&ELM I., Sultan of Turkey, son of Bajazet II., was b. in 1467. dethroned his father by the aid of the Janizarics, April 25. 1512. and ascended the throne. To secure him self in his elevation, he caused his father, brothers, and nephews to he put to death, thus beginning a policy which he pursued inflexibly through the whole of his 'Sub quent career, viz., to destroy without scruple every actual or possible obstacle to the accomplishment of his own ends. Urged on by a devouring appetite for conquest, and by the warlike fanaticism of the Janizaries, he declared war (15141 against shah Ismail of Persia, and marched eastward with an army of 250,000 men, massacring on the way 40,000 Shiites. Be encountered Ismail at Calderoom and defeated him w ith immense loss; hut a spirit of disaffection breaking out in his army, he was compelled to content himself with this success, which gave him possession of Diarbekir and Kurdistan. In the following year, lie overran Armenia; and leaving his lieutenants to complete this conquest, he marched against the Mamelnko sultan of Egypt. whom he had previously endeavored to detach front intimate alliance with the Persian monarch. Itanstn,glion, the Egyptian sultan, was totallyslefeated (1516) at Irlarjabik by Sento, and Syria becarrie the prize of the victor; and Kansn's successor, Tonman-Bey, was st;:l more unfortunate, his army being almost extirpated (1517) at the battles of Gaza and Budania. The vie
torious Turks then entered Cairo without opposition; Toumau-Bey and his chief sup portera were put to death, and incorporated with the Ottoman empire. The last lineal descendant of the Abbaside caliph. woo was then resident bm Egypt, transmitted to Salim the relieiona prestige which had devolved upon himself by descent, and at the same taco bestowed upon him the title of "Inmum," and the standard of the prophet. In conseql:eacc cf this gift, the Ottoman sultan became the chief of Islam, as die repre senta:ive cf Mohammed; and the sacred cities of Mecca and Medina, along with the chief Arahion tribes, in consequence acknowledged his supremacy. Thus, in less than four years, So did more to extend the Ottoman empire than any of his most renowned predecessors during a whole reign. Ile also laid the foundation of a regular marine, cons:rae:ed the arsenal of Pens, chastised the insolence of the Janizarics wills savage severi:y, and labored to ameliorate, by improved institutions, the condition of the various peoples he had conquered. He died Sept. 22, 1520, While planning fresh cam paigns aTainst both Persians and Christians. This prince, who in a sense merited his title of l'avuz (the ferocious), was nevertheless a lover and encourager of literature, and even himself cultivated the poetic art. Selim was succeeded by his son, Solyman the magnialent (q.v.).