Afshar Beylik


Afshar Beylik was a Turkish beylik in Eastern Anatolia in the early 16th century. It was founded by the Afshar tribe which was an Oghuz Turk tribe with Kızılbaş faith.

Emergence

In 1473 Mehmet II of the Ottoman Empire defeated Uzun Hasan of Akkoyunlu Turcoman Empire which was controlling the Eastern Anatolia This defeat was a severe blow to Akkoyunlu prestige and they lost their control on the north territories of the empire During the chaos, Sevindik Bey of Afshar tribe emerged as the new sovereign of the area in 1480s.

The beylik

At the peak of its power the beylik controlled the area between Alagyaz in the east and Kop Dağı in the west. When Akkoyunlu dynasty was replaced by Safavids Sevindik Bey formed a loose alliance with Ismail I of Safavids. However, during the campaign of Ottoman sultan Selim I over Safavids in 1514, he was careful not to provoke the Ottomans. In return Ottomans didn't annex any part of Afshar territory. Nevertheless, Sevindik, being Kızılbash renewed Safavid alliance after the death of Selim I.

End of the beylik

Ottomans decided to end the beylik. In 1534, during the 6th campaign of Suleyman I Pargalı İbrahim Pasha annexed the Afshar territory to Ottoman realm. In Erzurum a beylerbeylik was established and a member of Dulkadir house was appointed as the beylerbey.