Osman Gazi was the leader of the Ottoman Turks and the founder of the Ottoman dynasty. The Ottoman Kingdom under Osman was small in size (Beylik) and later became a huge empire. The empire lasted until the dissolution of the sultanate in 1922.
On January 17, 1299, Osman Rum declared the independence of his small kingdom from the sultanate and took the title of Khan of the Qayi tribe. The Ottoman Empire was one of the small Turkish kingdoms that emerged in Anatolia after the dissolution of the Seljuks. Among these kingdoms, the Ottomans eventually united Anatolia under Turkish rule. With the fall of the Byzantine Empire came the rise of the Ottoman Pele. Origin of the name Othman: Since the early times, the Ottomans believed that the first name Othman was named after the third Rashidun Caliph Othman bin Affan. But according to some scholars, his original name was Turkish which could be Atman or Ataman and after that it was changed to Osman.
Ancient Byzantine sources, including George Bekemiris, a contemporary of Othman, refer to him as Otman or Atman, while Greek sources refer to him as Osman. In an old Arabic formula, his name is written with the letter “i” instead of the letter “th”. Rise of the Empire: According to popular belief, Ertuğrul, father of Osman I, brought the Kay Turk tribe from Central Asia to Anatolia to protect them from the Mongols. Her mother’s name is Halima Khatun. Osman Rum Sultan was the first to show his loyalty to Kikubad. The Sultan allowed him to establish Belek in Anatolia and extend the borders to the Byzantines in the west. This permission created opportunities as the Byzantine Empire continued to weaken. In the East, on the other hand, Muslims under the rule of the Seljuk Turks became more and more divided due to constant Mongol aggression and internal strife. Halku Khan conquered Baghdad in 1258, the year Uthman was born.
In 1251, Ertugrul conquered the city of Nisyan Taiba. Its name was changed to Sogut and its temporary capital was Osman was born here. After the death of his father, Osman became chief of khaliji. By this time, forces from all over the Islamic world had gathered in his lands to fight the weakened Byzantine Empire. Many refugees also sought refuge in the Emirate of Uthman to escape the Mongols. Many of them were invaders. Under the able leadership of Uthman, these warriors quickly developed into effective forces and laid the foundation of the empire.
Osman adopted a strategy of extending the frontier to the Byzantines and avoiding clashes with his Turkish neighbors. He first made his way through the rugged plains of Bithynia, an arid region of northern Frisia. According to Stanford Charr, all these victories were against the local Byzantine elite, some of which were defeated in battle and others subjugated peacefully under various treaties. These early conquests were a favorite subject of Ottoman writers. All these legendary poets used it in their writings to survive into later ages. Ottoman writers appreciated these legends. Osman’s dream: Osman Ghazi respects Sheikh Adibali and values his views. Edibali often met in Eskisehire. He told Edibali the next day about a dream he had while staying at Edibali Dargah one night. He said:
O Sheikh, I saw you in a dream. A moon appeared on your chest. It rises and falls on my chest. A tree rose from my navel. It grows and has so many branches that its shadow covers the whole earth. What does this dream mean?? After being silent for a moment, Edebali said: “Congratulations Osman! May God Almighty and His Majesty give you your authority. My daughter will be your wife and the whole world will be safe for your children.” Osman’s dream played an important role in the rise of the Ottoman Empire. For Ottoman scholars, this dream was an important literary element. Military conquest: According to Stanford Shar, Uthman’s first real military victory came after the destruction of Seljuk rule. During this time he was able to capture the fortresses of Eskişehir and Karagahesar. Then he captured Yenisehe, the first important city in his region, which became the capital of the Ottomans. After defeating the Byzantines at the Battle of Pavis near Nyssa in 1302, Osman placed his forces near the Byzantine-controlled lands.
A large number of Ghazi warriors, Muslim scholars, and saints began to settle in the area under Uthman’s control. Many immigrants joined his army. Subsequent Ottoman rulers called themselves “Gazi Sultan” as it was a meeting place for Ghazi warriors and explorers from different backgrounds. As a result of Osman’s increasing influence, the Byzantines gradually left the Anatolian countryside. The Byzantine leadership tried to stop the Ottomans, but they were not well organized and effective. Meanwhile, Osman expanded his borders to the Sakarya River in the north and the Marmara Sea in the south, and his followers also participated in the conquest of the Byzantine city of Ephesus near the Aegean Sea. As a result, the last Byzantine port city was captured.
But this city was under the rule of Emir Aydin. Osman launched his last campaign against Bursa. He did not participate in it himself. But the conquest of Bursa was very important to the Ottomans. The city served as a base for subsequent campaigns against the Byzantines. Later, Osman’s son Orhan moved here.