Pre-Ottoman Anatolia

 

In his account, ibn Battouta says that the Aydinoglu beylik was pretty rich and powerful contolling the lands from Akhisar to Mugla as well as Izmir. Ibn Battouta even mention that the "King" had a summer resort and two capitals where his own horse died from cold in the middle of summer time.

 

Another question is what happened to the beylik ruling families especially the Karamanoglu, did they turn into a an aristocracy or became fuedal lords or were exterminated.

 

Al-Jassas

 

What about the relationship between the beyliks and the ottomans, did the nearby beyliks help the ottoman's military expedition or ally themselves against them and what is the beylik that might have been the next Ottoman empire if the ottomans did not choose to go to war?

 

Al-Jassas

 

Depends on the Ottomans if the once proud states of conquered Anatolia would ally with the Sultan. Beyazid, for instance, had animosity towards nobles from rival sanjaks. Many of them were happy to side with Timur during Angora. Those were not Beys in the traditional Ottoman sense though. A provincial Ottoman owned Beylik had a BeylerBeyi who was both an administrator, military commander and/or advisor to the Sultan. Two of the most dominant Beylerbeyi were from Rumeli and Anadolu, from Kutahya. As the empire grew more Beys would have there own districts in the border regions.

 

The capacity of the Ottoman military came from manpower that was a mixture of imperial Kapikulu Janissaries and Sipahi Cavalry, as well as, the Timarli Sipahi (timar land holders). During Suleyman's reign the largest part of the military branch came from the provincial Sipahi Timars, these also included akinji raiders. A timar holder was provided compensation to maintain the land and those under him. The order of summons came from the Sultan or Grand Vezier, down on to the Beylerbeyi, onto the Bey, who would collect sources from the timar holder (Timariot) or Sipahi who would then collect men under them; whom were Cebeli, thay would eventually offer arms, goods or military service. The Kapikulu were usually recruited from slaves and the devsirme system. The Timarlis of Anatolia happened to mostly come from Turk stock during Mehmed's reign and after.

 

Suleyman had resources to about 38,000 timars of whom less than that were the Sipahi. These numbers would also include Timariots and Cebelis too (retainers). In total the numbers of the Cavalry would amount to around 70,000 to 80,000 men. This number would increase with the Kapikulu being added to the ranks once called upon during an invasion. However, the Kapikulu would not amount to more than 28,000 men.

 

Some men from surrounding garrisons could also be employed when needed. The eventual total of all of these men-at-arms would roughly come to about 100,000 men. Anything deviating too far from this figure would not be very accurate. European stories about 200,000 Ottomans taking on lesser numbers of 'infidels' is generally an exageration. One would have to look at other viable explanations for Ottoman dominance at the time of Suleyman.

 

In summary, Beyliks were Ottoman provinces. Anything outside of them would be called a rival or friendly principality, or empire. The Ottoman Bey would run a province, made up of sanjaks and smaller Kazas. This overall the concept of beyliks is necessary and partial to Ottoman methods of taxation, recruitment, farming and trade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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