This campaign was cut short when Selim was overwhelmed by sickness and subsequently died in the ninth year of his reign aged 49.
Officially it is said that Selim succumbed to sirpence, a skin infection that he had developed during his long campaigns on horseback. (
Sirpence was an anthrax infection sometimes seen among leatherworkers and others who worked with livestock.)
Some historians, however, suggest that he died of cancer or that his physician poisoned him.
Other historians have noted that Selim's death coincided with a period of plague in the empire, and have added that several sources imply that Selim himself suffered from the disease.

On 22 September 1520 Sultan Selim I's eight year reign came to an end.
Selim died and was brought to Istanbul so he could be buried in Yavuz Selim Mosque which Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent commissioned in loving memory of his father.
Sultan Selim I had conquered and unified the Islamic holy lands.
Protecting the lands in Europe, he gave priority to the East, as he believed the real danger came from there.
This campaign was cut short when Selim was overwhelmed by sickness and subsequently died in the ninth year of his reign aged 49. Officially it is said that Selim succumbed to sirpence, a skin infection that he had developed during his long campaigns on horseback. (Sirpence was an anthrax infection sometimes seen among leatherworkers and others who worked with livestock.) Some historians, however, suggest that he died of cancer or that his physician poisoned him. Other historians have noted that Selim's death coincided with a period of plague in the empire, and have added that several sources imply that Selim himself suffered from the disease.
On 22 September 1520 Sultan Selim I's eight year reign came to an end. Selim died and was brought to Istanbul so he could be buried in Yavuz Selim Mosque which Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent commissioned in loving memory of his father. Sultan Selim I had conquered and unified the Islamic holy lands. Protecting the lands in Europe, he gave priority to the East, as he believed the real danger came from there.
Selim I