Cüneyt Bey of Aydın

Cuneyd Bey ^[1], ( ?-1425) was the ruler (Turkish: bey) of Aydinid principality in what is now modern Turkey in the early 15th century (also known as İzmiroğlu Cüneyt^[2]. He actively participated in Ottoman Interregnum where he made a name as an intriguer.

Background

Main article: Aydinids

Beylik of Aydın was a small Turkmen principality in West Anatolia after the disintegration of Seljuq Sultanate of Rûm. The capital of the beylik was Birgi and Selçuk (both in İzmir Province, modern Turkey.) The beylik controlled the middle section of Aegean Sea coast and was a minor sea power. (see Umur the Lion) Although the beylik was dissolved by the Ottoman Empire in 1390, it was restored after the battle of Ankara in 1402 in which the Ottoman sultan Beyazit I was defeated by Temur. After a civil war in the beylik Cüneyt of the Aydın dynasty, who was the governor of İzmir defeated other claimants to throne and became the bey of Aydın in 1403.

During Ottoman interregnum (1402-1413)

During Ottoman interregnum Cüneyt supported İsa Çelebi and captured the forts of Alaşehir (Philadelphia), Kemalpaşa (Nif) and Sardis all in the Aegean hinterland . But soon Süleyman Çelebi, the most powerful of the fighting Ottoman princes began invading Aegean Region in 1406. Although Cüneyt tried to fight, he was betrayed (or thought that he was betrayed) by his allies (like the beylik of Mentese) and he surrendered.^[3] Süleyman pardoned him and he continued ruling on his beylik. When Süleyman returned to Rumeli, the European portion of the empire, to fight against Musa Çelebi, Cüneyt accompanied him as the sanjak-bey (governor) of Ohrid (in modern Macedonia). During the later stages of the interregnum, Cüneyt returned to Anatolia and firmly reestablished his beylik.

During the reign of Mehmet I (1413-1421)

After the interregnum, Ottoman sultan Mehmet I returned to Anatolia in 1415. He captured the forts Aliağa (Kymai), Kemalpaşa and finally İzmir. Cüneyt was once more given pardon. But his beylik was incorporated into Ottoman realm and he was appointed as the sanjak-bey (governor) of Nikopol (in modern Bulgaria). But in Rumeli, he began supporting Mustafa Çelebi, another son of Beyazıt who was not active during the interregnum years, but revolted against his younger brother. However Mustafa's forces were defeated by Mehmet I and Cüneyt as well as Mustafa escaped to Byzantine territory where Cüneyt was cloistered in the monastery of Pammakaristos Church in İstanbul (then known as Constantinople.)

During the reign of Murad II (after 1421)

In 1421 Mehmet I died and Byzantines encouraged Mustafa to revolt against Murat II , Mehmet's 17 year old son. Cüneyt escaped from the monastery and once more joined Mustafa Çelebi who declared himself as the sultan in Rumeli . In 1422, Cüneyt followed Mustafa to Anatolia. But he betrayed him in Ulubat when Murat's army showed up. He returned to his former territories and declared himself as the sultan. He also tried to form alliances with the Republic of Venice and Karamanids against Ottoman Empire. But when his son was captured by the Ottomans he retreated to Ìpsili (modern Doğanbey, a town in İzmir Province). Nevertheless an Ottoman commander who was supported by the fleet of Genoa laid a siege on İpsili in 1424. Cüneyt was defeated and executed.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Prof. Yaşar Yücel-Prof. Ali Sevim: Türkie tarihi Cilt I, AKDTYKTTK Yayınları, İstanbul, 1991 pp 215-217
2. ^ Halil İbrahim İnal:Osmanlı Tarihi, Nokta Kitap, İstanbul, 2008, ISBN-978-9944-174-37-4, p.120
3. ^ Nicholae Jorga: Geschishte des Osmanichen (Trans :Nilüfer Epçeli) Vol 1 Yeditepe yayınları, İstanbul, 2009, ISBN 975-6480-17-3 p. 314-340

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Name	Cuneyt, Bey Of Aydin
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Date of death	1424
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