Ottoman Sultan II. Who is Bayezid? Life story

The Ottoman Empire entered a period of rise after the conquest of Istanbul by Mehmed the Conqueror. This conquest was also very important for later sultans. Especially after the conquest of Istanbul, he became sultan II. BayezidGreat responsibilities were placed on his shoulders.

II, known as Sultan-ı Beyazıt or Sofu. Bayezid managed to stay on the throne for 30 years. However, he could not make conquests like his father because he was dealing with internal problems. Now “Who is Bayezid II, what is the Cem Sultan incident?” We can move on to the answers to questions such as these and the characteristics of the period.

Let’s start from the basics: II. Who is Bayezid?

Son of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror II. Bayezid, He is the eighth sultan of the Ottoman Empire. When he came to the throne, the total surface area of ​​the lands dominated by the Ottoman Empire was approximately 2,214,000 km². II ruled such a large area. This is where Bayezid’s nickname “Sultan-ı Beyazıt” comes from.

II started his education at the age of 7. Bayezid, after the conquest of Istanbul by his father, Fatih Sultan Mehmed He was appointed as the governor of Amasya. Here he started to receive education from people known as Islamic scholars. Apart from Islamic education, he also studied management, mathematics and philosophy. In addition to Arabic and Persian languages, he also knew the Uyghur alphabet and the Chagatai dialect. This made him a well-equipped sultan.

II. Bayezid’s accession to the throne

After the death of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, there were many suitors for the throne. Grand Vizier Karamanlı Mehmet Pasha, Bayezid and his brother Cem SultanA notice was sent to . However, Cem Sultan’s news was too late as the messenger sent to inform him of his father’s death was captured on the way. The Janissaries killed Grand Vizier Mehmet Pasha because they supported Bayezid becoming sultan. With this situation, we once again clearly see the influence of the Janissaries in the election of the Ottoman sultan.

Immediately after II. Bayezid came from Amasya to Istanbul in 9 days to claim the throne. He ascended the throne as Ottoman sultan on 22 May 1481. Thus began his 30-year reign adventure. However, there was a problem when he ascended to the throne. Brother Cem Sultan, II. He did not accept Bayezid’s sultanate.

II. Bayezid and Cem Sultan incident: A fight for the throne that will last for years

II. When Bayezid became the Ottoman sultan, there was one person who did not accept it. He is also his brother It was Cem Sultan. II. In the early days when Bayezid came to the throne, Cem Sultan organized an attack in İnegöl and won. Then he had sermons read in his name and coins were minted. These actions showed that he was declaring his sovereignty. His brother, II. He made an offer to Bayezid. This proposal was to divide the empire into two and give the administration of Anatolian lands to itself. Of course II. Bayezid did not accept this offer. If he had accepted, in his opinion, the Ottoman Empire would have been completely destroyed. At the same time It could have benefited the interests of the Mamluks and European states. Therefore, Cem Sultan was supported by the enemies of the Ottoman Empire.

By 1481, IStarted a war against Bayezid I. After his first battle, he retreated and took shelter with the Mamluks, increased his power with their support, and then attacked again without waiting. After the bloody war in Akşehir, Cem Sultan fled to Rhodes.

Cem Sultan’s going to Rhodes was a negative development for him.

Because after this situation, he could not step into Ottoman lands again. After Rhodes, he took refuge with the pope, and then the king of France tried to take him hostage. European states through Cem Sultan They had planned a new Crusade. However, their plans fell through. Cem Sultan died while trying to be taken hostage by the King of France. Thus, in the Ottoman Empire, II. The fight for the throne ended for Bayezid.

Cem Sultan incident It is the first issue in the Ottoman Empire that turned from an internal problem to an external problem.

II. Characteristics and developments of the Bayezid period:

• II. When Bayezid ascended to the throne, the Ottoman Empire entered a period of rise. However, the conquests slowed down due to the Cem Sultan incident. Therefore II. “A period of stagnation in the rise” of the Bayezid period It is referred to as.
• Again, due to the Cem Sultan incident, more peaceful policies were developed against the West.
• Known as the most severe earthquake in Ottoman history The Great Istanbul Earthquake of September 14, 1509It was one of the most difficult moments of the period. So much so that this earthquake was documented as a “Little Apocalypse”. During this period, avariz tax was collected for the first time under the name of imdad-ı safiyye.
• II. Legal regulations were also made during the Bayezid period. The first municipal law Kanunname-i İhtisab-ı Bursa (Bursa Municipality Law) prepared. In addition, the areas affected by Sharia law have expanded.
• Artistic developments in the West were followed closely. Leonardo da Vinci, II. In a letter he wrote to Bayezid Request to build a bridge across the Golden Horn and Bosphorus was found. Also, for the discoveries of Christopher Columbus, World War II. He asked for help from Bayezid.
• In this period Culture of East and West attempts were made to synthesize it.
• in Andalusia (Spain) Living Muslims and Jews were brought to Ottoman lands.

II. Expeditions made during the Bayezid period:

• First Imperial Campaign (1483): In this campaign, the Ottoman armies managed to advance as far as Belgrade. As a result of this expedition, an agreement was signed between the Hungarians and the Ottomans, and Herzegovina was left to Bosnia under Ottoman control.
• Second Imperial Campaign (1484): This expedition, known as the Moldavian Expedition, was organized after Moldavia did not pay its taxes.
• Third Imperial Campaign (1492): It is an expedition organized for the purpose of siege, aiming to capture Belgrade once and for all. However, it was not successful.
• Fourth Imperial Campaign (1499): This expedition was a naval war between Venice and the Ottomans. The Ottoman Empire was successful in this expedition.
• Fifth Imperial Campaign (1500): As a result of this expedition, which was a continuation of the fourth expedition, Modon Castle was conquered.

II. During the reign of Bayezid, 5 expeditions were organized. of these The First Imperial Expedition (1483) and the Second Imperial Expedition (1484), also known as the Moldavian Expedition. are the most important.

Ottoman-Mamluk Wars of 1485-1491:

II. Among the wars fought during the reign of Bayezid Ottoman-Mamluk Wars It is very important. The Ottoman Empire wanted to dominate the Euphrates and Taurus region. However, the Mamluk State argued that these regions should remain under the rule of an Islamic state. “So wasn’t the Ottoman Empire an Islamic state?” If so, the answer to the question is yes. However, the Mamluk State did not see states other than itself as Islamic states.

In addition, in the Cem Sultan incident, relations between the Mamluks and the Ottomans were thoroughly deteriorated due to their support for Cem Sultan. As a result of the wars, the dominance of the Euphrates and Taurus regions passed to the Ottomans.

The first separation within the religion: 1511 Şahkulu Rebellion

Şahkulu Rebellion The Second World War took place in 1511. It is an important development that took place during the Bayezid period. Because with this rebellion, divisions within the religion were experienced for the first time by taking advantage of the sultanate fights. This rebellion, started by Shah Ismail, nicknamed Şahkulu, and his followers, who were Turkmens, spread throughout the Ottoman lands in a short time. The reasons for this rebellion are:

• Turkmens are disturbed by the settlement policies
• Shiite propaganda
• Authority gap arising from sultanate fights
• Failure to pay attention to the east due to expeditions to the west
• Increase in bribery and injustice in administration

The Şahkulu Rebellion turned into bloody conflicts.

Initiated by Shah Ismail Şahkulu Rebellion His supporters gradually increased and the rebellion turned into bloody conflicts. The rebellion was suppressed after great efforts. II. This rebellion, which took place in the last days of Bayezid, was a great danger for the Ottoman Empire. Because it is also II. Fights for the throne continued among Bayezid’s sons. The rebels managed to escape by taking advantage of this environment.

Later II. Bayezid left the throne to his son Ahmed. However Prince Selim and Korkut He was not happy with this situation. In addition, the disagreement between Prince Ahmed and the janissaries determined the owner of the throne, and the janissaries supported Prince Selim. Yavuz Sultan Selim, known as Selim I, became the next owner of the throne.

II, the eighth sultan of the Ottoman Empire, who remained on the throne for 30 years. We have come to the end of our content about Bayezid. “Who is Bayezid II, what is the Cem Sultan incident, what are the characteristics of Bayezid II’s period and the events that took place, what expeditions did Bayezid II undertake?” We answered frequently asked questions such as:

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