglarbeg) of Diyarbekir. Mohammad Khan Ustajlu was the son of Mirza Beg, the brother of Owlash Beg and the husband of one of king Ismail I's sisters. At the decisive Battle of Chaldiran (1514), Mohammad Khan Ustajlu was one of the two Safavid commanders, the other one being Nur-Ali Khalifa, who had first-hand experience with the Ottomans ways of warfare. Mohammad Khan, who counseled against a frontal attack, was rejected by both Durmish Khan Shamlu as well as by the king himself. Durmish Khan then attempted to put Mohammad Khan on his place, by the means of rude commentary. Subsequently, Durmish Khan made a completely different proposal for the Safavid attack compared to what both Mohammad Khan and Nur-Ali Khalifa had mentioned, which Ismail I surprisingly endorsed. Due to Durmish Khan's tactic, the center of the Ottoman army at Chaldiran remained intact, which included the janissaries and most of the artillery, and which was to be used with devastating effect. Mohammad Khan, who was in command of the left wing of the Safavid army, was killed, and his men fell in disarray.


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