Taleshan's Role in the Chaldoran Battle

Chaldoran was one of the Iranian's master battles during the political history of this country, which happened between Iran and Ottomans. As one of the founders of the Safavid dynasty, Taleshans were actively invovled in the Chaldoran Battle. Iranians incurred huge losses of life and property because of the false pride of Shah Esmaeel, the fewness of the number of Iranian army in comparison with Soltan Salim’s army, application of incorrect battle doctrine, and lack of sufficient and advanced warfare. Another consequence of this bitter battle was the permanent separation of Diar Bakr and large areas of Kurd and Zaza regions from Iran's territory. Chaldoran battle was not a military confrontation between the two most powerful and recent empires in the region for territorial and border disputes, but just a religious battle between Sonni and Shia soldiers in the two sides. This study reviews reasons and causes of the Taleshan's attention to Safavids and describes how this battle occurred, and by providing some historical documentations, explains the Taleshan’s role in this battle.

Chaldoran, Talesh, Shah Esmail, Safavid, Ottomans.