Ahis

14th century Anatolian beylik

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This article is about the beylik centered at Ankara. For the Ahi brotherhoods generally, see Akhiya.

Map of Anatolia in the early 14th century

The Ahi Brotherhood (Turkish: Ahî, pl. Ahîler), referred to as Ahi Republic in modern historiography,[1] was a brotherhood union by Ahi Evran in Anatolia (around present-day Ankara) in the 13th and 14th centuries.

## Etymology

[edit]

The traditional explanation for the name "Ahi" is that it is the Turkish pronunciation of the Arabic word "akhi", meaning "my brother". Another possibility is from an early Turkish word aqi, recorded in Mahmud al-Kashgari's 11th century Turkish dictionary Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk as meaning "generous, courageous, virtuous". A progression from aqi to akhi to ahi is "entirely consistent with the phonetic development of Anatolian Turkish".[2]

## Background

[edit]

Turkic people began settling in Anatolia in the second half of the 11th century. But they mainly preferred rural areas. Seljuk government on the other hand encouraged those who preferred a settled life in cities. After the Mongols began occupying Khorosan in the early 13th century, people from Khorasan took refuge in Anatolia and the Seljuk government settled some of the newcomers in the cities. So a class of Muslim craftsmen and merchants appeared in the history of Anatolia.

## Emergence of Ahis

[edit]

Ahi Evren, a Muslim preacher came to Anatolia before the Mongol invasions in Khorasan. He worked as a leather dealer in Kayseri and began organizing Muslim craftsmen in the cities. This organization was named after him. He moved to Konya and after Mongol invasions to Denizli and Kırşehir where he died.

## Ahi as a political power

[edit]

After the Battle of Kösedağ in 1243, the Seljuks came under the influence of the Ilkhanate Mongols, and during the power vacuum in Anatolia, various tribes or local warlords established their principalities as vassals of Ilkhanids. Ahis in Ankara also saw their chance to declare their semi-independence under Mongol suzerainty towards the end of the century (about 1290).[3] However, Ahi Beylik, unlike the others, was not ruled by a dynasty. It was a religious and commercial fraternity which can be described as a republic not much different from the mercantile republics of the medieval Europe.

## End of Ahi Beylik

[edit]

In 1354, Ankara was briefly annexed by Orhan Bey of Ottoman Empire (then known as beylik). Although Ahis tried to restore their independence after Orhan’s death, in 1362 Murat I ended the political power of Ahis and they became the part of Ottoman Empire.[4] In later years, some Ahi leaders even appeared as Ottoman bureaucrats.

## See also

[edit]

* Akhiya

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Hüseyin Yılmaz (2018). Caliphate Redefined: The Mystical Turn in Ottoman Political Thought. p. 308\. "Most notably, the one in Ankara which was ended by the Ottoman takeover in 1362, was often romantically referred to as an Ahi republic by modern historians."
2. ^ Zakeri, Mohsen. "JAVĀNMARDI". Encyclopædia Iranica. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
3. ^ An assay on the Ahis (in Turkish)[permanent dead link‍]
4. ^ Prof. Yaşar Yüce-Prof. Ali Sevim: Türkiye tarihi Cilt II, AKDTYKTTK Yayınları, İstanbul, 1991 p 35

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Seljuk Sultanate of Rum

Ancestor

Qutalmish
Founder

Suleyman I
Capital

İznik, then Konya

| Important centers and extension|

* Konya
* Kayseri
* Sivas (1175)
* Malatya (1178)
* Alanya
* Antalya

|

Dynasty|

* Suleyman I (1077–1086)
* Kilij Arslan I (1092–1107)
* Melikshah (1107–1116)
* Mesud I (1116–1156)
* Kilij Arslan II (1156–1192)
* Kaykhusraw I (1192–1196)
* Süleymanshah II (1196–1204)
* Kilij Arslan III (1204–1205)
* Kaykhusraw I (2nd reign) (1205–1211)
* Kaykaus I (1211–1220)
* Kayqubad I (1220–1237)
* Kaykhusraw II (1237–1246)
* Kaykaus II (1246–1260)
* Kilij Arslan IV (1248–1265)
* Kayqubad II (1249–1257)
* Kaykhusraw III (1265–1282)
* Mesud II (1282–1284)
* Kayqubad III (1284)
* Mesud II (2nd reign) (1284–1293)
* Kayqubad III (2nd reign) (1293–1294)
* Mesud II (3rd reign) (1294–1301)
* Kayqubad III (3rd reign) (1301–1303)
* Mesud II (4th reign) (1303–1307)
* Mesud III (1307)

Chronology|

* Timeline of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum

Wars and major battles|

* Byzantine–Seljuk wars
* Siege of Nicaea (1097)
* Battle of Dorylaeum (1097)
* Battle of Dorylaeum (1147)
* Battle of Mount Cadmus (1148)
* Battle of Myriokephalon (1176)
* Battle of Iconium (1190)
* Battle of Köse Dağ (1243)
* Battle of Elbistan (1277)

Culture|

| Arts|

* Anatolian Seljuk architecture

|

Writers and scholars|

* Rumi
* Haji Bektash Veli
* Fakhr al-Din Iraqi
* Siraj al-Din Urmavi
* Karim al-Din Aqsarayi
* Ibn Bibi

Other notable people|

* Gevher Nesibe
* Gurju Khatun
* Sâhib Ata
* Baba Ishak
* Shams al-Din Altınapa
* Sa'd al-Din Köpek
* Ikhtiyar al-Din Hasan ibn Ghafras
* Manuel Maurozomes
* Mu'in al-Din Parwana
* Shams al-Din Isfahani

Anatolian beyliks

Tzachas (1081 - 1092)

Founder

Tzachas
Capital

İzmir

Important centers and extension:|

* Ephesus
* Lesbos
* Chios

Shah-Armens (1100–1207)

Founder

Sökmen el Kutbi
Capital

Ahlat

Important centers and extension:|

* Silvan
* Malazgirt
* Erciş
* Adilcevaz
* Başkale
* Eleşkirt
* Van
* Tatvan
* Bitlis
* Muş
* Hani

Dynasty:|

* Sökmen el Kutbi (1100–1112)
* Ibrahim bin Sökmen (? - ?)
* Ahmed bin Ibrahim (? - ?)
* Sökmen the Second (1128–1185)
* Seyfeddin Begtimur (1185–1193)
* Aksungur (1193–1197)
* Muhammed bin Begtimur (1185–1207)

Important works:|

* Ahlat Tombs

Artuqids (1102 - )

Ancestors

Eksük and his son Artuk, from Döğer Oghuz Türkmen clan
Founder

Muinüddin Sökmen Bey
Capitals

Three branches in Hasankeyf, Mardin and Harput

Important centers and extension:|

* Diyarbakır
* Hasankeyf
* Silvan
* Mardin
* Midyat
* Harput
* Palu
* Aleppo (temporarily in 1117)

Hasankeyf Dynasty or Sökmenli Dynasty:|

* Müinüddin Sökmen Bey (1102–1104)
* Sökmenli Ibrahim Bey (1104–1131)

Mardin Dynasty or Ilgazi Dynasty:|

* Necmeddin Ilgazi (1106–1122)
* Hüsameddin Timurtaş (1122–1154)
* Necmeddin Alp (1154–1176)

Harput Dynasty:|

* Belek Bey (1112–1124)
* Nureddin Muhammed (? - ?)
* Sökmen the Second (? - ?)

Danishmends (1071–1178)

Founder

Danishmend Gazi
Capitals

Sivas
Niksar

Important centers and extension:|

* Sivas
* Niksar
* Malatya
* Kayseri
* Tokat
* Amasya
* Kastamonu
* Ankara

Dynasty:|

* Danishmend Gazi (1071–1084)
* Gazi Gümüshtigin (1084–1104)
* Emir Gazi (1104–1134)
* Melik Mehmed (1134–1142)
* Melik Zünnun (1142–1143)
* Yağıbasan (1143–1164)
* Melik Ismail (1164–1175)
* Nasreddin Muhammed (1175-1178)

Mengujekids (1071–1277)

Founder

Mengücek Bey
Capitals

Erzincan, later also Divriği

Important centers and extension:|

* Erzincan
* Divriği
* Kemah
* Şebinkarahisar

Dynasty:|

Mengücek Bey (1071–1118)
Mengücekli Ishak Bey (1118–1120)
1120–1142

Temporarily incorporated into the Beylik of Danishmends

Erzincan and Kemah Branch|

Mengücekli Davud Shah (1142- ?)
1228

Incorporation into the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum

Divriği Branch|

Mengücekli Süleyman Shah (1142- ?)
1277

Beylik destroyed by Abaka

Saltukids (1072–1202)

Founder

Saltuk Bey
Capital

Erzurum

Important centers and extension:|

* Erzurum
* Tercan

Dynasty:|

* Saltuk Bey (1072–1102)
* Ali bin Ebu'l-Kâsım (1102 - ~1124)
* Ziyâüddin Gazi (~1124–1132)
* Izzeddin Saltuk (1132–1168)
* Nâsırüddin Muhammed (1168–1191)
* Mama Hatun (1191–1200)
* Melikshah bin Muhammed (1200–1202)

Aydinids (1307–1425)

Founder

Aydınoğlu Mehmed Bey
Capitals

Birgi, later Ayasluğ

Important centers and extension:|

* Tire
* İzmir
* Alaşehir
* Aydın
* Sakız/Chios (between 1336–1344)

Dynasty:|

* Aydınoğlu Mehmed Bey (1307–1334)
* Umur Beg (1334–1348)
* Aydınoğlu Hızır Bey (? - ?)
* Aydınoğlu Isa Bey (- 1390)

Events|

1390

First period of incorporation (by marriage) into the Ottoman Empire under Bayezid I the Thunderbolt
1402–1414

Second period of Beylik reconstituted by Tamerlane to Aydınoğlu Musa Bey (1402–1403)
Aydınoğlu Umur Bey (1403–1405)
İzmiroğlu Cüneyd Bey (1405–1425 with intervals)
1425

Second and last incorporation (by conquest) into the Ottoman realm under Murad II

Candaroğulları (~1300–1461)

Founder

Şemseddin Yaman Candar, commander descended from Kayı branch of Oghuz Turks in the imperial army of Seljuk Sultanate of Rum
Capital

Kastamonu

Important centers and extension:|

* Sinop
* Eflani
* Çankırı
* Kalecik
* Tosya
* Araç
* Samsun (temporarily)

Dynasty:|

* Candaroğlu Süleyman Pasha (1309 - ~1340)
* Candaroğlu Ibrahim Bey (1340–1345)
* Candaroğlu Adil Bey (1340–1361)
* Celaleddin Bayezid (1361–1385)
* Candaroğlu Süleyman Pasha the Second (1384–1392)

Sinop Dynasty or Isfendiyarid Dynasty :|

* Isfendiyar Bey (1385–1440)
* Taceddin Ibrahim Bey (1440–1443)
* Kemaleddin Ismail Bey (1443–1461)

Chobanids (1227–1309)

Founder

Hüsamettin Çoban Bey, commander from Kayı Oghuz clan of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum
Capital

Kastamonu

Important centers and extension:|

* Kastamonu
* Taşköprü

Dynasty:|

* Hüsamettin Çoban Bey (1309 - ?)
* Alp Yürek (? - ?)
* Muzafferüddin Yavlak Arslan (? - ?)
* Çobanoğlu Mahmud Bey (? - 1309)

Dulkadirids (1348- ~1525)

Ancestor

Hasan Dulkadir
Founder

Zeyneddin Karaca Bey
Capital

Elbistan

Important centers and extension:|

* Maraş
* Malatya
* Harput
* Kayseri
* Antep

Dynasty:|

* Zeyneddin Karaca Bey (1348–1348)
* Dulkadiroğlu Halil Bey (1348–1386)
* Sûli Bey (1386–1396)
* Nâsıreddin Mehmed Bey (1396–1443)
* Dulkadiroğlu Süleyman Bey (1443–1454)
* Melik Arslan (?-?)
* Shah Budak (?-1492)
* Şahsuvar (?-?)
* Alaüddevle Bozkurt Bey (1492–1507)
* Şahsuvaroğlu Ali Bey (1507- ~1525)

Eretnids (1328–1381)

Founder

Eretna Bey, brother-in-law of the Ilkhanid governor for Anatolia, Timurtash
Capital

Sivas, later Kayseri

Important centers and extension:|

* Sivas
* Kayseri
* Niğde
* Tokat
* Amasya
* Erzincan
* Şebinkarahisar
* Niksar

Dynasty:|

* Eretna Bey (1328–1352)
* Giyath al-Din Muhammad (1352–1365)
* Alâeddin Ali Bey (1365–1380)
* Mehmed Bey the Second (1380–1381)

Eshrefids (1288–1326)

Founder

Seyfeddin Süleyman Bey, regent to the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum
Capital

Beyşehir

Important centers and extension:|

* Beyşehir
* Akşehir
* Bolvadin

Dynasty:|

* Seyfeddin Süleyman Bey (1288–1302)
* Eşrefoğlu Mehmed Bey (1302–1320)
* Eşrefoğlu Süleyman Bey the Second (1320–1326)

Germiyanids (1300–1429)

Ancestor

Kerimüddin Alişir
Founder

Germiyanlı Yakub Bey the First
Capital

Kütahya

Important centers and extension:|

* Kula (District), Manisa
* Simav
* Yenicekent
* Yenicekent (Beylik of Lâdik between 1300–1368)

Dynasty:|

* Germiyanlı Yakub Bey the First (1300–1340)
* Germiyanlı Mehmed Bey (1340–1361)
* Germiyanlı Süleyman Shah (1361–1387)

Hamidids (~1280–1374)

Ancestors

Hamid and his son Ilyas Bey, frontier rulers under Seljuk Sultanate of Rum
Founder

Hamidoğlu Feleküddin Dündar Bey
Capital

Isparta

Important centers and extension:|

* Eğirdir
* Uluborlu
* Gölhisar
* Korkuteli and Antalya transferred in 1301 to Dündar Bey's brother Tekeoğlu Yunus Bey

Dynasty:|

* Hamidoğlu Feleküddin Dündar Bey (~1280–1324)
* Hamidoğlu Hızır Bey (1324–1330)
* Hamidoğlu Necmeddin Ishak Bey (? - ?)
* Hamidoğlu Muzafferüddin Mustafa Bey (? - ?)
* Hamidoğlu Hüsameddin Ilyas Bey (? - ?)
* Hamidoğlu Kemaleddin Hüseyin Bey (? - 1391)

Karamanids (~1250–1487)

Ancestor

Nure Sûfi from Afshar Oghuz clan
Founder

Kerimeddin Karaman Bey
Capitals

successively Ereğli
Ermenek
Larende (Karaman)
Konya
Mut

Dynasty:|

* Kerîmeddin Karaman (1256–1261)
* Mehmet I (1261–1283)
* Güneri (1283–1300)
* Bedreddin Mahmut (1300–1308)
* Yahşı Han (1308–1312)
* Bedreddin Ibrahim I (1312–1333)
* Alâeddin Halil Mirza (1333–1348)
* Bedreddin Ibrahim I, 2nd reign (1348–1349)
* Fahreddin Ahmed (1349–1350)
* Şemseddin (1350–1351)
* Burhaneddin Musa (1351–1356)
* Seyfeddin Süleyman (1356–1357)
* Alâeddin Ali (1357–1398)
* Nasreddin Mehmed Bey (1398–1399)
* Sultanzâde Mehmet II (1398–1399, 1402–1420, 1421–1423)
* Bengi Alâeddin Ali (1418–1424)
* Ibrahim II (1424–1464)
* Sultanzâde Ishak (1464)
* Sultanzâde Pîr Ahmed (1464–1469)
* Kasım (1469–1483)
* Turgutoğlu Mahmud Bey (1483–1487)

Karasids (1303–1360)

Ancestor

Melik Danişmend Gazi
Founder

Karesi Bey
Capital

Balıkesir

Important centers and extension:|

* Aydıncık
* Bergama
* Edremit
* Bigadiç
* Ezine

Dynasty:|

* Karesi Bey (1307–1328)
* Demir Han (1328–1345)
* Yahşı Han (1328–1345)
* Süleyman Bey (1345–1360)

Ladik (~1300–1368)

Ancestor

Germiyanlı Ali Bey
Founder

Inanç Bey
Capital

Denizli

Important centers and extension:|

* Denizli

Dynasty:|

* Inanç Bey (~1300 - ~1314)
* Murad Arslan (~1314 - ?)
* Inançoğlu Ishak Bey (? - ~1360)
* Süleyman Bey (1345–1368)

Menteshe (~1261–1424)

Founder

Menteshe Bey
Capitals

Beçin castle and nearby Milas, later also Balat

Important centers and extension|

* present-day Muğla Province
* Muğla
* Finike
* Kaş
* Çameli
* Acıpayam
* Tavas
* Bozdoğan
* Çine
* temporarily Aydın and Güzelhisar, also Rhodes between 1300–1314

Dynasty:|

* Menteshe Bey (~1261 - ~1282)
* Mesut (~1282 - ~1320)
* Orhan (~1320 - ~1340)
* Ibrahim (~1340 - ~1360)

Pervâneoğlu (1261–1322)

Ancestor

Mühezzibeddin Ali Kâşî (vizier of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum)
Founder

Süleyman Pervâne
Capital

Sinop

Important centers and extension:|

* Sinop

Dynasty:|

* Süleyman Pervâne (1261–1277)
* Pervâneoğlu Mehmed Bey (1277–1296)
* Pervâneoğlu Mesud Bey (1296–1300)
* Pervâneoğlu Gazi Çelebi (1300–1326)

Ramadanids (1352–1516)

Founder

Ramazan Bey from Yüreğir Oghuz clan
Capitals

Adana

Important centers and extension:|

* Adana
* Tarsus

Dynasty:|

* Ibrahim Bey (1344-?)
* Ahmed Bey (?-1416)
* Ibrahim Bey (1416–1417)
* Hamza Bey (1417–1427)
* Mehmed Bey (1427-?)
* Eyluk Bey (? - ?)
* Dündar Bey (? - ?)
* Omer Bey (?-1490)
* Giyas al-Din Halil Bey (1490–1511)
* Hahmud Bey (1511–1516)
* Selim Bey (?-?)
* Kubad Bey (1517-?)

Sahib Ataids (1275–1341)

Founder

Sahib Ata Fahreddin Ali, vizier of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum
Capital

Afyonkarahisar

Important centers and extension:|

* Akşehir
* Beyşehir
* Sandıklı
* Denizli

Dynasty|

* Sahib Ata Fahreddin Ali (1275–1288) and sons
* Nusreddin Ahmed (1288–1341)

Sarukhanids (1302–1410)

Founder

Saruhan Bey
Capital

Manisa

Important centers and extension:|

* Demirci
* Nif (Kemalpaşa)
* Akhisar
* Gördes
* Menemen

Dynasty|

* Saruhan Bey (1302–1345)
* Fahreddin Ilyas Bey
* Muzafferuddin Ishak Bey (-1388)
* Hızır Shah (1388–1390)

Teke (1301–1423)

Ancestors

Hamidoğlu dynasty
Founder

Tekeoğlu Yunus Bey
Capitals

Antalya
Korkuteli

Important centers and extension:|

* Antalya (lost to the Kingdom of Cyprus between 1361–1373)
* Teke Peninsula

Dynasty:|

* Tekeoğlu Yunus Bey (1301-?)
* Tekeoğlu Mehmud Bey (?-1327)
* Tekeoğlu Hızır Bey (? - ?)
* Tekeoğlu Dadı Bey (?-?)
* Zincirkıran Mehmed Bey (~1360 - ~1375)
* Tekeoğlu Osman Bey (~1375–1390)

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States in late medieval Anatolia (after 1071)

Muslim states|

* Ahis
* Aq Qoyunlu
* Alaiye
* Artuqids
* Aydinids
* Candaroğulları
* Canik
* Chobanids
* Çubukoğulları
* Danishmendids
* Dilmachids
* Dulkadirids
* Eretnids
* Erzincan
* Eshrefids
* Germiyanids
* Hacıemir
* Hamidids
* Inalids
* Kadi Burhan al-Din
* Karamanids
* Karasids
* Ladik
* Mengüjekids
* Menteshe
* Ottoman Empire
* Pervâneoğlu
* Qara Qoyunlu
* Ramadanids
* Shah-Armens
* Sultanate of Rum
* Sahib Ataids
* Saltukids
* Sarukhanids
* Tacettinids
* Tanrıbermiş
* Teke
* Tzachas

Christian states|

* Byzantine Empire
* Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia
* Empire of Nicaea
* Empire of Trebizond
* Knights Hospitaller
* Latin Empire
* Philaretos Brachamios
* Zaccaria family

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