Selim I (
Ottoman Turkish: سليم اوّل,
Modern Turkish:
I.Selim or
Yavuz Sultan Selim), nicknamed
Yavuz (traditionally translated as "grim," but closer to "stern" or "implacable" in meaning) (October 10, 1465/1466/1470 – September 22, 1520), was the
Sultan of the
Ottoman Empire from 1512 to 1520. His reign is notable for the enormous expansion of the Empire, particularly his
conquest between 1516 and 1517 of the entire
Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt, which included all of
Sham,
Hejaz,
Tihamah, and
Egypt itself. He was also granted the title of "Khâdim ül Haramain ish Sharifain"
(Servant of the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina) by the
Sharif of Mecca in 1517. Through conquering and unification of Muslim lands, Selim became the defender of the Holy Cities of
Mecca and
Medina which strengthened the Ottoman claim to
caliphate in the
Muslim world.