Süleyman Çelebi
Encyclopedia
Süleyman Çelebi was an Ottoman
prince and a co-ruler of the empire for several years during the Ottoman Interregnum
. (Çelebi
is an honorific title meaning "gentleman".)
) and the Battle of Ankara
(1402) (against Temur
). In the later, he was in the command of Ottoman left flank. But when the Ottoman army was defeated, he fled to European portion of the empire, also called Rumeli
, with Çandarlı Ali Pasha.(Çandarlı Ali was the grand vizier
during Beyazit's reign).
regent John VII Palaiologos
in 1403. (Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos
was in West Europa). By this treaty he gave up certain territories (Marmara coast) to Byzantine Empire in return for Byzantine support in interregnum. He declared himself as the sultan
of the empire in Edirne
, the co capital in Rumeli of the Ottoman Empire. But the Asiatic side of the empire, so called Anatolia
, was under the control of his two brothers İsa Çelebi
and Mehmet Çelebi (future Mehmet I). Süleyman supported İsa against Mehmet. But Mehmet defeated İsa in several battles in 1406. Afraid of Mehmet's increasing power, Süleyman crossed the straits to reunite the empire. He captured Bursa, the Anatolian capital. But before fighting against his brother, he marched to Aegean Region
to intimidate the small Turkmen principalies (Beyliks of Aydin and Menteşe) which had been annexed by Süleyman's father, but broke free after the battle of Ankara. He then captured the city of Ankara
from Mehmet.
But he didn't advance further. He returned to Bursa which gave Mehmet a chance of relief. By a clever plan, Mehmet supported his brother Musa Çelebi
who sailed to Rumeli over Wallacia (moden Romania
then under partial control of Ottoman Empire). By this plot, Süleyman had to fight in two fronts. Süleyman returned to Rumeli leaving Anatolia to Mehmet again. Musa attacked the forces of Süleyman. Musa had the support of Wallachians and Serbs
and Süleyman had the support of Byzantines
. But the Serbs changed sides and Musa was defeated. in the Battle of Kosmidion
on 15 June 1410. However, Suleyman was not a determined prince and to the dismay of his partizans, he began living in extravagance. Especially after the death of his able vizier Çandarlı Ali Pasha, insouciance to state affairs caused him to lose supporters. Thus in 1411 when Musa marched to Edirne, Süleyman saw almost nobody at his side. He tried to escape to Byzantine territories. But on his way, he was murdered on 17 February 1411.
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 several years during the 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".)
Back ground
Süleyman Çelebi was a son of Beyazid I. His mother's name is not known. He fought both in the Battle of Niğbolu (1396) (against CrusadesCrusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
) and 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...
(1402) (against 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....
). In the later, he was in the command of Ottoman left flank. But when the Ottoman army was defeated, he fled to European portion of the empire, also called Rumeli
Rumelia
Rumelia was an historical region comprising the territories of the Ottoman Empire in Europe...
, with Çandarlı Ali Pasha.(Çandarlı Ali was the grand vizier
Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier, in Turkish Vezir-i Azam or Sadr-ı Azam , deriving from the Arabic word vizier , was the greatest minister of the Sultan, with absolute power of attorney and, in principle, dismissable only by the Sultan himself...
during Beyazit's reign).
As a co-sultan
He signed the treaty of Gelibolu with the ByzantineByzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
regent John VII Palaiologos
John VII Palaiologos
John VII Palaiologos was Byzantine Emperor for five months in 1390.-Life:...
in 1403. (Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos
Manuel II Palaiologos
Manuel II Palaiologos or Palaeologus was Byzantine Emperor from 1391 to 1425.-Life:...
was in West Europa). By this treaty he gave up certain territories (Marmara coast) to Byzantine Empire in return for Byzantine support in interregnum. He declared himself as the sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
of the empire 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 co capital in Rumeli of the Ottoman Empire. But the Asiatic side of the empire, so called Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
, was under the control of his two brothers İsa Çelebi
İsa Çelebi
İsa Çelebi was an Ottoman prince and a co-ruler of the empire during the Ottoman Interregnum. -Background:...
and Mehmet Çelebi (future Mehmet I). Süleyman supported İsa against Mehmet. But Mehmet defeated İsa in several battles in 1406. Afraid of Mehmet's increasing power, Süleyman crossed the straits to reunite the empire. He captured Bursa, the Anatolian capital. But before fighting against his brother, he marched to Aegean Region
Aegean Region
Aegean Region , is one of the 7 census-defined regions of Turkey, and in Western Asia.It is located in the west part of the country: bounded by Aegean Sea on the west; Marmara Region on the north;...
to intimidate the small Turkmen principalies (Beyliks of Aydin and Menteşe) which had been annexed by Süleyman's father, but broke free after the battle of Ankara. He then captured the city of Ankara
Ankara
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....
from Mehmet.
But he didn't advance further. He returned to Bursa which gave Mehmet a chance of relief. By a clever plan, Mehmet supported his brother Musa Çelebi
Musa Çelebi
Musa Çelebi was an Ottoman prince and a co-ruler of the empire for three years during Ottoman Interregnum. - Background :...
who sailed to Rumeli over Wallacia (moden Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
then under partial control of Ottoman Empire). By this plot, Süleyman had to fight in two fronts. Süleyman returned to Rumeli leaving Anatolia to Mehmet again. Musa attacked the forces of Süleyman. Musa had the support of Wallachians and Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
and Süleyman had the support of Byzantines
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. But the Serbs changed sides and Musa was defeated. in the Battle of Kosmidion
Battle of Kosmidion
The Battle of Kosmidion, fought June 15, 1410, occurred during the Ottoman Interregnum and was fought between the forces of Musa Çelebi and the supporters of Suleyman Çelebi just outside the land walls of Constantinople. During the battle, some of Musa's vassals, including Vuk Lazarevic , deserted...
on 15 June 1410. However, Suleyman was not a determined prince and to the dismay of his partizans, he began living in extravagance. Especially after the death of his able vizier Çandarlı Ali Pasha, insouciance to state affairs caused him to lose supporters. Thus in 1411 when Musa marched to Edirne, Süleyman saw almost nobody at his side. He tried to escape to Byzantine territories. But on his way, he was murdered on 17 February 1411.