HADJI ILBEY           

       
       When Turks conquered all Marmara coasts, they began to long to possess the European continent. The crusaders threatening Anatolia's unity during the period of Seljukians had come from these territories. The crusaders armies had crossed Anatolia for precisely four times shedding blood. If not for Turkish hero Kılıçarslan, European Christians would have settled down in all of the regions of Anatolia.

 

       Therefore, Turks had to pass to Rumelia territories to ensure the unity of Anatolia and to form a border. Ottoman State, newly established near Bursa, would not be able to turn into a strong and big empire without securing these regions. Our ancestors, knowing how important this is, wanted European continent. Orhan Ghazi commissioned his son Suleyman Pasha for conquest of Rumelia to realize this aim.

 

       The Turkish forces commanded by Suleyman Pasha landed on Gelibolu peninsula setting foot on European continent. They invaded these territories as far as Edirne. However, Suleyman Pasha passed away falling down from his horse during a hunt. So Hadji İlbey and Evrenos Ghazi were appointed to commander of Rumelia forces. Other commanders of smaller quatrains were Aksungur. Ecebey, Kara Demirtaş Paşa, Kızıloğlan, Balabancıkoğlu, Gazi Fazıl Beys.

 

       These heroes started to conquer one by one the cities of Eastern Thrace leading these forces. But the smartest of these commanders was Hadji İlbey. Hadji İlbey was born in Balikesir in 1305. His father was one of the beys of Karesi. Hadji El was under command of Karesi Emir, Dursun Bey. He had performed his pilgrimage becoming a hadji. When Karesi passed to Ottoman possession during the period of Orhan Ghazi, he appointed his son Suleyman Pasha as the governor of this province. Then Evrenos Ghazi and Hadji İlbey entered his retinue. They went to Rumelia with Suleyman Pasha. 1
When Murat Hüdavendigar ascended the throne, he appointed Hadji İlbey as Rumelia commander. The first thing Hadji İlbey did was to conquer Dimetoka. After that, he conquered İskeçe, Kavala, Drama, Yenice, Dedeağaç and Serez respectively. In conquest of Western Thrace, Turkish stouthearted soldiers shed their blood and added these territories into the motherland.

 

       After conquest of such territories, Murat Hüdanvendigar sent many Turkish tribes from Anatolia to Rumelia and made them settle down there. Murat Hüdavendigar, upon seeing these successes, ordered Hacı İlbey, Lala Şahin Pasha, Kutlu Bey, Sarıca Pasha, Kutlu Boğa, Ayne Bey, Paşa Yiğit and Firuz Bey to expand their conquests with new forces.

 

       Hadji İlbey conquered Edirne with his forces. When we obtained the most important city of Eastern Thrace, Murat Hüdavendigar transferred the center of the government from Bursa to Edirne. After that, Kırklareli, Tekirdağ, Çorlu and Lüleburgaz was added to Turkish territories completely. Raider detachments entered Bulgaria and captured Filibe.

 

       Balkan states and Byzantium in particular, seeing that Ottoman Turks proceed their conquest with a notable speed, were terrified. These states applied to Europeans. They applied to Pope Urban the 5th in particular wanting help. The Crusaders, who had carried out great Crusades against Anatolian Seljukians, arranged a big crusade against Ottoman Turks this time. In this Crusade, there were Hungarians, Bulgarians, Serbians and Ulahs. Sisman leaded the Bulgarians as Mirçe did Romans, Layoş did Hungarians, the king of Serbs did Serbs. A force of sixty thousand soldiers gathered in Sofia Plain.

 

       Murat Hüdavendigar had appointed Lala Şahin Pasha Rumelia Commander of Commanders these times. Lala Şahin Pasha got flurried against this great force. He sent a message to Bursa wanting additional forces. An army was prepared in Anatolia. However, since Venetians closed Dardanelles, this army could not cross to European side. However, Lala Şahin Pasha sent Hadji İlbey, who was very smart and experienced, for reconnoiter with a force of ten thousand soldiers. Hadji İlbey carried on the operation hiding their march. They slept in the forest during the daylight, and proceeded at nights. The Crusader Army headquartered at a plain near Meriç coming from Filibe. This allied Crusader forces were to go to Jerusalem after taking Turks out of Rumelia to occupy.They had so much confidence in themselves.

 

       However, they did never think that they had a Turkish army against them. They had headquartered without any security arrangements, showing how untrained they are in military profession. This was the greatest danger for an army. Hadji İlbey hid in the forest near the headquarters silently with his force of ten thousand soldiers. In the evening, the enemy army began to drink alcoholic drinks and enjoy themselves. They were drinking wines made of the grapes of Filibe vineyards and dancing. The enemy headquarters had nearly turned into a wedding house. They all went drunk before the midnight and passed out somewhere.

 

       Hadji İlbey, observing the enemy, prepared his soldiers for assault seeing everything was appropriate. He made the Janissary band of musicians play a noisy melody two hours before the sunrise. The sound of shrill pipes and drums caused much hubbub in the silence of the night. It was like the enemy headquarters were raided by genies. Then all soldiers began to shout the word of unity of God. The enemy soldiers, hearing these terrifying sounds, took their weapons. Since soldiers from different nations wore various kinds of clothes and caps, they did not recognize each other and killed each other with swords.

 

       The Turkish soldiers neither used their weapons nor moved during this event. The enemy army consisting of 60.000 people killed each other. Turkish soldiers were watching in the forest.

 

       This event was a new battle tactic invented by a military genius like Hadji İlbey. In the history there was no other victory like this. Those who saved their lives from the enemy threw themselves into the river and was drown there. Hungarian King was able to escape. The king was so afraid of this war that he said to his friends in his country that "he indebted his being saved to the picture of Holy Mary I hang on my neck". And he constructed a church indicating his fear. The kings of other nations also saved their lives escaping. An army of sixty thousand people melted before the genius of Turk. Turks called this war "Sırp Sındığı". The war ended in Turkish victory in 1363. After this war, Turks acquired many things as spoils like weapons, tents etc. In all parts of Turkish country, celebrations were made on this victory.

 

       Hadji İlbey wrote an epic introducing Turkish nation's intelligence to the world. But Lala Şahin Pasha, who was jealous of the successes of this unique hero, killed him by poisoning in 1363.