EMIR SULTAN


Toward the end of 14th century, a new sun of science and wisdom started to shine over the horizons of Bursa. This sun was a Turkish scholar from Buhara who was to be named Emir Sultan afterwards.

Emir Sultan, whose real name was Şemseddin Mehmed, was born in Buhara in Middle Asia in 1368. He had learnt various branches of knowledge of the day, and dealt with mysticism at the same time. Emir sultan, like many scientists and opinion leaders in Middle Asia, planned to migrate to Anatolia to serve and contribute to Turkish thought and departed to do so. He went to Mecca and Medina from Buhara. Then he went to Anatolia over Baghdad from there.

Anatolia was governed by Anatolia emirates separated by regions in these years. The emirates referred to with the names of their founders such as Artukoğulları, Karamanoğulları, Hamidoğulları, Germiyanoğulları, Osmanlılar were clashing because of border disagreements and harming Turkish unity in Anatolia. Emir Sultan, who was saying that he was spiritually commissioned with establishing and providing friendship and brotherhood, unity and cooperation between these emirates paid great efforts for this, and visited most of the Anatolian Beys together with his disciples following his path. He settled down in Karaman and Kutahya for a period of time. Then he went to Inegöl. He said his final stop would be Bursa. He settled down in Gökdere going to Bursa.

Bursa was the capital city of Ottoman state those days. Yıldırım Beyazid had ascended Ottoman throne, preparing for new expeditions to Thrace, in particular. Ebu Hamid Hamideddin, Molla Fenari, the leading scholars of the period had settled down in Bursa. There were many scientists, thinkers and artists in Bursa. Emir Sultan found it suitable to take advantage of such atmosphere. He had started to show the path of knowledge and Sufis in Gökdere, gathering an enormous crowd.

His reputation reached the palace in a short time. Yıldırım Beyazid had visited this experienced scholar and liked his talks, and requested him to instruct his daughter Hundi Fatma Hatun. Hundi Fatma Hatun was a heartily, poet spirited mature sultan inclined to Sufism. In a short time, her heart got tied with her instructors heart and fell in love. Beyazid, upon finding that out, married his daughter to Emir Sultan as a consequence of which he became his son-in-law. A lamp of science in Bursa became a torch illuminating all Ottoman country now. Emir Sultan advised Yıldırım Beyazid to be just in government and to establish Turkishunity, and took part in his expeditions in person together with his men. In Ankara war Yıldırım fought against Timur, Emir Sultan was also one of the captives. Timur talked to Emir Sultan, and could not be able to hide his admiration before his knowledge, and let him to turn back to Bursa.

Emir Sultan was also respected in Ottoman palace during Murat the 2nd period, took part in Istanbul siege in 1422, and became the spiritual support and power of the army. Anatolia was becoming a whole Ottoman country now, gathering separate emirates under Ottoman government. Emir Sultan had become a honest instructor illuminating Anatolia with his words and advices. Emir Sultan died in 1429 in Bursa when he was 63. His spouse Hundi Hatun, constructed a tomb and a mosque for her beloved husband. One of the monuments of Bursa today is Emir Sultan Mosque. Since it was damaged by the earthquake in 1795, it was reconstructed by Sultan Selim the Third, with charitable institutions such as schools, Turkish Baths, guesthouses around. In Emir Sultan’s tomb, there are the graves of his wife Hundi Hatun and their three children together with himself.

Emir Sultan Kulliyah is visible in fogged landscape of Bursa as a monument of culture and art. Everyday hundreds of people visit his tomb and clean their hearts and cool their spirits.