TRENDEFRARAtlas of the Sultans · Wars, battles and treaties
Campaign · 1569
Taking advantage of misrule in Yemen and a quarrel between its two governors-general, the Zaydi Imam al-Mutahhar revolted in 1567. According to the TDV article on Yemen, Sanaa fell to the rebels and Aden was also taken; apart from Zabid and the Tihama, Yemen slipped out of Ottoman control. Özdemiroğlu Osman Pasha was sent as governor-general of Sanaa and Lala Mustafa Pasha as commander; when Lala Mustafa was dismissed for neglect (1568), the vizier Koca Sinan Pasha became commander in Yemen at his own request. The Ottoman army took Taiz; the stubborn fortress of Qahira fell with Sinan Pasha's help (1569) and al-Mutahhar's army withdrew, after which Aden, besieged by land and sea, was taken. When Kawkaban, the key to Sanaa, fell after a long siege, al-Mutahhar retreated to Saada. With the efforts of Behram Pasha some 220 fortresses were taken. Sinan Pasha, who earned the title “conqueror of Yemen”, left Yemen on 1 March 1571.
| Date | 1569 – 1 March 1571 |
|---|---|
| Location | Yemen (Taiz, Aden, Kawkaban) |
| Result | Yemen was brought back under Ottoman control; al-Mutahhar retreated to Saada |
| Belligerents | Ottoman Empire | Zaydi Imam al-Mutahhar |
|---|---|---|
| Commanders | Koca Sinan Pasha Özdemiroğlu Osman Pasha Behram Pasha | Imam al-Mutahhar |
Took place during the reign of Selim II (1566–1574). Selim II
The atlas records this territorial change for the year:
By the atlas's calculation the Ottoman lands covered about 5,287,000 km² in 1569; at the start of Selim II's reign they measured 5,124,000 km², at its end 5,296,000 km².
During Selim II (1566–1574) the atlas records 3 regions gained and 0 regions lost.
Regions gained: Cyclades (Naxos) (1566), Tunis (1569), Cyprus (1571).
The first sultan not to lead campaigns; he left government to his grand vizier. Cyprus was won and a heavy naval loss at Lepanto was quickly made good — counted as proof of the empire's institutional strength.
Areas are land area computed from the atlas's region data; see Method and sources.
Source: TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, “YEMEN” (Turkish); text written for the atlas.
Cite as: Atlas of the Sultans, “Ottoman–Zaydi conflict (1569): Date, Commanders and Outcome”, https://padisahlaratlasi.com/en/events/ottoman-zaydi-conflict/ (last updated 12 November 2026). Corrections
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