DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25694#0030
OTHMAN,
FIRST EMPEROR OF THE TURKS.
1298-1325.
o THMAN was born about the middle of the thirteenth century. Ortugrul, his father, had
reigned over a tribe of Oguzian Turks, and was esteemed for the generosity and beneficence of
his character. Our hero was distinguished from his youth for warlike talents ; and the savage
ferocity of his countrymen afforded an opportunity for an early display of martial spirit. In
consequence of having had a dispute with one of Ortugrul’s chiefs, while on a visit to the governor
of a castle in the neighbourhood of his father’s court, he was suddenly beset by a numerous force ;
when, perceiving in his soldiers an inclination to sacrifice him, rather than risk their lives in his
defence, he selected a small band of his most trusty followers, and exhorting them to confide to
the guidance of his valour, he sallied forth at their head, and by cutting his way through the army
of his opponent, reached his home in safety.
Ortugrul died in the ninety-third year of his age; having reigned over the Oguzian Turks
fifty-two years.
The competition for sovereignty was between Dunder, brother of the late emperor, and
Othman. The former was considered to possess more experience ; but being of an unambitious
spirit, and foreseeing that the Oguzian state, oppressed by the Greeks, and but feebly assisted by
the Sultan of Iconium, stood in need of a leader possessing valour and conduct, he generously
recommended his nephew to the choice of his countrymen. During the first two years of his
government, he was engaged in wars against his Christian neighbours on the borders of Phrygia ;
and proving constantly victorious, annexed their territories to his own. Being thus possessed of
considerable wealth, with extended power, he built a temple, at the seat of his government, for
the exercise of the Mahometan religion, and encouraged strangers to resort to it by allowing them
more extensive privileges than they had hitherto enjoyed. After ten years of successful warfare,
he found himself at the head of so numerous an army, that he menaced the frontiers of the Greek
empire ; and having descended through the passes of Mount Olympus into the plains of Bithynia,
at the close of the thirteenth century, he advanced towards the neighbourhood of Nicornedia, the
capital of the Bithynian province. Although the conquest of this city was reserved for the arms
of his successor, Othman had already become so powerful, that he assumed the title of Sultan, and
with it all the insignia of royalty; so that from this period may be dated the commencement
of the Turkish empire.
Othman now invested his son Orchan with the military honours due to his birth, and by the
policy of his measures so strengthened his government, that he excited the envy as well as the fear
of his Christian neighbours. To crush his rising power, the confederated princes of Bithynia,
and adjacent provinces of Asia, raised a numerous army ; and determining to put every thing to
the risk of a battle, they suddenly invaded the dominions of Othman. The Sultan heard of their
approach with secret exultation ; his forces indeed were inferior in number to those of his enemies,
but his ranks consisted of veteran soldiers on whose fidelity and valour he could rely. A long and
sanguinary battle was fought on the confines of Phrygia and Bithynia, which ended in the discom-
fiture of the Christians, most of their leaders being either slain or made captives. The Prince of
Bithynia, who escaped, took refuge in the strong castle of Prusa. After this great and memorable
battle, Othman became more firmly established in possession of his hereditary dominions ; and,
returning to Neapolis, he formed a government on so wise and politic a system, that strangers from
the remotest provinces were induced to settle in the capital from the advantages it offered.
FIRST EMPEROR OF THE TURKS.
1298-1325.
o THMAN was born about the middle of the thirteenth century. Ortugrul, his father, had
reigned over a tribe of Oguzian Turks, and was esteemed for the generosity and beneficence of
his character. Our hero was distinguished from his youth for warlike talents ; and the savage
ferocity of his countrymen afforded an opportunity for an early display of martial spirit. In
consequence of having had a dispute with one of Ortugrul’s chiefs, while on a visit to the governor
of a castle in the neighbourhood of his father’s court, he was suddenly beset by a numerous force ;
when, perceiving in his soldiers an inclination to sacrifice him, rather than risk their lives in his
defence, he selected a small band of his most trusty followers, and exhorting them to confide to
the guidance of his valour, he sallied forth at their head, and by cutting his way through the army
of his opponent, reached his home in safety.
Ortugrul died in the ninety-third year of his age; having reigned over the Oguzian Turks
fifty-two years.
The competition for sovereignty was between Dunder, brother of the late emperor, and
Othman. The former was considered to possess more experience ; but being of an unambitious
spirit, and foreseeing that the Oguzian state, oppressed by the Greeks, and but feebly assisted by
the Sultan of Iconium, stood in need of a leader possessing valour and conduct, he generously
recommended his nephew to the choice of his countrymen. During the first two years of his
government, he was engaged in wars against his Christian neighbours on the borders of Phrygia ;
and proving constantly victorious, annexed their territories to his own. Being thus possessed of
considerable wealth, with extended power, he built a temple, at the seat of his government, for
the exercise of the Mahometan religion, and encouraged strangers to resort to it by allowing them
more extensive privileges than they had hitherto enjoyed. After ten years of successful warfare,
he found himself at the head of so numerous an army, that he menaced the frontiers of the Greek
empire ; and having descended through the passes of Mount Olympus into the plains of Bithynia,
at the close of the thirteenth century, he advanced towards the neighbourhood of Nicornedia, the
capital of the Bithynian province. Although the conquest of this city was reserved for the arms
of his successor, Othman had already become so powerful, that he assumed the title of Sultan, and
with it all the insignia of royalty; so that from this period may be dated the commencement
of the Turkish empire.
Othman now invested his son Orchan with the military honours due to his birth, and by the
policy of his measures so strengthened his government, that he excited the envy as well as the fear
of his Christian neighbours. To crush his rising power, the confederated princes of Bithynia,
and adjacent provinces of Asia, raised a numerous army ; and determining to put every thing to
the risk of a battle, they suddenly invaded the dominions of Othman. The Sultan heard of their
approach with secret exultation ; his forces indeed were inferior in number to those of his enemies,
but his ranks consisted of veteran soldiers on whose fidelity and valour he could rely. A long and
sanguinary battle was fought on the confines of Phrygia and Bithynia, which ended in the discom-
fiture of the Christians, most of their leaders being either slain or made captives. The Prince of
Bithynia, who escaped, took refuge in the strong castle of Prusa. After this great and memorable
battle, Othman became more firmly established in possession of his hereditary dominions ; and,
returning to Neapolis, he formed a government on so wise and politic a system, that strangers from
the remotest provinces were induced to settle in the capital from the advantages it offered.