Ismail, Shah of Iran, has consolidated Azerbaijan.

He is also sympathetic to the Turkmens of Ottoman Empire, being a champion of the Shiite faith and partially a Turkmen.

To attract supporters, he has sent agents (who usually use the unofficial title of khalif) to Ottoman lands.

His activities had not escaped the attention of the Ottomans, but the Ottoman Empire is too preoccupied with the oncoming period of interregnum during the last years of the crippled sultan Bayezid II.

Thus Ismail has been able to gain many supporters among Ottoman subjects.

One such supporter is Karabıyıkoğlu, who adopts the title Şahkulu, meaning "servant of the shah".

Ottoman sources however usually entitle him as Şeytankulu, meaning "servant of the Devil".

He is living in the territory called Tekeli, named after the former beylik of Teke in a village near Antalya, southwestern Turkey.

He is both a Shiite religious leader and a rebel leader.

During the early days of interregnum, Korkut, one of the princes, is traveling from Antalya to Manisa to be closer to capital.

Şahkulu raids his caravan and robs the treasury.

He then begins attacking the towns and killing the government officers in the towns.

He also raids Alaşehir to seize a part of the royal treasure.

Only now is an Ottoman force under Karagöz Ahmet Pasha, the beylerbey of Anadolu, sent to check his activities, but Şahkulu defeats the forces of Ahmet Pasha and executes him.

This increases Şahkulu's fame and the prestige.