Orhan Gazi (1281-1362), the son of Osman Gazi and Mal Hatun, was born in Söğüt, as the second Ottoman Sultan. He ruled as a bey between 1326 and 1359. He inherited a land of 16,000 square kilometers from his father Osman Gazi, which he expanded through conquests to 95,000 square kilometers before passing it on to his son.
There are limited sources about Orhan Gazi's youth, and much remains unknown. Even the circumstances of his ascension to the throne are subject to debate. His name first appears in Ottoman history when he marries Holofira, the daughter of the Yarhisar lord, in 1299. In 1300, he captures Köprühisar and is appointed as the uç beyi (frontier lord) in Karacabey by his father Osman Gazi. Later, Orhan participates in all of his father's campaigns.
Orhan Gazi's Accession to the Throne:
According to Ibn-i Kemal, one of the earliest Ottoman historians, Orhan Gazi became the ruler based on the decision of gathered Ahi leaders.
According to Aşıkpaşazade, a 15th-century Ottoman historian widely accepted as a reliable source, when the prominent figures of the state convened after Osman Bey's passing, they proposed Orhan Bey's brother Alaaddin as the sultan. However, Alaaddin declined, stating that it would be more appropriate for Orhan, due to his exceptional military prowess, to assume the throne. Thus, Orhan Gazi ascended to power.
In Byzantine sources (Halkokondiles), it is mentioned that after his father's death, Orhan Gazi went to Uludağ, organized and gathered an army, and took control by defeating his brothers.
The question of whether Orhan Gazi ascended to the throne while his father was alive or after his death remains a subject of debate. While it is generally believed that he ascended in 1326, it is known that his father Osman, in his final years of illness, entrusted him with the governance. Therefore, it is not surprising that the first coin bearing Orhan Gazi's name is dated February 1324.
Reign:
In his early years, Orhan Gazi conducted raids against the Byzantines to expand his realm's borders. In 1321, during his father's lifetime, he captured Mudanya. In 1323, he built a mosque in his name within the boundaries of Gebze. Later, he sent his commanders to the border regions of the principality. While Abdurrahman Gazi conducted conquests in the Yalova region, Konur Alp advanced towards the Black Sea region.
During that period, the Ottoman's primary military tactic was "aman," which involved subjecting a city to a prolonged siege, cutting off support routes, and aiming for the city's surrender. Consequently, Bursa was surrounded, leading to a major siege. Initially, Evranos Castle was captured without a fight, thanks to Köse Mihal, who was loyal to Osman Bey. Subsequently, on April 6, 1326, Bursa was conquered by Orhan Gazi and established as the capital.
Immediately after, Orhan Gazi sent raiders (Akıncıları) towards the north, the Anatolian side of present-day Istanbul. Ottoman raiders, after capturing Kartal and Aydos castles, became a presence even along the Bosphorus coastline.
Pelekanon Battle:
To halt the raids of the Ottoman raiders and put an end to the ongoing siege of Nicaea, Byzantine Emperor III. Andronikos, along with approximately 2,000 soldiers and his close advisor Kantakouzenos (who would later ascend to the Byzantine throne through various intrigues), crossed to the Anatolian side in May 1329 and set up camp in Darıca. Orhan Gazi received the news and, leaving a small number of soldiers in the siege of Nicaea, arrived in Darıca with his army of approximately 8,000. The first major battle between the Ottomans and the Byzantines, known as the Battle of Maltepe, took place in the Pelekanon region, located between Darıca and Eskihisar.
The clashes lasted all day, and when Emperor Andronikos decided to return to his headquarters, Orhan Gazi launched a sudden attack, causing panic among the rival army. In the ensuing chaos, Emperor Andronikos was wounded and fled to the capital (Constantinople) by sea. The remaining Byzantine soldiers were also annihilated.
The significance of the Battle of Pelekanon lies in elevating the Ottomans to prominence and, with Nicaea realizing that no further help would come, leading to its surrender. Following the Maltepe Battle, Byzantine emperors refrained from launching campaigns into Anatolia, and the Anatolian side of present-day Istanbul began to transition into Ottoman territory.
Conquest of Nicaea:
After realizing that they could not expect any reinforcements, and with their hopes dwindling, the commander of Nicaea Castle in Byzantine hands surrendered the city to Orhan Gazi on March 2, 1331. The conquest of Nicaea was of great importance to the Ottomans. Following the conquest, the city was developed and became a significant center for art, culture, and trade.
Subsequently, due to internal conflicts in Byzantium and the lack of aid sent to the region, Byzantine presence gradually diminished. As a result, in 1337, İzmit came under Ottoman rule after Byzantine soldiers evacuated, and the administration was handed over to Orhan Gazi's eldest son and heir to the throne, Süleyman Bey. Süleyman Bey, Orhan Gazi's eldest son, had achieved numerous conquests and governed the country in Orhan Gazi's later years. Although he was praised in Ottoman sources, he met his end in 1360 due to a fall from a horse, preceding Orhan Gazi in death and leaving the throne to Sultan Murad I.
Following these significant conquests, in 1340, Byzantium offered peace to Orhan Gazi, and peace was established with the condition of paying tribute. After the peace with Byzantium, Orhan Gazi shifted his focus towards the Anatolian beyliks (small principalities).
In 1342, a campaign was launched against the Karesi Beylik, which had internal strife, resulting in the capture of Balıkesir under Ottoman rule. In 1354, Ankara, which was then an Ahi city, was taken.
Ottoman Expansion into Europe:
In 1341, when Byzantine Emperor 3rd Andronikos, whom Orhan Gazi had defeated in the Battle of Maltepe, died without designating an heir, a civil war erupted in the country. Kantakouzenos, who declared himself king, sought allies against both the internal dissenters and the Serbs and Bulgarians with ambitions on Edirne. During this period, a friendship and mutual assistance developed between Orhan Gazi and Kantakouzenos.
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