-
- Karamanogullari principality that had
prohibited the usage of any language apart from Turkish was the greatest rival of
Osmanogullari principality.
-
- This principality had established
dominion in Anatolia for nearly 230 years, and it had been the most significant and the
most powerful one of these Turkmen principalities that followed the Osmanogullari
principality. It had established a powerful state in a wide region that had been centred
in Karaman (the older name of this region was Larende) and they had fought with the
Ottomans in order to establish domination in Anatolia as the successor of the Great Seljuk
State. The “Karaman Crown” was not considered as a princedom; it was rather considered
as a kingdom. Karamanogullari principality had been dominant in Konya, in other words, the
former capital city of Turkey Khanate. They had introduced themselves as the successors of
the Seljuk State. However, this allegation could only remain as a memory of imagination
against the competition and superiority of the Osmanogullari principality resulting from
their geopolitical situation, the prestige that they had acquired due to their holy wars
and the unique genius of their rulers. Karamanogullari principality caused the greatest
trouble for Osmanogullari principality that wanted to establish the Anatolian Union and to
reconstruct the Turkey Khanate. This principality had even collaborated with the European
Christian states in order to damage and even to eradicate the magnificence and sublimity
of Ottoman State.
- Karaman Turkmen Principality had
dominated for approximately 237 years since the year of 1250 until the year of 1487.
However, the last years had passed under the absolute domination of Ottoman State and
Karamanogullari principality was contented with a small area of the lands in Icel.
Karamanogullari principality had been a pert of Turkey Khanate until the year of 1308 and
they had been submissive to Selcukogullari. They had even caused national revolutions in
order to save Selcukogullari and to help them to get rid of the domination of Ilhanli
State and Mameluke Turks had supported them. The prestige of Karamanogullari principality
in the Central Anatolia had increased so much among the Turkish groups of people that had
been fed up with the domination of Ilhanli State.
-
- Until the year of 1335, Karamanogullari
principality has been submissive to Ilhanli State when required; but they had benefited
from every opportunity to get rid of this domination. From that date on, they had acquired
their independence, but the influence of the Mameluke State could not be eradicated all
from the country. Since Karamanli people had tended to expand towards the lands under the
domination of the Mameluke State, there were some struggles between them. Karaman
principality had been annexed to the Ottoman Empire for 3 years since the year of 1399
until the date of 28th July 1402. Pursuant to the calamity of Ankara, this principality
was reinvigorated by Timur with more extensive lands. In the years of 1399, Karamanli
principality had been under the influence of Ottomans and they had even recognised the
Ottoman State as their sovereign. Nevertheless, they did not give up the rebellions
against Ottoman State in every opportunity.
- The capital city of the principality
had been Eregli for approximately 6 years between the years of 1250 and 1256, and then,
Ermenek was the capital city of the principality for nearly 5 years between the years of
1256 and 1261. Afterwards, the capital city was moved to the city of Karaman that was
frequently called as “Larende” in those times and it had remained as the capital city
until the end of this principality. Konya had sometimes been the city of enthronement
since it was the biggest city of the country and some of the beys had dwelled in this
city.
- Karamanogullari dynasty was from Nure
Sufi Bey who was the son of Ahmed Sâdeddin Bey, one of the beys of Kacar tribe among Oguz
people. Nûre Sûfî Bey was married with the paternal aunt of Eretna Bey.
- Suring their history for 2,5 centuries,
the lands of the Karaman principality had been expanded and diminished relatively. In the
beginning, they had established dominion in the real Icel, in other words, the lands in
the west of Goksu stream, in the lands that were located in the east of Manavgat Stream,
in Alaiye, Ermenek, Hadim, Bozkir, Karaman, and the environs of Eregli. Although they had
sometimes penetrated into Konyas, they had acted in the name of Selcukogullari and they
did not claim for sovereignty. When the domination of Ilhanli State in Anatolia had been
eradicated, they had captured Konya extending towards Ankara.
-
- They left Tarsus to the Mameluke State
in the year of 1417, and they captured Beyşehri from Ottoman Stae in the year of 1433.
They gave Kayseri to Ottoman State in the year of 1437, but Develikarahisar had remained
under the domination of Karamanogullari principality until the end of tem. They were
repulsed from Aksehir, Beysehir and Ilgin by the Ottomans in the year of 1465. Within the
most extensive framework of their lands, the Karaman principality had expanded to the
following provinces and districts considering the situation of today’s Turkey: They had
established their influence and dominion in all the provinces of Konya, Niğde, Kayseri,
Ankara, Nevşehir, İçel and Kirsehir, the eastern half of the province of Antalya. Ahi
Republic in Ankara, and in Karaman. Karamanli principality had sometimes trespassed the
borders stated above in the regions of Antalya, Isparta, and Afyon towards the west. The
surface area of the lands stated above is equal to146.000 km2. We can estimate that there
was 2 millions of people living in those lands in that period. The surface area of the
Karaman principality was almost 100.000 km2 towards the year of 1360.
to be continued
|
