Mehmet II of Karaman
Encyclopedia
Mehmet II of Karaman, Mehmed Beg , Mehmed Beg II, also known as Nasir al-Din Mehmed Beg ( ?- 1423) was the ruler of Karaman in what is now modern Turkey in the 15th century.
after the disintegration of Seljuq Sultanate of Rûm
. The capital of Karamanid state was usually Karaman
(ancient Larende, renamed by the Karamanids) and sometimes Konya
and other cities as well. It was the main rival of the rising Ottoman Empire
. The opponents of the Ottoman Turks in the East Europe usually sought for alliances with Karamanid to catch Ottomans between two fires.
, an important Ottoman city. Beyazıt returned to Anatolia, defeated and killed Mehmed's father. Then he laid a siege on Karaman. Mehmed and his brother Bengi Ali
surrendered on the condition that the citizens of Karaman would not be punished. Beyazıt jailed both princes in Bursa, the co-capital of the Ottoman Empire. But four years later, he was defeated by Timur
in the battle of Ankara
and Bursa was captured by Timur's grandson who released Mehmed and his brother.
, he began occupying Ottoman and Germiyanids (an ally of Ottomans ) territory in 1411. In particular he captured Kütahya
the capital of Germiyanids. (The bey of Germiyan was the father in law of the former Ottoman sultan Beyazit I)
Ottoman ınterregnum ended in 1413 when Mehmed I
defeated Musa Çelebi
in Rumeli. After the victory Mehmed I returned to Anatolia and defeated Karamanids in 1414. Mehmed II of Karaman agreed to give all Ottoman territory (forts given by Temur and the cities annexed by himself) back. Although Mehmed II tried to infringe the treaty in 1415 he was arrested and had to swear an oath never to infringe again. He kept his promise and peace prevailed between The Ottoman Empire and the Karamanids during 1415-1422 period.
But Mehmed II continued to fight in other fronts. He allied himself with the Ramadanids (a small lordship) in Çukurova
(South Turkey, Cilicia of the antiquity) and began fighting against the Dulkadirids, a vassal of Egyptian Mamluks
in south east Anatolia. In 1420, he was taken captured near Kayseri
by the Mamluks and was jailed in Cairo
, Egypt
.
, where his brother was ruling.
In 1421, Mehmed I of the Otoman Empire died and soon the war between the Ottomans and the Karamanids was renewed. Early in 1423, Mehmed II decided to capture Antalya
, a port in south west Anatolia, from the Ottoman Empire. Probably he thought that the new Ottoman sultan Murad II
who just survived two rebels (by his uncle and younger brother) wouldn't fight for the port far from his capital. But it turned out that the governor of Antalya was able to defend the city. During the battle Mehmed was killed and his sons lifted the siege.
Karamanids
Karamanid was a Turkmen state in central AnatoliaAnatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
after the disintegration of Seljuq Sultanate of Rûm
Sultanate of Rûm
The Sultanate of Rum , also known as the Anatolian Seljuk State , was a Turkic state centered in in Anatolia, with capitals first at İznik and then at Konya. Since the court of the sultanate was highly mobile, cities like Kayseri and Sivas also functioned at times as capitals...
. The capital of Karamanid state was usually Karaman
Karaman
Karaman is a town in south central Turkey, located north of the Taurus Mountains, about south of Konya. It is the capital district of the Karaman Province. According to 2000 census, the population of the province is 231 872 of which 132,064 live in the town of Karaman. The district covers an area...
(ancient Larende, renamed by the Karamanids) and sometimes Konya
Konya
Konya is a city in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. The metropolitan area in the entire Konya Province had a population of 1,036,027 as of 2010, making the city seventh most populous in Turkey.-Etymology:...
and other cities as well. It was the main rival of the rising Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. The opponents of the Ottoman Turks in the East Europe usually sought for alliances with Karamanid to catch Ottomans between two fires.
Background
While Beyazıt I of the Ottoman Empire was in Rumeli in 1398, Mehmed's father Ali raided AnkaraAnkara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
, an important Ottoman city. Beyazıt returned to Anatolia, defeated and killed Mehmed's father. Then he laid a siege on Karaman. Mehmed and his brother Bengi Ali
Bengi Ali of Karaman
Ali of Karaman was the ruler of Karamanids in what is now modern Turkey in the 15th century .- Karamanids :Karamanid was a Turkmen state in central Anatolia after the disintegration of Seljuq Sultanate of Rûm. The capital of Karamanid state was usually Karaman and sometimes Konya and other...
surrendered on the condition that the citizens of Karaman would not be punished. Beyazıt jailed both princes in Bursa, the co-capital of the Ottoman Empire. But four years later, he was defeated by Timur
Timur
Timur , historically known as Tamerlane in English , was a 14th-century conqueror of West, South and Central Asia, and the founder of the Timurid dynasty in Central Asia, and great-great-grandfather of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Dynasty, which survived as the Mughal Empire in India until...
in the battle of Ankara
Battle of Ankara
The Battle of Ankara or Battle of Angora, fought on July 20, 1402, took place at the field of Çubuk between the forces of the Ottoman sultan Bayezid I and the Turko-Mongol forces of Timur, ruler of the Timurid Empire. The battle was a major victory for Timur, and it led to a period of crisis for...
and Bursa was captured by Timur's grandson who released Mehmed and his brother.
First reign
Mehmed returned to Karaman as the bey of Karamanid state. In addition to his father's possessions, he was given a few forts by Timur and soon he bagan increasing his possessions. While Ottoman Empire was living in interregnumOttoman Interregnum
The Ottoman Interregnum began in 20 July 1402, when chaos reigned in the Ottoman Empire following the defeat of Sultan Bayezid I by the Turco-Mongol warlord Timur...
, he began occupying Ottoman and Germiyanids (an ally of Ottomans ) territory in 1411. In particular he captured Kütahya
Kütahya
Kütahya is a city in western Turkey with 212,444 inhabitants , lying on the Porsuk river, at 969 metres above sea level. It is the capital of Kütahya Province, inhabited by some 517 804 people...
the capital of Germiyanids. (The bey of Germiyan was the father in law of the former Ottoman sultan Beyazit I)
Ottoman ınterregnum ended in 1413 when Mehmed I
Mehmed I
Mehmed I Çelebi was a Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1413 to 1421. He was one of the sons of Bayezid I and Valide Sultan Devlet Hatun Mehmed I Çelebi (Ottoman: چلبی محمد, Mehmed I or Mehmed Çelebi) (1382, Bursa – May 26, 1421, Edirne, Ottoman Empire) was a Sultan of the Ottoman Empire...
defeated Musa Çelebi
Musa Çelebi
Musa Çelebi was an Ottoman prince and a co-ruler of the empire for three years during Ottoman Interregnum. - Background :...
in Rumeli. After the victory Mehmed I returned to Anatolia and defeated Karamanids in 1414. Mehmed II of Karaman agreed to give all Ottoman territory (forts given by Temur and the cities annexed by himself) back. Although Mehmed II tried to infringe the treaty in 1415 he was arrested and had to swear an oath never to infringe again. He kept his promise and peace prevailed between The Ottoman Empire and the Karamanids during 1415-1422 period.
But Mehmed II continued to fight in other fronts. He allied himself with the Ramadanids (a small lordship) in Çukurova
Çukurova
Çukurova , historically known as Cilicia, is a geographic, economic and cultural region in south-central Turkey, covering the provinces of Mersin, Adana, Osmaniye and Hatay...
(South Turkey, Cilicia of the antiquity) and began fighting against the Dulkadirids, a vassal of Egyptian Mamluks
Mamluk Sultanate (Cairo)
The Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt was the final independent Egyptian state prior to the establishment of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty in 1805. It lasted from the overthrow of the Ayyubid Dynasty until the Ottoman conquest of Egypt in 1517. The sultanate's ruling caste was composed of Mamluks, Arabised...
in south east Anatolia. In 1420, he was taken captured near Kayseri
Kayseri
Kayseri is a large and industrialized city in Central Anatolia, Turkey. It is the seat of Kayseri Province. The city of Kayseri, as defined by the boundaries of Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, is structurally composed of five metropolitan districts, the two core districts of Kocasinan and...
by the Mamluks and was jailed in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
Second reign and death
In 1421, Mamluk sultan died in Cario. The new sultan Seyfeddin Tatar released Mehmed II. Mehmed returned to Karaman and declared himself as the bey of Karaman. He ruled on the former Karaman territory with the exception of NiğdeNigde
Niğde is a small city and the capital of Niğde Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. The population is 109,724 per the 2010 statistics...
, where his brother was ruling.
In 1421, Mehmed I of the Otoman Empire died and soon the war between the Ottomans and the Karamanids was renewed. Early in 1423, Mehmed II decided to capture Antalya
Antalya
Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. With a population 1,001,318 as of 2010. It is the eighth most populous city in Turkey and country's biggest international sea resort.- History :...
, a port in south west Anatolia, from the Ottoman Empire. Probably he thought that the new Ottoman sultan Murad II
Murad II
Murad II Kodja was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1421 to 1451 ....
who just survived two rebels (by his uncle and younger brother) wouldn't fight for the port far from his capital. But it turned out that the governor of Antalya was able to defend the city. During the battle Mehmed was killed and his sons lifted the siege.