GHAZI EVRENOS          

       Ghazi Evrenos Bey was born in Balikesir in 1288. His ancestors go back to Akkoyunlu Turks. His grandfather came from Horasan to Anatolia together with Turkmen tribe of Bozoklu Khan. This person had seven children. When Ertuğrul Ghazi was a border emir, Bozoklu Khan had helped him. One of the seven children of Bozoklu Khan was Isa Bey, the son of Evrenos.

       The real name of Evrenos Bey is Evren. The word evren was used as the name of many villages in Anatolia just as it was the name of a mythical snake which Turks believed as eternal life. Since the word Us meant emir, Evrenos means Emir Evren. The ancestors of Evren Bey are: Bozoklu Khan, Kuşdemir Khan, Özer Khan, Gündüz Khan, İsa Bey, and after Evrenos Bey, İkiyürekli Ali Bey, Ghazi Ahmet, Musa Bey.

       Evrenos Bey was brought up in Balikesir with his father's manners receiving a sound education. Evrenos, originating from noble Turkmen ancestors, worked in Karesi Emir Aclan Bey's army. However, when Orhan Ghazi conquered Karesi Emirate, he was put in service of Orhan Ghazi together with Ece Bey. When Orhan Ghazi appointed his son Suleyman Pasha as the governor of Balikesir, he appointed Evrenos Bey as his consultant. Suleyman Pasha liked Evrenos Bey very much seeing his high military power.

       He always took him with himself and consulted in all issues. When Orhan Ghazi commissioned his son Suleyman Pasha for conquest of Thrace, Suleyman Pasha took Evrenos Bey into his retinue too.

       Ghazi Evrenos did much service for provision of ships to bring military forces to European shore. Suleyman Pasha and Evrenos Bey landed on European soil from Gelibolu. After the prince divided his troops into a few branches, while Evrenos Bey was engaged in conquest of Keşan and its surroundings, a powerful enemy army began to march toward himself. Evrenos Bey, routed these forces towards the morning with a rapid assault.

       Suleyman Pasha, content from these successes of Evrenos Bey, praised Evrenos Bey's services and informed his father of this victory. Orhan Bey sent a sword and a caftan to Evrenos Bey with a decree stating that he had granted the fields he may wish for foundation. Suleyman Pasha, after this success, was killed by falling from his horse during a hunting.

       Rums, Bulgars, Serbs, and Ulahs, from Balkan nations prepared an ally army to take Turks out of Europe. Some of these soldiers came from the sea and landed on Gelibolu. However, Ghazi Evrenos's forces assaulted on them and routed some of them on land and some of them on their ships. At the same time, Orhan Ghazi died not being able to stand the pain of his son's death.

       His son Murat Hüdavendigar substituted Orhan Ghazi, as the third sultan of Ottoman throne. The new sultan commissioned Ghazi Evrenos Bey for the conquest of Gümülcine. At the same time, Hadji İlbey conquered Edirne, and the sultan went there. But after some time, he turned back to Bursa and left Lala Şahin Pasha in Edirne as Thrace Emir of Emirs. Upon Hadji İlbey's death, conquests in Thrace were left to Evrenos Bey.

       Byzantium emperor prepared a new army and sent it to Yalova and Izmit. Evrenos Bey, upon hearing that, marched toward Istanbul to threaten Byzantine forces, and went as far as Yeşilköy. The emperor, fearing that Turks may surround Istanbul, had to demand peace. After that, Evrenos Bey went to conquer Macedonia. Evrenos Bey and Hayrettin Pasha conquered Manastir city and made it Ottoman property. Then they besieged Salonika.

       At the same time, Murat Hüdavendigar decided to marry his son Beyazıt to Devlet Hatun, Yakup Bey's sister. A brilliant wedding ceremony was prepared in Bursa. Evrenos Bey was also invited to this wedding. Evrenos bey sent many gifts to the wedding. The sultan, seeing those gifts, said: The gifts of Big Evrenos is superior to that of rulers! Well done Evrenos! In response to these gifts, the sultan bestowed the horses sent by Sultan Berkok, the ruler of Egypt to Evrenos Bey.

       Then Evrenos Bey was given the title of Ghazi. He went to perform his pilgrimage to Mecca the same year and became a pilgrim (Hadji). After Ghazi Hadji Evrenos Bey returned from pilgrimage, the European allied army had billeted in Kosovo. Evrenos Bey, hearing that, immediately joined the army. He met the sultan in Tasli position. Murat Hüdavendigar, seeing this hero, cuddled and kissed him. Ghazi Evrenos went to examine around with about forty soldiers. He took a number of captives to the headquarters a few days later. Much information was obtained from these captives. Upon that, the Turkish army moved toward Kosovo Plain and billeted in a position. The sultan founded a military divan in this position.

       The sultan said to Evrenos bey for the first time: Evrenos, I commissioned you as the border guard for a long time. You know the conditions here. Therefore, your opinions should be preferred to the others'. What kind of measures do you think for this battle? Evrenos Bey immediately stood up and said: Thank you for your royal compliment. 

       Command and opinion is our Sultan's. He made the following evaluation upon repetition of the order of the sultan: My Sultan, I think it would be hard to displace the enemy if we assault first. Therefore, I think we should leave assault to them. We should start a impetuous and general assault when they disseminate. If they are routed, they cannot correct their situation again. Then the victory would be ours. The sultan asked distinct opinions of Demirtaş, Yahşi Bey, Prince Yıldırım Beyazıt and Grand Vizier Ali Pasha. They all said: What Evrenos Ghazi has said is correct! So the sultan said: I think so.

       And decided on assault in this manner. But a commander began to speak and asked: Wouldn't it be better if we used munitions camels as a shelter from the enemy?
Evrenos Bey replied: Once when Alexander the Great invaded India, the Indian Ruler of these times lined up elephants in front of his army thinking that they would surprise Alexander's army. However, his army was routed because of the elephants' shying. Alexander won the victory.

       So, the proposal of the commander was rejected. Murat Hüdavendigar undertook the command of the center. He vend the command of right wing in Ghazi Evrenos and Prince Beyazid, and Prince Yakup Çelebi to the left wing. Evrenos Bey gave the following advise before the assault: Spahis should take the front row at right and left. They should shoot many arrows at the enemy at the same time in a manner not allowing them to open their eyes.

       Evrenos' idea was accepted. Then, first Kosovo pitched battle started impetuously. Kosovo victory was won by routing the enemy army. However, unfortunately, Murad Hudavendigar fell martyr as a result of the dagger of a Serbian. Evrenos Bey had fulfilled the Chief of War Procedures post in this battle. On the death of Murad Hüdavendigar, his son Yıldırım Beyazid succeeded to the throne. The new sultan commissioned Ghazi Evrenos for guarding Macedonia and its environs. Ghazi Evrenos entered Teselya and conquered the city from one edge to the other, since Greeks did not remain silent. A crusaders army crossed Danube and besieged Niğbolu Castle at the same time.

       Yıldırım Beyazid prepared a big army and marched toward Niğbolu. Ghazi Evrenos took part in this battle too. Yıldırım Beyazid won Niğbolu Victory by defeating allied armies. After this war, Yıldırım Beyazid marched toward Tamerlane, who invaded Anatolia.

       But he was taken captive in Ankara Pitched Battle being defeated. Then, the unity of Anatolia being harmed, the sons of Yildirim began to claim independence everywhere. Emir Suleyman started to reign in Thrace. Evrenos Ghazi, because he was in Thrace, had to enter into Emir Suleyman's service.

       However, when Prince Musa Çelebi went to Thrace and started struggling against Emir Suleyman, Evrenos Bey withdrew toward Salonika. Musa Çelebi, defeating his brother, proclaimed his sultanate in Edirne. Prince Musa invited Evrenos Bey to enter into his service. However, Evrenos Bey did not want to go on the pretext that his eyes did not see. However, Musa Çelebi called him by force. He offered frog instead of meat in meal to understand if his eyes saw or not. Evrenos Bey had to eat the frog because of fear.

       Çelebi Mehmet came from Amasya against Musa Çelebi and started fight again. Çelebi Mehmed invited Evrenos Bey to his army. In this war against Musa Çelebi, Ghazi Evrenos fought with his five sons on the left wing. In this battle, Musa Çelebi was killed. When Çelebi Mehmet established Anatolian unity, he gave many gifts to Evrenos Bey. He was put into state service together with his sons again. Ali Bey, İsa Bey, from his sons, and Süleyman, Ghazi Ahmet and Mehmet Beys from his grandsons served the state much.
Ghazi Evrenos Bey died in 1417 when he was 129. His grave is in Yenice Vardar. The note "that war sword was sheathed" was written for his death.

       Evrenos Bey is one of the greatest commanders elevating Turk's name and honor in European territories. He was a charitable person who constructed many mosques, schools and inns in Yenice-i Vardar and who allotted foundations for each.