Siege of Shamakhi (1578)
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| Siege of Shamakhi | |||||||
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| Part of Ottoman–Safavid War (1578–1590) | |||||||
.jpg) The Safavids besieging Shamakhi (شماخی), with Osman Pasha (عثمان پاشا) defending the city, in November 1578. Secaatname, 1586 | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Aras Khan  |
 Osman Pasha Adil Giray | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 20,000[1] |
15,000–20,000 Ottomans 20,000–30,000 Crimean Tatars[1] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 10,000 killed[2] | Unknown | ||||||
The Siege of Shamakhi (Persian: محاصره شماخی) occurred during the Ottoman–Safavid War (1578–1590), as an attempt by the Safavids to capture the Ottoman strongly of Shamakhi in 9-12 November 1578.[1] Shamakhi had been conquered by the Ottomans at the onset of the war by the mid-autumn of 1578, together with the region of Georgia, and the major cities of Derbent and Baku.[3] The author Asafi, secretary and hagiographer of Osman Pasha, was also present in Shamakhi during this period.[4]
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As the main Ottoman army under Lala Mustafa Pasha was leaving Shirvan, the Safavids sought to take advantage of the situation and sent an army of about 20,000 men under Aras Khan to Shirvan in October.[1] Aras Khan soon captured the city of Eresh, and then proceeded to besiege Shamakhi, starting from 9 November 1578.[1] There, in front of the Shamakhi castle, Osman Pasha successfully resisted the Safavid offensive, but was still pressured by superior Safavid numbers.[1]
Crimean counter-attack (November 12)
After three days of battle, an Ottoman-allied force of Crimean Tatars arrived, led by the Crimean Khan’s brothers (Adil Giray, Gazi Giray, Saadet Giray) and the Khan’s son Mübarek Giray, as well as the Khan’s deputy Hacı Mustafa Beğ, and the former ruler of Shirvanshah Sultan Burhan’s son Abu Bakr Mirza.[1] These forces had received orders from the Ottoman Porte to help Osman Pasha’s force in Shirvan, once peace had been concluded between Crimea and Poland in September 1578. In total, these rescue forces numbered between 20,000 and 30,000.[1]
The Safavids, being caught between these two forces, were severely defeated on 12 November, and their commander Aras Khan was executed. The Crimean Tatars were warmly welcomed by the Ottomans, but they took advantage of the situation and captured great quantities of booty and slaves.[1]
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