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The First Campaign - Conflict over Bitlis - 1532-1536
Suleiman’s attention had been on Europe, content to contain the Safavids, who were occupied by enemies to its east. After Suleiman stabilized the situation in Hungary, he turned his attention on the Safavids. They were not only territorial rivals but the base for the rival Islamic faction, the Shi'a. The Safavids were also engaged in discussions with the Habsburgs for the formation of an alliance that would threaten the Ottoman Empire on two fronts.
In 1521 the Muntafiq tribe conquered the Al-Ahsa region on the Persian Gulf, declaring their rule to be on behalf of the Ottoman Empire, potentially flanking the Safavids. Ebrahim Khan Kalhor, governor of Baghdad, was killed by his own nephew, Zu'l-Faqar Khan Kalhor, who seized Arabian Iraq and submitted to Suleiman. In 1530, Shah Tahmāsp I besieged and recaptured Baghdad, appointing his own as governor of Baghdad. The Bey of Bitlis defected, swearing allegiance to the Safavids to gain their protection.
In 1533, Suleiman sent Ibrahim Pasha with a force, numbering 200,000 men and 300 pieces of artillery, into Armenia where he retook Bitlis. Tahmāsp could only field 7,000 men and a few cannons and, so sacrificed territory instead of facing a pitched battle. The Ottomans seized the Safavid capital, Tabriz without resistance. Suleiman joined Ibrahim in 1534 and they pushed on towards Sultaniye. Tahmāsp avoided direct battle, preferring to harass the Ottomans then retreat, leaving scorched earth behind him in the harsh interior of Persia. The scorched earth policy led to the loss of 30,000 Ottoman troops as they made their way through the Zagros mountains. Suleiman decided to turn his attention to Mesopotamia.
In December 1534, Suleiman conquered Baghdad. On Tahmāsp's order, his governor left the city for Basra, leaving the city undefended, his deputies presented the key of the city gate Suleiman. Representatives of local province rulers from Mosul, Gharraf, Basra, Arabistan and Luristan came to Baghdad to pledge their loyalty to Suleiman and for some to ask his protection from Portuguese aggression even though Basra had requested Portuguese “protection”.

Description

The First Campaign - Conflict over Bitlis - 1532-1536
Suleiman’s attention had been on Europe, content to contain the Safavids, who were occupied by enemies to its east. After Suleiman stabilized the situation in Hungary, he turned his attention on the Safavids. They were not only territorial rivals but the base for the rival Islamic faction, the Shi'a. The Safavids were also engaged in discussions with the Habsburgs for the formation of an alliance that would threaten the Ottoman Empire on two fronts.
In 1521 the Muntafiq tribe conquered the Al-Ahsa region on the Persian Gulf, declaring their rule to be on behalf of the Ottoman Empire, potentially flanking the Safavids. Ebrahim Khan Kalhor, governor of Baghdad, was killed by his own nephew, Zu'l-Faqar Khan Kalhor, who seized Arabian Iraq and submitted to Suleiman. In 1530, Shah Tahmāsp I besieged and recaptured Baghdad, appointing his own as governor of Baghdad. The Bey of Bitlis defected, swearing allegiance to the Safavids to gain their protection.
In 1533, Suleiman sent Ibrahim Pasha with a force, numbering 200,000 men and 300 pieces of artillery, into Armenia where he retook Bitlis. Tahmāsp could only field 7,000 men and a few cannons and, so sacrificed territory instead of facing a pitched battle. The Ottomans seized the Safavid capital, Tabriz without resistance. Suleiman joined Ibrahim in 1534 and they pushed on towards Sultaniye. Tahmāsp avoided direct battle, preferring to harass the Ottomans then retreat, leaving scorched earth behind him in the harsh interior of Persia. The scorched earth policy led to the loss of 30,000 Ottoman troops as they made their way through the Zagros mountains. Suleiman decided to turn his attention to Mesopotamia.
In December 1534, Suleiman conquered Baghdad. On Tahmāsp's order, his governor left the city for Basra, leaving the city undefended, his deputies presented the key of the city gate Suleiman. Representatives of local province rulers from Mosul, Gharraf, Basra, Arabistan and Luristan came to Baghdad to pledge their loyalty to Suleiman and for some to ask his protection from Portuguese aggression even though Basra had requested Portuguese “protection”.