Shah Suwar

Shah Suwar
Malik al-Muzaffar
A rare coin specimen issued by Shah Suwar in Aintab likely between 1468 and 1471.
Beg of Dulkadir
Reign	April 1466 – 4 June 1472
Predecessor	Shah Budak
Successor	Shah Budak
Ottoman Sanjak-bey of Chirmen
Reign	1465
Ottoman Wali of Bozok and Artukabad
Reign	4 December 1465 – 1466
Born	Before 1432
Died	24 August 1472 (aged over 40) Cairo, Mamluk Sultanate
Issue	Ali Kasim Shah Khatun
House	Dulkadir
Father	Suleiman
Religion	Islam

Shah Suwar (Ottoman Turkish: شهسوار; Turkish: Şehsuvar; before 1432 – 24 August 1472) was the ruler of Dulkadir from April 1466 to 4 June 1472. Upon the assassination of his brother, Malik Arslan (r. 1454–65), he competed for the throne against his other brother Shah Budak (r. 1465–66, 1472–80), who took over with the support of the Mamluk Sultanate. Shah Suwar was welcomed by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II (r. 1444–46, 1451–81), who appointed him to a number of positions in his realm. Six months into Shah Budak's reign, Shah Suwar defeated him and instead became the new ruler in April 1466. The Mamluks fiercely disputed Shah Suwar's reign. The Sultans Khushqadam (r. 1461–67) and Qaitbay (r. 1468–96) launched multiple consecutive campaigns to subdue him. Shah Suwar initially triumphed over the Mamluks and expanded his territory, occupying the entirety of the Ramadanid realm.

Shah Suwar started loosening his ties with the Ottomans, who disapproved of the constant warfare between him and the Mamluks. In 1468, he declared himself a sovereign ruler and circulated coins in his name. Three years later, the Mamluk Sultan negotiated with the Ottomans for them to cut ties and halt their support for Shah Suwar. Qaitbay seeded mistrust among Turkmen lords loyal to Shah Suwar and sought their support for the Mamluks. Shah Suwar gradually lost many of his supporters as well as the lands he had conquered to the Mamluk forces. In April 1472, Shah Suwar retreated to his residence at the Zamantu Castle. After a lengthy siege, he surrendered to the Mamluks on 4 June 1472. He and many of his brothers were brought to Cairo on 24 August 1472, where he was executed. Shah Budak replaced him as the new ruler.