Eretna
Encyclopedia
Eretnids was an Anatolian beylik that succeeded the Ilkhanid governors in Anatolia
and that ruled in a large region extending between Caesarea (Kayseri
), Sebastea (Sivas) and Amaseia (Amasya
) in Central Anatolia between 1328-1381. This principality is generally not considered as one of the Turkish beyliks, because Eretna was not Turkish origin. Eretnids were Mongols rather than Turkmen
. Although short-lived, the Beylik of Eretna left important works of architecture. The name of Eretna may be derived from Sanskrit
word Ratna "Jewel" (Erdene, Эрдэнэ, in Mongolian
).
The dynasty's founder, Eretna, was an officer of Uyghur
or Mongol origin in the service of Timurtash, the Ilkhanid governor of Anatolia. After his master unsuccessfully revolted in 1327 to ally with the Mamluks in response to the fate of his father Chupan
, Ilkhan Abu Said
appointed Eretna a governor of Rum
. Eretna was able to establish his own beylik with the title of Sultan under the protection of the Mamluk Sultanate (Cairo)
only when the khan died in 1335. After Eretna's death, his lands were nibbled away by the Ottomans in the west and Aq Qoyunlu in the east due to internal disputes between the Eretnids. The Beylik's last ruler, Muhammad II, was replaced by his vizier
Kadı Burhaneddin
who reigned in the same region for another eighteen years, a period some sources consider as a continuation of the same institutional structure, while other sources treat as being separate.
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
and that ruled in a large region extending between Caesarea (Kayseri
Kayseri
Kayseri is a large and industrialized city in Central Anatolia, Turkey. It is the seat of Kayseri Province. The city of Kayseri, as defined by the boundaries of Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, is structurally composed of five metropolitan districts, the two core districts of Kocasinan and...
), Sebastea (Sivas) and Amaseia (Amasya
Amasya
- History :Its location in this steep valley makes the city a mountain stronghold, easy to defend, and thus Amasya has had a long and prominent history.-Antiquity:...
) in Central Anatolia between 1328-1381. This principality is generally not considered as one of the Turkish beyliks, because Eretna was not Turkish origin. Eretnids were Mongols rather than Turkmen
Oghuz Turks
The Turkomen also known as Oghuz Turks were a historical Turkic tribal confederation in Central Asia during the early medieval Turkic expansion....
. Although short-lived, the Beylik of Eretna left important works of architecture. The name of Eretna may be derived from Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
word Ratna "Jewel" (Erdene, Эрдэнэ, in Mongolian
Mongolian language
The Mongolian language is the official language of Mongolia and the best-known member of the Mongolic language family. The number of speakers across all its dialects may be 5.2 million, including the vast majority of the residents of Mongolia and many of the Mongolian residents of the Inner...
).
The dynasty's founder, Eretna, was an officer of Uyghur
Uyghur people
The Uyghur are a Turkic ethnic group living in Eastern and Central Asia. Today, Uyghurs live primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China...
or Mongol origin in the service of Timurtash, the Ilkhanid governor of Anatolia. After his master unsuccessfully revolted in 1327 to ally with the Mamluks in response to the fate of his father Chupan
Chupan
Amir Chupan, also known as Choban or Coban , , was a Chupanid noble of the Ilkhanate, and nominal general of the Mongol Empire. His father was named Malek of Mongol Suldus clan...
, Ilkhan Abu Said
Abu Sa'id (Ilkhanid dynasty)
Abu Sa'id also Abusaid Bahador Khan, Abu Sayed Behauder , was the ninth ruler of the Ilkhanate state in Iran ....
appointed Eretna a governor of Rum
Rum
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses, or directly from sugarcane juice, by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels...
. Eretna was able to establish his own beylik with the title of Sultan under the protection of the Mamluk Sultanate (Cairo)
Mamluk Sultanate (Cairo)
The Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt was the final independent Egyptian state prior to the establishment of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty in 1805. It lasted from the overthrow of the Ayyubid Dynasty until the Ottoman conquest of Egypt in 1517. The sultanate's ruling caste was composed of Mamluks, Arabised...
only when the khan died in 1335. After Eretna's death, his lands were nibbled away by the Ottomans in the west and Aq Qoyunlu in the east due to internal disputes between the Eretnids. The Beylik's last ruler, Muhammad II, was replaced by his vizier
Vizier
A vizier or in Arabic script ; ; sometimes spelled vazir, vizir, vasir, wazir, vesir, or vezir) is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in a Muslim government....
Kadı Burhaneddin
Kadi Burhan al-Din
Kadi Burhan al-Din Ahmed was vizier and atabeg to the Eretnid rulers of Anatolia. In 783 AH he took over Eretnid lands and claimed the title of sultan for himself. He was an outstanding Turkish poet. He was also a poet who wrote primarily in Persian...
who reigned in the same region for another eighteen years, a period some sources consider as a continuation of the same institutional structure, while other sources treat as being separate.
List of Eretna rulers
- Eretna b Jafar, Ala al-Din 1336-1352
- Muhammad I 1352-1366
- 'Ali 1366-1380
- Muhammad II Chelebi 1380
- Kadi Burhan al-DinKadi Burhan al-DinKadi Burhan al-Din Ahmed was vizier and atabeg to the Eretnid rulers of Anatolia. In 783 AH he took over Eretnid lands and claimed the title of sultan for himself. He was an outstanding Turkish poet. He was also a poet who wrote primarily in Persian...