In 1538, the Ottoman Sultan Selim I sent his general Hadim Sinan Pasha to conquer Yemen, expecting a swift victory over the fragmented Zaydi imams. Instead, he walked into a brutal, multi-year stalemate in the highlands around Sanaa. This episode explores the Siege of Sanaa, focusing on Imam al-Mutawakkil Ismail’s desperate defense and the unique guerrilla tactics that exhausted the Ottoman Empire’s resources. We look at how the mountainous terrain neutralized Ottoman artillery, turning their greatest strength into a liability. The narrative covers the initial capture of the city, the subsequent uprising led by the Banu Rassi family, and the eventual Ottoman withdrawal in 1547. By examining this conflict, we understand why Yemen remained largely independent from direct imperial control for centuries, preserving its distinct political and religious identity against one of the world’s most powerful empires.
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