The Beginnings of the Ottoman Empire (Oxford Studies in Byzantium)

## Abstract This book illuminates the founding of the Ottoman Empire by drawing on Turkish, Greek, Arabic, and Latin sources, including coins, buildings, and topographic evidence. It describes the rugged homeland of the founder of the Ottomans, particularly his achievement in the context of the once mighty Byzantine Empire and its terminal stages. It also charts the progress of Osman's son Orhan, until the fateful moment in 1354 when his forces crossed into Europe and began their spectacular conquests. The chapter reviews the obscure origins of the Ottoman Empire, which ruled the Near East, dominated the Mediterranean, and terrorized Europe for centuries. It references scholarly monographs and editions on the history, literature, thought, and material culture of the Byzantine world. Cover 1 The Beginnigs of the Ottoman Empire 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 List of Maps 10 List of Illustrations 12 Introduction 20 Notes 26 1: The Homeland of the Ottomans 28 The Sources 28 Ottoman Prehistory (APZ cap. 2) 29 The First Settlement (APZ cap. 2) 30 The Summer Pastures 35 First Battles and Conquests (APZ caps. 3, 5) 41 “1286” First Victory (APZ cap. 5) 44 “1286” (APZ cap. 5) 45 Karacahisar, Sultanönü, and Conflict with Germiyan: “1288–1300” 47 1292: Köse Mihal of Harmankaya and Raids Across the Sangarius (APZ cap. 10) 64 “1288”: Marriages and Massacre: APZ 11–12 76 “1299”: Osman Proclaims his Independence: APZ 14–15 79 Osman’s Timars: APZ 16 80 “1302”: Defeating a Coalition: APZ 17 81 Bursa Blockaded: APZ 18 83 “1304”: Conquest of Malagina: APZ 20 84 Attacks to the North; First Threats to Nicaeaand Nicomedia; APZ 22 88 “1326”: Bursa Surrenders: APZ 23 91 Expeditions East and West: APZ 25–27 92 Conquest of Izmit: APZ 30 94 “1331”: Conquest and Settlement of Iznik: APZ 32–33 95 Rounding off the Conquest of Bithynia: APZ 34 98 Orhan Acquires Karesi: APZ 35–36 99 Orhan Completes Acquisition of Karesi, Becomes Padishah: APZ 37 100 How Reliable a Tradition? 102 Notes 107 2: The View from Byzantium 118 Notes 147 3: Reconciling the Accounts 154 Notes 159 4: Non-Narrative Sources 160 Coins 160 Inscriptions and buildings 165 Documents 169 Notes 172 5: The Overlords 176 Notes 180 6: Osman and his Neighbors 182 Osman 184 Germiyan 191 Osman and Germiyan 193 Kastamonu 194 Four Minor States 196 An Anomalous City 196 Karesi 198 Saruhan 198 Aydın 198 Menteşe 199 The Mongols 201 A Bright Future for Some 204 APPENDIX 205 The Date of the Death of Osman 205 Notes 206 7: Western Asia Minor in the 1330s 210 Menteşe 212 Western 213 Inscriptions 214 Coins 214 Aydın 215 Western Sources 217 Coins 218 Inscriptions 219 Umur Bey 219 Philadelphia 221 Saruhan 221 Karesi 224 Western 226 Coins 226 Germiyan 227 Western 229 Coins 229 Ottoman 230 Göynük Hisar 232 Gerede 232 Sultanönü 232 “Qawiya” 233 Kastamonu 233 The Mongols 235 The Turcoman Emirates 236 Notes 238 8: The Aftermath 242 The Turning Points 242 Philadelphia 243 Saruhan 243 Karesi 244 Germiyan 244 Ottoman 245 Kastamonu 246 The Mongols 246 Notes 247 9: Final Thoughts 250 Notes 262 Bibliography 264 Sources 264 Secondary works 265 Index 274 "The Ottoman Empire ruled the near East, dominated the Mediterranean, and terrorized Europe for centuries. However, its origins are obscure. The Beginnings of the Ottoman Empire illuminates the founding of the Empire, drawing on Turkish, Greek, Arabic, and Latin sources as well as coins, buildings, and topographic evidence. Clive Foss takes the reader through the rugged homeland of Osman, the founder of the Ottomans, placing his achievement in the context of his more powerful neighbours, most notably the once mighty Byzantine Empire, then in the terminal stages of its decline. Foss then charts the progress of Osman's son Orhan, until the fateful moment in 1354 when his forces crossed into Europe and began their spectacular conquests."-- Back jacket cover Providing a detailed history of the establishment and early growth of the Ottoman Empire, Foss relates the military, economic, and cultural developments of the time to the political and physical geography of the Ottoman homeland, and especially its relations to the declining Byzantine Empire