Born: 10 October 1470 · Died: 22 September 1520 · Age at death: 49
How old was Selim I when he died?
Selim I died aged 49. He was born on 10 October 1470 and died on 22 September 1520.
Ottoman Sultan who vastly expanded the empire's territory
Did you know?He was known by the nickname 'The Grim' and managed to triple the size of the Ottoman Empire during his eight-year reign.
Quick facts
Date of birth10 October 1470
Date of death22 September 1520
Age at death49
Cause of deathAnthrax
NationalityOttoman
BirthplaceAmasya, Turkey
Occupationpoet, monarch, sultan
Editor's Take:
Selim I ruled for only eight years but transformed the Ottoman Empire. He turned east, defeating the Safavids and then the Mamluks. Syria, Egypt and the holy cities of Arabia came under Ottoman control. The empire became the leading power of the Islamic world. His ruthlessness towards rivals earned him the name Yavuz, the Grim. His son Suleiman the Magnificent built on these gains and carried the empire to its peak.
Key Milestones
1512: Becomes sultan
1514: Wins the Battle of Chaldiran
1517: Conquers Egypt
Selim I (Ottoman Turkish: سليم أول, romanized: Selim-i evvel; Turkish: I. Selim; 10 October 1470 – 22 September 1520), also known as Selim the Grim or Selim the Resolute (Turkish: Yavuz Sultan Selim), was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1512 to 1520.
