Ghazi Ahmed Bey who had been commissioned
with the charge of the conquest of Anatolia had been a teacher and lecturer of Turkmens.
Therefore, he had been called as “Danismendli” (Counsellor). Danismend Ghazi Ahmed Bey
had captured the environs of Kizilirmak and Yesilirmak rivers. It has been rumoured that
the Emir Danismend was rooted from the lineage of Battal Ghazi (died in 740) who had died
in a war with the Byzantine. It has also been rumoured that he was the uncle of Sultan
Suleyman b. Kutalmiţ, the conqueror of Anatolia. When Suleymanshah had died in 1086, he
strengthened his power. He joined in the wars that were fought by Kilic Arslan I against
the Crusades and he was very successful in these wars. He took Antioch Prince, Bohemond as
prisoner and captured Malatya. He was on strained terms with Kilicarslan who wanted him to
set this prince free and a war broke out between them. Ghazi Ahmed Bey was defeated in
this war and he died in the year of 1106.
The centre of power
pertaining to this Turkmen dynasty was actually in the Northern Anatolia, and within the
environs of Tokat, Amasya and Sivas. However, it has been known that the real name of
Danismend was Taylu and he had been a teacher. Accordingly, Emir Danismend had come to
Sivas in the year of 108 and he had settled in this region without any pains or
resistance. Then, he conquered the basin of Yeţilirmak River, and he besieged and
captured Niksar (before the year of 1097). Emir Danismend benefited from the struggles
among the emirs in Anatolia and expanded the borders of his state. Upon the outbreak of
the Crusades, he had been involved in cruel fights against this new enemy that came from
the west. When Kilic Arslan, the sultan of Turkey Seljuk State retreated towards the east
in front of Iznik, Emir Danismend and Hasan, the Emir of Cappadocia collaborated against
the Crusades. These allied Turkish forces fought against the Crusades within the environs
of Darylaeum (Eskisehir) on the date of 1st July 1097, but Turks had suffered great losses
and casualties and they had to retreat.
Danismendli bey
principality continued their activities in the regions that the Crusades could not reach
and captured Bayburt in the year of 1098. Three armies of the Crusades penetrated
successively into Anatolia under the command of various western princes in the year of
1101. Emir Danismend collaborated with Kilic Arslan I against the Crusades and they
defeated them in a crushing manner. Pursuant to these victories, Danismend Ghazi advanced
immediately towards Malatya and captured this city (1103). Danismend Ghazi died in the
year of 1106.
Emir Ghazi, one of his
sons replaced him. Kilic Arslan I had benefited from the death of Danismend and captured
Malatya (1105). However, this superior situation of the Turkey Seljuk State could only
last until the death of Kilic Arslan I (1107). Emir Ghazi had been involved in the
struggles for the throne among the Seljuk princes and he had supported Mes’ud, one of
these princes who was his son-in-law and he provided his enthronement in Konya (1116).
Then, he captured Kayseri and Ankara in the year of 1127. Therefore, Emir Ghazi had
dominated in the region of Central and Northern Anatolia that extended towards the springs
of the Euphrates and Sakarya excluding the lands of Mes’ud and Danismendli bey
principality had become the most powerful state in Anatolia.
Afterwards, Emir Ghazi
penetrated into Cukurova and subdued the Armenian Leon for submission (1131). He acquired
a fair fame and respect with his victories against the Byzantine, the Crusades and the
Armenians in the Turkish-Islam world. Therefore, Baghdad Caliph el-Mustersid and the
Sencer who was the sultan of the Great Seljuk State had approved his title of “ruler”.
His son, Melik Muhammed who replaced him had also fought with the Crusades and the
Armenians. Upon the death of Melik Muhammed (1142), the foundations of the Danismend State
were destroyed due to the struggles for the throne. The superiority in Anatolia started to
change hands towards the Seljuk State. Struggles for sovereignty and the throne broke out
among Muhammed’s sons and brothers. Kis brother, Yagi-basan declared himself as the
ruler in Sivas; on the other hand, his ther brother, Ayn ed-Devle followed the same way in
Elbistan and Malatya. His son, Zu’n-nun captured Kayseri.
Therefore, three
branches that were in competition appeared within the structure of Danismendli
principality for a specific period. The division of Danismendli principality into three
branches was an unobtainable opportunity for the sultans of Turkey Seljuk State.
Particularly Kilic Arslan II was among those who benefited from this situation. He
intervened in the affairs of the Sivas branch in most cases. Finally, he captured Kayseri
and Zamanti in 1169. Zu’n-nun returned to Anatolia through the support of the Tutor Nur
ed-Din Mahmud in Syria and he started to dominate in the city of Sivas and the country of
Danismendli principality. However, the death of Nur ed-Din Mahmud was another good
opportunity for Kilic Arslan II. There was not any obstacle left in front of him in order
to annihilate Zu’n-nun. He immediately set in motion and captured the cities such as
Sivas, Tokat, Niksar and Amasya, etc. that pertained to the Danismendli principality
(1175). Zu’n-nun took shelter in the Byzantine Empire.
As for Malatya, there
was a conflict among the three sons of Zulkarneyn who had died in the year of 1162. Of
these three sons, Nasir ed-Din Muhammed dominated as a vassal of Kilic Arslan II for a
while. Then, Kilic Arslan II penetrated into Malatya in the year of 1178 and abolished
this branch of Danismendli principality that dominated in this region and therefore, the
union of Anatolia had been obtained. Afterwards, some of the emirs pertaining to the
Danismendli dynasty got in the service of the Seljuk State.
The mosques that had
been constructed by the Danismendli people have not survived until nowadays with their
original shapes. There are several mosques, theological schools and vaults that have been
determined to pertain to them. Of these mosques, Niksar Ulu Câmii, Kayseri Ulu Câmii,
Kayseri Kölük Câmii and Sivas Ulu Câmii have survived with some modifications and
extensions. Yagi-basan from Danismendli dynasty had constructed two theological schools.
One of them was constructed in Tokat in the years of 1151-2, and the other was constructed
in Niksar in the years of 1157-8. There are six vaults (mausoleums) that have survived
since the period of Danismendli principality. The mausoleum that is attributed to Emir
Danismend who was the founder of the dynasty is located in Niksar and it has been
considered as a place of pilgrimage heretofore.
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