Just like Dulkadirogullari
principality, Ramazanogullari principality was a Turkmen principality that was founded at
the latest periods and over the lands of the ancient Cilicia Armenian kingdom. Ramazan Bey
from the beys of Yuregir tribe of Oguz people had founded this principality. He had
declared the centre of the state as Elbistan until the year of 1381, and then, he had left
this area to Dulkadirli principality. Afterwards, this principality was centred in Adana.
It had dominated for 256 years since 1352 until the year of 1608, but the last 92 years
had been experienced under the domination of Ottoman governors. Nevertheless, this
principality was considered among the most long-lasting dynasties of Anatolian Turkmen
families. While they had been strictly submissive to the Mameluke State until the year of
1516, they had become submissive to the Ottoman State in this year. Similarly, this
principality was transformed into an ordinary county principality of the Ottoman State.
Significant Ottoman statesmen were brought up from this dynasty.
Ibrahim Bey I who was the son of Ramazan
that was conferred the Turkmen Principality had provided help to Dulkadirogullari and
Karamanogullari principalities in the course of the struggles against the Mameluke State.
On the grounds that he had collaborated with Karamanogullari principality, forces were
sent towards him and he was killed thereof. Sihabeddin Ahmed who replaced him was
sometimes submissive to the domination of the Mameluke State and had provided help for
them. However, he had sometimes opposed to them.
After
a blockade of seven months, he captured Tarsus from Karamanogullari principality in the
year of 1415. Furthermore, he had established dominion in the cities of Sis and Ayas.
Pursuant to his death, the struggles for the throne broke out among his sons. Of these
sons, Ibrahim II was able to establish dominion in the government of the principality. He
collaborated with Karamanogullari principality and they besieged Tarsus that had been
captured by the Mameluke State. Upon this movement, the Mameluke Sultan was dismissed and
Izzeddin Hamza Bey was appointed in the place of him (1418).
Then,
the Ramazanogullari principality was conferred to Mehmed Bey. Since the period of Mehmed
Bey, the Ramazanogullari principality had lost its old significance. Mahmud Bey from
Ramazanogullari dynasty had joined in the expedition of Selim I to Egypt and he had died
in Ridaniye War (1517). In these dates, it has been understood that Ramazanogullari
principality had been under the protection of the Ottoman State. Pursuant to the death of
Mahmud Bey, Ramazanogullari principality was conferred to Piri Bey (1517-1568). He quickly
suppressed the rebellions that burst out in the lands under his domination. He had left
his country for a specific period and had been a bey governor in the neighbouring
provinces. Then, he had requested from Kanuni Sultan Suleyman for his appointment to
return to the principality. His demand was accepted and he returned to the domination of
the principality. When the last emir, Pir Mansur resigned from the status of bey of the
principality, Adana had directly become an Ottoman province (1608).
Principal
Beys of Ramazanogullari Principality
Ramazan Bey was replaced successively by his
two sons, Sârimeddin Ibrahim Bey and Şihâbeddin Ahmed Bey. His other son, Kara Mehmed
Bey had died in the year of 1383. İbrahim Bey had captured Adana and made it the
centre of the principality and he died in the same year. He had left 2 sons. Ahmed Bey had
visited Cairo in the year of 1410. He was respectively replaced by his sons, Sârimeddin
II. Ibrahim, Izzeddin Hamza and Mehmed Bey I (It is not definitely determined that
Mehmed Bey was the son of Ahmed Bey). It has been supposed that he had another son named
Ali Bey. His daughter was the main wife of the Mameluke Sultan Ferec.
Ibrahim II was the son-in-law of Karamanoğlu
Mehmed Bey. He had become the bey of Tarsus between the years of 1415-1417 and dominated
only in the city of Adana between the years of 1418-1426. The actual principality was
dominated by his brother, Hamza Bey. He was killed in Cairo on the fate of 15th December
1427. His brother, Hamza Bey was also killed like Ibrahim Beys I and II.
Mehmed Bey I was replaced by his supposed son,
Eylük Bey. Upon his murder, Dundar Bey ascended the throne that was supposedly his son.
The other son of Mehmed Bey was Ibrahim Bey and the son of Ibrahim Bey was Omer Bey. Then,
Omer Bey replaced Dundar Bey. Omer Bey who had been taken prisoner by the Ottoman State in
the year of 1485 died in Istanbul. He was replaced by the sons of his brother, Davud Bey
who was killed in Aleppo in the year of 1480 and his sons were named as Garseddin Halil
and Mahmud Beys. Mahmud Bey lived in Istanbul in the years of 1514-1516. He was replaced
by Omer Bey's son, Selim Bey. He was sent again to Adana as the bey of county connected to
the Ottoman State. While he fought on the side of Ottoman State against the Mameluke State
in Cairo in the course of the Riddaniye pitched battle on the date of 22nd January 1517,
he was killed as a martyr in the battlefield. The dynasty was survived through his brother
Halil Bey and they had dominated as the beys of country under the domination of Ottoman
State.
In the period of Ramazanogullari
principality, especially Halil Bey and his son, Piri Bey had constructed lots of
architectural works including the mosques, theological schools, inns and public baths in
Adana. The most significant of those among these works are Akça Mescit (small mosque),
Ulu Camii (mosque) that was built in the form of a complex of buildings, and Yağ Câmii
(Eski Câmii).
The fact that Cukurova was located on the way
of pilgrimage and on an important trade route at the same time had enabled the development
of this region in respect of economy under the domination of Ramazanogullari principality
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