Karasids

Karisid Beylik Ottoman Turkish: قرا صـی Turkish: Karesioğulları Beyliği
Karasid dynasty (light gray) in 1300.
Capital	Balıkesir Bergama
Religion	Islam
Preceded by Succeeded by Seljuk Sultanate of Rum Byzantine Empire Ottoman Empire
Today part of	Turkey Balıkesir Çanakkale

The Karasids or Karasid Beylik (Ottoman Turkish: قرا صـی; Turkish: Karesioğulları Beyliği), also known as the Principality of Karasi, was a Turkish Anatolian beylik (principality) in the area of classical Mysia (modern Balıkesir and Çanakkale provinces) from ca. 1297–1345. It was centered in Balıkesir and Bergama, and was one of the frontier principalities established by Oghuz Turks after the decline of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum.

They became a naval power in the Aegean and the Dardanelles.

History

Origins

The epitaphs of members of a certain Karasi family in Tokat dated 1415,^[1] Kutlu Melek and his son Mustafa Chelebi, tie their ancestry to the Danishmendids, a dynasty that ruled over northeastern Anatolia during the 11–12th centuries.^[2] Modern historians such as İsmail Hakkı Uzunçarşılı relayed the connection between the Danishmendids and the Karasids in their works.^[3] Claude Cahen held that the homonymy between the central Anatolian family and the dynasty in northwestern Anatolia may not be sufficient evidence for a connection.^[4] Clifford Edmund Bosworth described the theory connecting the dynasty to the Danishmendids as "almost certainly legendary".^[5] Elizabeth Zachariadou explained that while "Malik Danishmend" is a mythical remote ancestor, the rest of the names mentioned in the epitaphs are echoed in contemporary sources, with Baghdi Bey or Yaghdi Bey being the father of Kalam Shah. Based on a mention of Pagdinis by medieval writer George Pachymeres, Zachariadou stated the reading of "Yaghdi" should be ignored in favor of "Baghdi".^[1] The eponymous founding ruler of the dynasty, Karasi Bey (r. early 14th century – 1328) was the son of Kalam Shah.^[2]

The names of Karasi and Kalam might have been connected to two towns near Germa, Kalamos and Akarasos. Zachariadou highlighted Karasi is not a Turkish name and may have been taken from the name of the town he controlled, which was precedented in other Turkish emirates. Karasi was connected to the name "Kara Isa" by some authors, though it was rejected by Uzunçarşılı. The name Kalam might have been Turkish as it was precedented in Byzantine sources as the name of a tatas (godfather), who was a Christianized Turk.^[6]

Rise

Later Ottoman sources referred to Karasi as a nöker (vassal) during the first reign of Mesud II (r. 1284–97, 1303–8), the Sultan of Rum. Kalam and Karasi Bey are thought to have taken over the region around Balıkesir during Mesud's reign and claimed independence at an unknown date.^[2] Fifteenth century Byzantine Greek historian Doukas wrote that they appeared in the region during the rule of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II (r. 1282–1328).^[4] It corresponded to the ancient region of Mysia, excluding the towns of Artaki, Pegae, Adramytion, Pergamon, and Dardanellia.^[2] However, Cahen proposes that the state appeared much later as medieval writers Ramon Muntaner and George Pachymeres do not mention the Karasids. Cahen disputes historian Mordtmann's connection of the Lamisai mentioned by Pachymeres and the Calames (Karasi's father Kalam) of Nicephorus Gregoras.^[4]

Following the Byzantine campaign in western Anatolia allied with Catalan Company and Alans between 1302 and 1308, Karasi expanded into Lesser Mysia and reached south bordering the Sarukhanids. In 1311, Karasi is also known to have provided support to the Sari Saltuk tribe led by Ece Halil who clashed with the Byzantine Empire in Thrace. Karasi Bey accepted troops who survived the struggle to take refuge in his realm.^[7] Pachymeres reported that the Catalan mercenaries defeated the "Turks" in Germe, east of Pergamos, which Zachariadou suggests were the Karasids.^[1]

Division

Karasi is thought to have died before 1328, when his successor Demir Khan reached an agreement with the Byzantines.^[8] After Karasi, Demir Khan and Yakhshi Khan ruled over two separate emirates. The former was the ruler of Balıkesir, while the latter controlled the area around Pergamos. Demir Khan was likely the senior emir as he had the authority to sign a truce with the Byzantines.^[9] Demir Khan and Yakhshi Khan are generally accepted to have been brothers.^[10] The Byzantine historian and Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos (r. 1347–54) described Demir Khan as the son of Yakhshi Khan,^[11] which several modern historians align with.^[12]

Demir Khan harassed the towns near Cyzicus^[13] and raided coastal parts of southern Balkans through his naval forces based in the Sea of Marmara.^[14] For this matter, Byzantine Emperor Andronikos III (r. 1328–41) met with Demir Khan in Pegai in 1328, when they signed a treaty. In 1333, Demir Khan met with the Maghrebi traveller Ibn Battuta.^[13] Ibn Battuta deemed Demir Khan a "worthless" person like the population of Balıkesir,^[15] and mentioned that the former was disliked by his own people.^[16] According to historian al-Uryan, the ruler of Pergamos was "Senbogha", who was subordinate to Demir Khan.^[17] Some modern historians maintain that Demir Khan had a short reign.^[15]

Suleiman Bey was married to the daughter of John Vatatzes. Allied with Suleiman, Vatatzes attacked Thrace in support of the dowager empress Anna of Savoy amidst a civil war against John VI Kantakouzenos. Despite earlier alliance, the Karasid forces later switched sides and killed John Vatatzes, owing to their cordial relations with Kantakouzenos. Suleiman further refused a major bribe offered by Isaac Asan, a panhypersebastos allied with the empress, to incite a Karasid offensive on Kantakouzenos. The Karasids ceased to be mentioned by the Byzantine sources after this point.^[18]

Ottoman acquisition

Fifteenth-century Ottoman historian Aşıkpaşazade detailed the events leading to the Ottoman acquisition of the Karasid domains, providing a conflicting narrative.^[18] Ajlan Bey, "son of Karasi", had two sons, one of whom was named Dursun. Following the death of Ajlan, Dursun fled to the Ottoman domains, while his brother stayed behind with their father, but was unpopular among his subjects.^[19] Dursun offered the Ottoman Sultan Orhan (r. 1323–62) control of Balıkesir, Bergama, and Edremit with the exception of two minor coastal settlements to the west.^[18] Orhan thus set west, seizing towns controlled by Christian rulers on the way.^[19] The other son escaped Balıkesir, when it fell to the Ottomans, and took refuge in Pergamos. The locals submitted to the Ottoman rule. Aşıkpaşazade dated this event to 1335. Orhan declared his sovereignty over the land by being named in khutba wa sikka (sermon and coins). The other son surrendered Pergamos and was transported to Bursa, where he would die two years later. The Karasid domains were given to Orhan's son Suleiman as timar.^[20] The Chronological List of 1421 dated the Ottoman acquisition to 1348/9. The connection between the Ottoman narrative with the details known from prior sources remains obscure.^[18]

Modern historians vary in their attempts to reconcile incongruent accounts of Byzantine and Ottoman sources. According to Elizabeth Zachariadou, Ajlan was the son of Yakhshi Khan, and Ajlan's other son was Suleiman.^[21] Konstantin Zhukov aligned with Zachariadou but further suggested either Ajlan or Suleiman could have been the same person as Beylerbey Chelebi, who is attested to on Karasid coins.^[22] Historian Zerrin Günal instead identified Yakhshi Khan as Ajlan and his other son as Demir Khan. Claude Cahen mentioned Ajlan was Karasi Bey's nickname, although Aşıkpaşazade specified Ajlan as the "son of Karasi".^[7] Uzunçarşılı claimed Demir Khan was attested to as Ajlan due to an error in writing. He additionally identified Dursun as the other brother of Demir Khan (Ajlan).^[23] Clive Foss identified Ajlan's other son as Hajji Ilbey,^[24] who he suggested is the Beylerbey Chelebi, who is honored on Karasid coins and was the successor of Yakhshi.^[10]

Undated Karasid coins mentioning Beylerbey Chelebi.

Karasi Principality tomb in Balıkesir

The Byzantines tried to incite beyliks like Karasids against the Ottomans. However, routes of conquest and other objectives of beyliks such as Karasids did not initially conflict with the Ottomans. The political situation clearly favored the Ottomans.^[25]

See also

• List of Sunni Muslim dynasties

References

1. Zachariadou 1991, p. 227.
2. Günal 2001, p. 487.
3. Uzunçarşılı 1969, p. 96.
4. Cahen & de Planhol 1978.
5. Bosworth 1996, p. 219.
6. Zachariadou 1991, pp. 227–228.
7. Günal 2001, pp. 487–488.
8. Zachariadou 1991, p. 228, 235; Günal 2001, p. 487–488.
9. Zachariadou 1991, pp. 228–229.
10. Foss 2022, p. 207.
11. Uzunçarşılı 1969, p. 98; Zachariadou 1991, p. 228.
12. Cahen & de Planhol 1978; Günal 2001, p. 488–489.
13. Zachariadou 1991, p. 228.
14. Günal 2001, pp. 488–489.
15. Zachariadou 1991, p. 229.
16. Uzunçarşılı 1969, p. 98.
17. Foss 2022, p. 206.
18. Foss 2022, p. 225.
19. Foss 2022, p. 80.
20. Foss 2022, p. 81.
21. Zachariadou 1991, p. 235.
22. Zhukov 1991, p. 239.
23. Uzunçarşılı 1969, pp. 101, 103.
24. Foss 2022, pp. 80, 225.
25. Mehmet Fuat Köprülü (1992). The Origins of the Ottoman Empire. SUNY Press. p. 112. ISBN 978-0-7914-0819-3.

Bibliography

• Bosworth, Clifford Edmund (1996). New Islamic Dynasties: A Chronological and Genealogical Manual. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 9780231107143. OCLC 35029627.
• Cahen, Claude & de Planhol, Xavier (1978). "Ḳarasi̊". In van Donzel, E.; Lewis, B.; Pellat, Ch. & Bosworth, C. E. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Volume IV: Iran–Kha. Leiden: E. J. Brill. OCLC 758278456.
• Foss, Clive (2022). The Beginnings of the Ottoman Empire. Oxford Studies in Byzantium. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198865438.
• Günal, Zerrin (2001). "Karesi Bey". TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, Vol. 24 (Kāânî-i Şîrâzî – Kastamonu) (in Turkish). Istanbul: Turkiye Diyanet Foundation, Centre for Islamic Studies. pp. 487–488. ISBN 978-975-389-451-7.
• Halil Inalcik, The Ottoman Empire - The Classical Age, 1300-1600[1]
• Uzunçarşılı, İsmail Hakkı (1969). Anadolu Beylikleri Ve Akkoyunlu, Karakoyunlu Devletleri [Anatolian Beyliks and Aq Qoyunlu, Qara Qoyunlu States] (in Turkish). Turkish Historical Society Press. ISBN 9751624576. OCLC 563553149. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
• Zachariadou, Elizabeth (11–13 January 1991). "The Emirate of Karasi and That of the Ottomans: Two Rival States". The Ottoman Emirate (1300–1389). Halcyon Days in Crete I. Rethymnon: Foundation for Research & Technology – Hellas, Institute for Mediterranean Studies. pp. 226–236.
• Zhukov, Konstantin (11–13 January 1991). "Ottoman, Karasid, and Sarukhanid Coinages and the Problem of Currency Community in Turkish Western Anatolia ('40s – '80s of the 14th Century)". The Ottoman Emirate (1300–1389). Halcyon Days in Crete I. Rethymnon: Foundation for Research & Technology – Hellas, Institute for Mediterranean Studies. pp. 237–243.