Adana campaign

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}

The '''Adana campaign''' occurred after [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] forces seized the city of [[Adana]] from the [[Mamluk Sultanate]]. The Mamluks responded by sending a force under Commander and Chief Uzbek, and besieged Adana. The Ottomans responded by sending a large relief force that was defeated.

The '''Adana campaign''' occurred after [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] forces seized the city of [[Adana]] from the [[Mamluk Sultanate]]. The Egyptians responded by sending a force under Commander and Chief Uzbek, and besieged Adana. The Ottomans responded by sending a large relief force that was defeated.

{{Infobox military conflict

{{Infobox military conflict

| place = [[Adana]], modern day Turkey

| place = [[Adana]], modern day Turkey

| territory =

| territory =

| result = Mamluk victory

| result = Egyptian victory

| combatants_header =

| combatants_header =

| combatant1 = [[File:Mameluke Flag.svg|23px]] [[Mamluk Sultanate]]

| combatant1 = [[File:Mameluke Flag.svg|23px]] [[Mamluk Sultanate]]

== Background ==

== Background ==

The Ottoman Empire had launched a campaign in 1485 against the Mamluk holdings in Southern Turkey and in Cicilia Armenia, seizing areas such as Adana. The Mamluk Forces in the [[Taurus Mountains]] withdrew to Aleppo. In order to respond, Sultan [[Qaitbey]] had [[Atabeg]] Uzbek launch a counter offensive. To this cause Qaitbey had granted Uzbek 3,000 Royal Mamluks as well as Nine of the 15 Emirs of 1,000. The force set off from Cairo over Damascus to Aleppo, recruiting local Syrian peasants along the way. In February the Mamluks arrived at Adana.

The Ottoman Empire had launched a campaign in 1485 against the Mamluk holdings in Southern Turkey and in Cicilia Armenia, seizing areas such as Adana. The Mamluk Forces in the [[Taurus Mountains]] withdrew to Aleppo. In order to respond, Sultan [[Qaitbey]] had [[Atabeg]] Uzbek launch a counter offensive. To this cause Qaitbey had granted Uzbek 3,000 Royal Mamluks as well as Nine of the 15 Emirs of 1,000. The force set off from Cairo over Damascus to Aleppo, recruiting local Syrian peasants along the way. In February the Egyptians arrived at Adana.{{Citation |last=Boyar |first=Ebru |title=Ottoman expansion in the East |date=2012 |work=The Cambridge History of Turkey: Volume 2: The Ottoman Empire as a World Power, 1453–1603 |volume=2 |pages=74–140 |editor-last=Fleet |editor-first=Kate |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/cambridge-history-of-turkey/ottoman-expansion-in-the-east/35EAA8380CBAA3E3EC096799BB2E7F66 |access-date=2026-04-20 |series=Cambridge History of Turkey |place=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-62094-9 |editor2-last=Faroqhi |editor2-first=Suraiya N.}}

== First Battle of Adana ==

== First Battle of Adana ==

After a peace message by Uzbek was ignored, the Mamluks confronted an Ottoman force outside the city. The Ottomans were quickly routed, with many fleeing. Around 800 were captured, including 17 commanders and paraded in Damascus, Aleppo, and Cairo. After the battle, the Mamluks besieged Adana.

After a peace message by Uzbek was ignored, the Mamluks confronted an Ottoman force outside the city. The Ottomans were quickly routed, with many fleeing. Around 800 were captured, including 17 commanders and paraded in Damascus, Aleppo, and Cairo. After the battle, the Mamluks besieged Adana.{{Cite web |title=The Cambridge History of Turkey |url=https://www.cristoraul.org/ENGLISH/readinghall/THIRDMILLENNIUMLIBRARY/GEORGE-FINLAY/PDFLIBRARY/ChofTurkey-Volume2-The-Otoman-Empire-as-a-world-power.pdf}}

== Second Battle of Adana ==

== Second Battle of Adana ==

When Sultan [[Bayezid II]] learned of the offensive on Adana, he sent [[Hersekzade Ahmed Pasha|Hersek-oglu]] to lead an Ottoman army to relieve Adana. Hersek-oglu was the son of [[Stjepan Vukčić]], Duke of Herzegovina, who was sent as a hostage to the court of [[Mehmed II]]. There he grew up with Bayezid. When Bayezid seized power, he allowed Kersek-oglu to marry one of his daughters, and also granted him a high position. When Hersek-oglu's approached the Mamluk Army, his reconnaissance unit was routed by the Mamluks. The survivors managed to report that the Mamluks had less than 15,000 soldiers. The battle occurred on 15 March. There, Hersek-oglu's forces suffered a massive defeat. The Turkmen contingents fled during the beginning of the battle. Hersek-oglu and 200 of his Janissaries fought on, despite being encircled. He was wounded and captured by the Mamluks.

When Sultan [[Bayezid II]] learned of the offensive on Adana, he sent [[Hersekzade Ahmed Pasha|Hersek-oglu]] to lead an Ottoman army to relieve Adana. Hersek-oglu was the son of [[Stjepan Vukčić]], Duke of Herzegovina, who was sent as a hostage to the court of [[Mehmed II]]. There he grew up with Bayezid. When Bayezid seized power, he allowed Kersek-oglu to marry one of his daughters, and also granted him a high position. When Hersek-oglu's approached the Egyptian Mamluk Army, his reconnaissance unit was routed by the Egyptians. The survivors managed to report that the Egyptians had less than 15,000 soldiers. The battle occurred on 15 March. There, Hersek-oglu's forces suffered a massive defeat. The Turkmen contingents fled during the beginning of the battle. Hersek-oglu and 200 of his Janissaries fought on, despite being encircled. He was wounded and captured by the Egyptians.

Among the captives were also the son of the late vezir Mustafa Pasha, Kiral-oglu, (son of Isfendiyar-oğlu) Kızıl Ahmed, (Sanjakbegi of Kengırı) Ahmed Beg, and the sultan's chief pantry-keeper (kilerjibaşı) Süleyman Aga.{{Cite book |last=Har-El |first=Shai |title=Struggle for Domination in the Middle East: The Ottoman-Mamluk War, 1485–91 |publisher=E. J. Brill |year=1995 |isbn=9789004101807 |page=142 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KUjl5hWOYVMC}}

Among the captives were also the son of the late vezir Mustafa Pasha, Kiral-oglu, (son of Isfendiyar-oğlu) Kızıl Ahmed, (Sanjakbegi of Kengırı) Ahmed Beg, and the sultan's chief pantry-keeper (kilerjibaşı) Süleyman Aga.{{Cite book |last=Har-El |first=Shai |title=Struggle for Domination in the Middle East: The Ottoman-Mamluk War, 1485–91 |publisher=E. J. Brill |year=1995 |isbn=9789004101807 |page=142 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KUjl5hWOYVMC}}

== Results ==

== Results ==

The Ottoman prisoners were sent to Syria. The Mamluk victory allowed the [[Mamluk Sultanate|Mamluks]] to re-establish control of [[Tartus]] and [[Adana]]. Despite attempts to broker peace by the Mamluks, the Ottomans would continue to launch further offensives which would eventually lead to the Ottoman conquest of [[Cilicia]].

The Ottoman prisoners were sent to Syria. The Egyptian victory allowed the [[Mamluk Sultanate|Egyptians]] to re-establish control of [[Tartus]] and [[Adana]]. Despite attempts to broker peace by the Egyptians, the Ottomans would continue to launch further offensives which would eventually lead to the Ottoman conquest of [[Cilicia]].

== References ==

== References ==

* "Struggle for domination in the Middle East : the Ottoman-Mamluk War, 1485-91" by Har-el, Shai

* "Struggle for domination in the Middle East : the Ottoman-Mamluk War, 1485-91" by Har-el, Shai

[[Category:Battles involving Egypt]]

[[Category:1480s in the Ottoman Empire]]

[[Category:1480s in the Ottoman Empire]]

[[Category:1485 in Asia]]

[[Category:1485 in Asia]]