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Siege of Kulaca Hisar

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Siege of Kulacahisar
Part of the Ottoman-Byzantine Wars
Date1285
Location
Result Kayi victory
Territorial
changes
  • The Kayi Tribe captures Kulucahisar Castle from the Byzantines
  • Foundation of the Ottoman Beylik
Belligerents
Kayi tribe  Byzantium
Commanders and leaders
Osman Gazi, Turgut Alp, Konur Alp, Akçakoca and Abdurrahman Gazi Aya Nikola
Strength
300 gazis[1] 1,000[2]

The Siege of Kulacahisar or Raid of Kulacahisar was a battle fought between the Byzantines and the Turks under the command of Osman Gazi in 1285.[3][4]

Battle

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After the Reconquest of Constantinople, the Byzantine capital returned to Constantinople and their authority on the Anatolian frontiers was loosened. When Osman Bey came to power in the Kayi Tribe following the death of his father Ertuğrul Gazi, he established friendly relations with the Tekfurs of Yenisehir and Lefke. The landlord of Inegol, Aya Nikola was determined to reverse the enroachment of the Turks upon Bithynia and started plundering Kayi markets. When Osman Bey moved towards Inegol seeking retribution, he was ambushed at the Battle of Mount Armenia [tr] by Nikola and his retinue. The Kayi were vastly outnumbered so sustained heavy casualties. Even Bayhoca, son of his brother Savcı Bey and a renowned warrior, was killed. The Turkish cavalry managed to escape with their sword high to break the Byzantine line. There was no winner to this battle as both sides had to retreat back into their own lands and regroup.

Siege

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As revenge for all those slain on the mountain, Osman attacked the Byzantine-held Kulacahisar Castle, which is 5 kilometers away from Inegöl and located on the outskirts of Emirdağ to protect the city. A few men snuck into the fortress disguised as Romans, neutralized the guards and opened the gates. As a result of a night raid with a force of 2,000, the castle was captured by the Turks. This is the first castle conquered in the history of the Ottoman Empire.[5] Since the captured Christian people of Kulaca Hisar accepted the rule of Osman Bey, they were not harmed.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Tektaş, Nazım (2009-11-12). Osmanlı Tarihi 1 - Çadırdan Saraya. artcivic. ISBN 978-975-8845-11-8.
  2. ^ Geschichte des Osmanischen Reiches , Nicolae Iorga p;66
  3. ^ Atsiz, Nihal (2012). Aşıkpaşaoğlu Tarihi. Otuken. p. 31. ISBN 978-9754378689.
  4. ^ Inalcik, Halil. "OSMAN I - TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi". islamansiklopedisi.org.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  5. ^ Danişmed, İsmail Hami (2011). İzahlı Osmanlı Tarihi Kronolojisi [Annotated Ottoman History Chronology]. Doğu Kütüphanesi. p. 6. ISBN 978-9944-397-68-1.
  6. ^ Kemal, Namık. Osmanlı Tarihi [Ottoman History]. Elips Kitap. p. 39. ISBN 978-605-121-202-9.