Hacı İlbey
Encyclopedia
Hacı İlbey or Hadji Ilbeg was an Ottoman
commander during the early years of the empire.
, west Anatolia
(Asiatic part of modern Turkey
). He was a commander of the Beylik of Karasi, a principality situated at the Asiatic coast of the Dardanelles
strait. However, during the interregnum in the beylik after 1340s, Hacı İlbey left Karasid territory and took service in the Ottoman beylik, the future Ottoman Empire, situated at the north of the Karasids. (In 1361 all territory of Karasids was annexed by the Ottomans during the reign of Orhan
)
command had set foot in 1354. In Rumeli Hacı İlbey proved himself as a competent commander. He captured Lüleburgaz
(medieval Arkadiapolis ) and possibly Edirne
(medieval Adrianopolis) which soon became the capital of the empire.
in Rumeli. Hacı İlbey with a relatively small expedition force was sent over to Crusaders. But Hacı İlbey in a surprise night attack defeated the Crusaders. (There is no consensus on the date of this event. According to Ottoman chronicles the battle was in 1364 and according to western sources in 1371)
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
commander during the early years of the empire.
Early years
Probably he was born around 1305 in BalıkesirBalikesir
Balıkesir is the capital city of Balıkesir Province. Balıkesir is in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 265,747 inhabitants. Old name is Karesi or Karasi.- History :...
, west Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
(Asiatic part of modern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
). He was a commander of the Beylik of Karasi, a principality situated at the Asiatic coast of the Dardanelles
Dardanelles
The Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus. It is located at approximately...
strait. However, during the interregnum in the beylik after 1340s, Hacı İlbey left Karasid territory and took service in the Ottoman beylik, the future Ottoman Empire, situated at the north of the Karasids. (In 1361 all territory of Karasids was annexed by the Ottomans during the reign of Orhan
Orhan I
Orhan I or Orhan Bey was the second bey of the nascent Ottoman Empire from 1326 to 1359...
)
Ottoman commander
Hacı İlbey was tasked with conquests in Rumeli (European portion of modern Turkey) which the Turks under Suleyman Pasha (son of Orhan)Suleyman Pasha (son of Orhan)
Suleyman Pasha was the eldest son of Orhan I, the second bey of the newly established Ottoman Empire.-Assault on Byzantium:Suleyman Pasha struck a bold blow to the weakened Byzantine Empire on behalf of his race, which gave the Turks a permanent establishment on the European side of the Hellespont...
command had set foot in 1354. In Rumeli Hacı İlbey proved himself as a competent commander. He captured Lüleburgaz
Lüleburgaz
Lüleburgaz, is a town and district of Kırklareli Province in the Marmara region of Turkey.-Facts:The city has a population of 100,412 and is the largest town in Kırklareli Province....
(medieval Arkadiapolis ) and possibly Edirne
Edirne
Edirne is a city in Eastern Thrace, the northwestern part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. Edirne served as the capital city of the Ottoman Empire from 1365 to 1453, before Constantinople became the empire's new capital. At present, Edirne is the capital of the Edirne...
(medieval Adrianopolis) which soon became the capital of the empire.
Battle of Çirmen
While the new sultan Murat I was occupied in capturing Biga in Anatolia, a crusader army appeared near the river MeriçMaritsa
The Maritsa or Evros , ) is, with a length of 480 km, the longest river that runs solely in the interior of the Balkans. It has its origin in the Rila Mountains in Western Bulgaria, flowing southeast between the Balkan and Rhodope Mountains, past Plovdiv and Parvomay to Edirne, Turkey...
in Rumeli. Hacı İlbey with a relatively small expedition force was sent over to Crusaders. But Hacı İlbey in a surprise night attack defeated the Crusaders. (There is no consensus on the date of this event. According to Ottoman chronicles the battle was in 1364 and according to western sources in 1371)