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Description

Qizilbash were a group of Iranian Shiite militants of Turcoman origin from the Iranian Azerbaijan, Kurdistan and Anatolia, they played a major role in rise of the Persian Safavid Empire. Qorochi were a type of elite Qizilbash cavalry, highly traid in different martial arts, armed with composite bows, Shamshir (Persian Scimitar) , Gurz (eng: mace) or Tabarzin (eng: battle axe).

After Shah Ismael I took over the Iranian throne, the Ottoman Empire tried to reestablish a Sunni state by supporting of Aq Quyonlu, a confederation of Iranian Sunni Turcomans.

On 20th June 1503 a combined Ottoman/Turcoman force of 120.000 men led by Morad Mirza invaded Persian, they were confronted by 12.000 Qizilbash troops led by Shah Ismail near Hamadan. The highly mobile Persian Cavalry outmanoeuvred their Ottoman opponents, charged into their lines and caused them heavy casualties, one of the high ranking Ottoman commanders was slain what caused a considerable panic within Ottoman Army. About 40.000 Ottoman troops were slain.

Later on in 1503 Isfahan was also captured by Persians, another Turkmen force of 70.000 men led by Murad faced a Qizilbash force of 30.000 near Shiraz, Qizilbash Cavalry managed to neutralize Ottoman heavy canons by shattering the chains.

In 1504 Shah Ismael marched westwards, a Qizilbash force of 10.000 led by Ustajlu Mohammad Beg captured city of Hasankeyf in Eastern Anatolia.

In 1507 the Qizilbash defeated the last remnant of Aq Quyonulus in Mesopotamia, they captured Mosul, Mardin and Baghdad.

Description

Qizilbash were a group of Iranian Shiite militants of Turcoman origin from the Iranian Azerbaijan, Kurdistan and Anatolia, they played a major role in rise of the Persian Safavid Empire. Qorochi were a type of elite Qizilbash cavalry, highly traid in different martial arts, armed with composite bows, Shamshir (Persian Scimitar) , Gurz (eng: mace) or Tabarzin (eng: battle axe).

After Shah Ismael I took over the Iranian throne, the Ottoman Empire tried to reestablish a Sunni state by supporting of Aq Quyonlu, a confederation of Iranian Sunni Turcomans.

On 20th June 1503 a combined Ottoman/Turcoman force of 120.000 men led by Morad Mirza invaded Persian, they were confronted by 12.000 Qizilbash troops led by Shah Ismail near Hamadan. The highly mobile Persian Cavalry outmanoeuvred their Ottoman opponents, charged into their lines and caused them heavy casualties, one of the high ranking Ottoman commanders was slain what caused a considerable panic within Ottoman Army. About 40.000 Ottoman troops were slain.

Later on in 1503 Isfahan was also captured by Persians, another Turkmen force of 70.000 men led by Murad faced a Qizilbash force of 30.000 near Shiraz, Qizilbash Cavalry managed to neutralize Ottoman heavy canons by shattering the chains.

In 1504 Shah Ismael marched westwards, a Qizilbash force of 10.000 led by Ustajlu Mohammad Beg captured city of Hasankeyf in Eastern Anatolia.

In 1507 the Qizilbash defeated the last remnant of Aq Quyonulus in Mesopotamia, they captured Mosul, Mardin and Baghdad.