Musa Çelebi
Encyclopedia
Musa Çelebi was an Ottoman
prince and a co-ruler of the empire for three years during Ottoman Interregnum
. (Çelebi
is an honorific title meaning gentleman)
princess. (Germiyan was the name of an independent Turkish
principality in center-west portion of Anatolia
. ) After the battle of Ankara
in which Ottoman sultan Bayazit was defeated by Temur
, Musa as well as Bayazit himself was taken as a prisoner of war. However, after Bayazit's death, he was released. He returned to Ottoman Empire which was in turmoil and tried to access to throne in Bursa, the Anatolian capital of the empire in 1403. But there were three other claimants to throne, İsa Çelebi
in Balıkesir
, Mehmet Çelebi in Amasya
both in Anatolia and most important, Süleyman Çelebi
in Edirne
the Europe
an capital.
, Central Anatolia and formed an alliance against Süleyman. Most of the beyliks in Anatolia also supported this alliance. According to plot, Musa was transferred to European part over Black Sea
where he allied himself with Mircea
of Wallachia
. So Süleyman had to fight in two fronts. The plot was partially successful, for Süleyman gave up his hopes to conquer the Anatolian portion of the empire. But, he was able to defeat Musa. However, Musa continued with hit and run tactics up to 1410. Meanwhile, Süleyman had lost most of his previous proponents due to his uncontrollable temper. In 1411, Musa captured Edirne
. Süleyman, while trying to escape to Byzantine territories, was killed by the villagers on 18 February 1411 and Musa suddenly found himself as the co-sultan of the European portion of the empire.
because the Byzantine emperor had supported Süleyman during Musa-Süleyman war. This resulted in an alliance between Mehmet and the Byzantine emperor Manuel II Palaiologos
.
In 1411 and in 1412, Mehmet fought Musa, but in both cases he was defeated. In 1413, Mehmet gained the support of Serbia
n monarch Stefan Lazarević
and the bey of the Dulkadirids as well as some generals in Musa's army. (Dulkadir was a Turkish beylik in South Anatolia.) He defeated Musa's forces in the battle of Çamurlu Derbent
near Samokov
, Bulgaria
. While trying to escape injured, Musa was spotted and killed on 5 July 1413.
was a fifth claimant to throne and he fought against both Mehmet I and Murat II unsuccessfully.
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...
prince and a co-ruler of the empire for three years during Ottoman Interregnum
Ottoman 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...
. (Çelebi
Çelebi
Çelebi is a town and district of Kırıkkale Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 7,210 of which 3,333 live in the town of Çelebi.-External links:* *...
is an honorific title meaning gentleman)
Background
Musa was one of the sons of Beyazıt I, the Ottoman sultan. There is no consensus of his mother's origin. She was either the daughter of bey of Germiyanids or a ByzantineByzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
princess. (Germiyan was the name of an independent Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
principality in center-west portion of Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
. ) After 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...
in which Ottoman sultan Bayazit was defeated by Temur
Temur
Temur or Timur refer to Iron in Mongolic languages.People:*Mongke Temur , khan of the Golden Horde.*Temur Khan , Khagan of the Mongol Empire and ruler of the Yuan Dynasty....
, Musa as well as Bayazit himself was taken as a prisoner of war. However, after Bayazit's death, he was released. He returned to Ottoman Empire which was in turmoil and tried to access to throne in Bursa, the Anatolian capital of the empire in 1403. But there were three other claimants to throne, İsa Çelebi
İsa Çelebi
İsa Çelebi was an Ottoman prince and a co-ruler of the empire during the Ottoman Interregnum. -Background:...
in Balıkesir
Balikesir
Balıkesir is the capital city of Balıkesir Province. Balıkesir is in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 265,747 inhabitants. Old name is Karesi or Karasi.- History :...
, Mehmet Çelebi in Amasya
Amasya
- History :Its location in this steep valley makes the city a mountain stronghold, easy to defend, and thus Amasya has had a long and prominent history.-Antiquity:...
both in Anatolia and most important, Süleyman Çelebi
Süleyman Çelebi
Süleyman Çelebi was an Ottoman prince and a co-ruler of the empire for several years during the Ottoman Interregnum. - Back ground :...
in Edirne
Edirne
Edirne is a city in Eastern Thrace, the northwestern part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. Edirne served as the capital city of the Ottoman Empire from 1365 to 1453, before Constantinople became the empire's new capital. At present, Edirne is the capital of the Edirne...
the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an capital.
Ottoman interregnum
İsa defeated Musa and captured Bursa. Musa took refuge in Germiyan territory, where he waited for a suitable moment to try again. In 1406, Mehmet who had defeated İsa became the sole ruler of Anatolian portion of the empire. But he was no match for Süleyman of the European portion. So Mehmet and Musa met in KırşehirKirsehir
Kırşehir, formerly Macissus and Justinianopolis, is a city in Turkey. It is the capital district of the Kırşehir Province. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 121,947 of which 105,826 live in the city of Kırşehir.-History:The history of Kırşehir dates back to the Hittites...
, Central Anatolia and formed an alliance against Süleyman. Most of the beyliks in Anatolia also supported this alliance. According to plot, Musa was transferred to European part over Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
where he allied himself with Mircea
Mircea I of Wallachia
Mircea the Elder was ruler of Wallachia from 1386 until his death. The byname "elder" was given to him after his death in order to distinguish him from his grandson Mircea II...
of Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
. So Süleyman had to fight in two fronts. The plot was partially successful, for Süleyman gave up his hopes to conquer the Anatolian portion of the empire. But, he was able to defeat Musa. However, Musa continued with hit and run tactics up to 1410. Meanwhile, Süleyman had lost most of his previous proponents due to his uncontrollable temper. In 1411, Musa captured Edirne
Edirne
Edirne is a city in Eastern Thrace, the northwestern part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. Edirne served as the capital city of the Ottoman Empire from 1365 to 1453, before Constantinople became the empire's new capital. At present, Edirne is the capital of the Edirne...
. Süleyman, while trying to escape to Byzantine territories, was killed by the villagers on 18 February 1411 and Musa suddenly found himself as the co-sultan of the European portion of the empire.
As a co-sultan
The details of previous Mehmet-Musa alliance are not clear. Musa declared himself the sultan of European portion of the empire, while Mehmet viewed Musa as his vassal. Musa besieged ConstantinopleConstantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
because the Byzantine emperor had supported Süleyman during Musa-Süleyman war. This resulted in an alliance between Mehmet and the Byzantine emperor Manuel II Palaiologos
Manuel II Palaiologos
Manuel II Palaiologos or Palaeologus was Byzantine Emperor from 1391 to 1425.-Life:...
.
In 1411 and in 1412, Mehmet fought Musa, but in both cases he was defeated. In 1413, Mehmet gained the support of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n monarch Stefan Lazarević
Stefan Lazarevic
Stefan Lazarević known also as Stevan the Tall was a Serbian Despot, ruler of the Serbian Despotate between 1389 and 1427. He was the son and heir to Prince Lazar, who died at the Battle of Kosovo against the Turks in 1389, and Princess Milica from the subordinate branch of the Nemanjić dynasty...
and the bey of the Dulkadirids as well as some generals in Musa's army. (Dulkadir was a Turkish beylik in South Anatolia.) He defeated Musa's forces in the battle of Çamurlu Derbent
Battle of Camurlu
The battle of Camurlu was fought on July 5, 1413, between Musa and Mehmet I. This battle decided which son of Bayezid I would finally unite the Ottomans.-Mehmet's invasion and final battle:...
near Samokov
Samokov
Samokov is a town in Sofia Province in the southwest of Bulgaria. It is situated in a kettle between the mountains Rila and Vitosha, 55 kilometres from the capital Sofia...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. While trying to escape injured, Musa was spotted and killed on 5 July 1413.
Aftermath
Musa's death marks the end of Ottoman interregnum. Mehmet Çelebi took the title Sultan Mehmet I. However in 1416, Sheikh Bedrettin, one of Musa's proponents (chief military judge, the kazasker), led an unsuccessful revolt against Mehmet I. Another event which may be viewed as the continuation of the interregnum was the event of so called Düzmece Mustafa. Mustafa ÇelebiMustafa Çelebi
Mustafa Çelebi, also called Düzmece Mustafa was an Ottoman prince who struggled for throne in the early years of the fifteenth century - Background :...
was a fifth claimant to throne and he fought against both Mehmet I and Murat II unsuccessfully.