How was the Ottoman Empire establish? Why is the establishment of the Ottoman Empire important? What did Islam do for the Ottoman Empire? What is the origin and development of the Ottoman Empire?
Ottoman Empire is the most significant and long-lasting of the Turkish states established in the past. The Ottomans who established a state that is kind of a sequel of the Umayyad, Abbasid and Seljuk states turned into a great empire from a small principality and became one of the representatives of the Islamic civilization. It would not be wrong to qualify Ottoman Empire that reigned over Asia, Europe and Africa as the final great Muslim state.
Ottoman Empire was founded in Anatolia (Turkey) by Kayi tribe which was a branch of Oghuz Turks. In the middle of the 13th century, Kayis came to Anatolia in order to escape from the pressures of the Mongols and settled in around Ankara. Before Kayis, other Turkish states were established in Anatolia, in other words the Anatolia had already been Turkified and Islam had been spread there. Ertugrul Gazi was the leader of the Kayis who came to Anatolia. Upon his death in 1281, his son Osman Bey became the leader of Kayi tribe which turned into a principality. Osman Bey fought against the feudal landlords of the Byzantine. By taking the support of both rulers of the principalities (beys) nearby and Ahi leaders, a group that is effective in terms of religion and social aspects in Anatolia, he declared independence in 1299. All the heads of the state after Osman Bey were from his descendants. This is why, the state was named as Ottoman Empire.
Political situation in the region: In the period Ottoman Empire was founded, Byzantine Empire (East-Roman) the center of which was the city of Istanbul lost its characteristics to be an imperial state and turned into a city-state. Due to the intrigues of palace and internal fights for the throne, its political and military state was shattered. There were Bulgarian and Serbian kingdoms and the principalities of Moldavia, Wallachia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania in the Balkans. A constant struggle was taking place among them resulting from the political and religious causes. In conclusion, there was no political unity in the region.
During that period, the Anatolian Seljuk State having founded in Anatolia before the Ottomans collapsed and the principalities began to act independently. Ottomans did not intervene in the conflicts that took place between principalities. Instead, they followed a different policy and headed towards the West, the Balkans with the aim of both strengthening the state and spreading the beauties of Islam.
Osman Bey passed away in 1326. According to the tradition of the state, his son Orhan Bey, who had taken the responsibility of directing the expeditions in the lifetime of his father and executing the state affairs, became the ruler. During the reign of Orhan Bey (1324-1362), the state was founded in real terms with the developments of central and military systems.
Bursa, one of the trading cities under the control of the Byzantine, was conquered and made the first capital of the state (1326). Then, the cities of Iznik, Izmit and Balıkesir were conquered. Thus, the territories of Byzantine in Anatolia became quite small.
One of the important incidents that took place during the reign of Orhan Bey was that the state reached Balkans and the domination of Turks began there. Orhan Bey sent his son Suleiman Pasha to the Byzantine over Canakkale for help. Thus, a base was acquired in the region (1354) and then the conquests of Thrace and the Balkans started. With these conquests, the state concurrently placed people from Anatolia especially the Muslim Turcoman nomads to the conquered regions. Thus, a settlement policy that was going to last for about a hundred and fifty years began to be implemented. In this way, the Islamization, controlling and ensuring the security of the conquered territories in the Balkans took place and it became easier to collect the taxes by means of settling the nomads to the territories.
Ottomans took over the heritage of the Anatolian Seljuk State and aimed to protect and spread Islam just like them. As one of their main objectives, they aimed to establish the political unity in Anatolia by means of taking the control of the Anatolian principalities which were constantly having struggles against one another and they succeeded. Ottoman Empire developed constantly and became one of the world’s most long-lasting states that reached the widest boundaries and made great moves in the field of culture and civilization. As for the 15th and 16th centuries, it became the world’s most powerful empire.
Reasons for the expansion of Ottoman Empire in a short time is a subject emphasized by the historians. The opinions can be listed as follows:
- Its Geographical Position: Since it was a principality founded at the frontier lands, it did not draw attention of the other principalities. Besides, it was on the routes of transportation and trading.
- It was on the border of a weak Byzantine.
- The region was suitable for agriculture and animal husbandry.
- The fragmented political structure of Anatolia and the Ottomans’ successful policy in using this situation for their own benefit,
- The situation of the Balkans (They were unable to fight against the Ottomans since the political powers in their region were scattered and weak).
- They had the support of Ahi unions which were groups with strong political, religious, economic and social position in Anatolia.
- The gaza (holy) battles organized against Christians were welcomed positively by the public of Anatolia and the statesmen.
- Turcoman beys and commanders supported the Ottomans.
- They successfully implemented the system of central government and their understanding of just rule.
- They successfully implemented the iskan (settlement) policy.