Ottoman-Timurid wars
In early 800s, eastern Anatolia was a boiling pot. Recent Ottoman victories which subjugated Turkic Beyliks in East and crippled the once powerful Karamanid beylik to the south was not the end of the affair but opening a new chapter. The dissatisfied Turkmen clans for now swore fealty to the Ottoman Sultan Beyazid, nicknamed
'Yildirim' or
'thunderbolt' for his crushing victory against Crusaders in Nicopolis. But Ottomans conquest of Anatolia would not go unchallenged.
In 803 Timurid prince Shahrukh Mirza finished the conquest of Baghdad by deposing the Jalayrid dynasty because of alleged secret contact with Ottomans and Mameluke Masr and subjugated the Kara Quyonlu Turkmens who rebelled after Timur's departure. The leader of the latter state, Kara Yusuf fled to Ottomans again. Ottomans and Mamlukes along with Kara Quyonlu entered a grand alliance against possible Timurid Invasion from east. But Mamlukes were skeptical of the black sheep Turkmen. They thought the of the exiled Turkmen bey Kara Yusuf as 'a jackal seeking protection from the Ottoman wolf and Masri Panther'. In short they were worried that Kara Quyonlu would appoint his favorable candidate on the Baghdad throne once Timurids were defeated. So the Mamluk spies in Ottoman court started intrigues against Kara Yusuf.
Image: Ottoman Sultan Beyazid the first 'Yildirim'
In Safar 804, a Timurid force under Sharukh assaulted Mosul and captured it. This was technically declaring war on the grand alliance as a member had been attacked. Beyazid, who at that time was besieging Constantinople sent his 3 sons, Suleiman, Isa and Musa with a retinue of 15,000 Ottoman troops and 25,000 allied Turkmen soldiers. Isa argued to wait for the Timurids to cross the Taurus mountains but Suleiman, commander of the campaign refused and led the troops across the range. In Rabiul Sani, they were finally across Taurus range and reached Diyarbekir. The Timurid force of 45,000 were advancing swiftly after crossing the Dajlah river and were only 60 miles from the Ottoman camp. In Jumada Awwal 12, 804(December 18, 1401) the tired Ottomans were surprised to find scouts reporting of Timurid presence roughly 10 km away. The Turkmen soldiers actually came into contact with Timurids much earlier and Timurids were able to influence the former to switch sides during the battle. The recent Ottoman conquest of Anatolian beyliks made matters worse and black Sheep Turkmen(apart from Kara Yusuf and some of his followers) were suspicious of Ottoman ambitions in Dajlah valley.
So on that day, both armies met near Diyarbekir and lined up for battle. The Turkmen cavalry were on the extreme right and left flanks. The battle began and Timurids charged first. The initial charge was repulsed and Ottoman left wing was able to advance. The Turkmen left wing followed close behind and soon surrounded the confused Ottomans and annhilated them. The right wing which was much near the Ottoman main army charged without prior order but were almost routed by resilient Ottoman counter attack. But they were soon overwhelmed by Timurid forces and there was no remaining left flank to cover for them. As expected, the battle was a disaster for Ottomans. Prince Suleiman and Musa died in the battlefield and a gravely injured Isa was captured( died on the way to Isfahan).
Image: Battle of Diyarbekir (artwork circa 1200 AH)
The news of the Ottoman defeat spread like wildfire throughout Anatolia and rebellion rose up in places like Karaman, Aydin and Kastamoni. Prince Muhammad who was in Al-Qahira hurriedly reached Anatolia with a contingent of 7000 Mamluke troops. But it was not enough to stop the rebellion. Beyazid was now forced to conclude his siege of Constantinople and focus all his strength to keep his Anatolian gains. But it would not be easy. After battle of Kayseri in Rajab 804 and Sivas in Dhul Qadh 804, the Ottoman gains west of Taurus mountain were secured for now with Dulqadirids established as a buffer zone between Mamlukes and Ottomans. But Karamanid were still resisting. In siege of Konya in Muharram 805 (August 1402), Ottomans won a costly victory where 8,000 troops died on their side. Shehzade Mustafa was blinded in one eye and injured severely on his right leg.
A furious Beyazid blamed Kara Yusuf for the betrayal of Turkmen tribes. Ottoman investigations found some 'letters' in Kara Yusuf's possession which bore the seal of Timur. This was in fact a clever ploy by Mamluke spies who devised it before the disaster at Diyarbekir. But now the enraged Sultan ordered the execution of the exiled chieftain because all the facts and events led to a Kara Quyonlu conspiracy with Timurids. The decapacitated head of the ill fated Kara Yusuf was sent to Timur with a letter which called upon the warlord as 'a degenerate who sought to sabotage by sending his agents in courts'. Timur who was in Almaliq responded by saying 'son of Osman has gone mad' and he would have marched on to meet Beyazid had he not delivered the head of Kara Yusuf who was a' treacherous opportunist' and also chided the Ottoman sultan for thinking crooked about another Muslim ruler, one as honorable as Timur. Timur also advised Beyazid on being 'careful when picking one's allies because who is to blame if one brings in home, a snake and is bitten afterwards?' Thus he completely denied allegation of having Kara Yusuf as a fifth column in Ottoman court. There was no exchange between the two furthermore as Timur became busy with his campaign against Ming Dynasty and Beyazid fell into depression following the surgical amputation of Shehzade Mustafa's right leg below the knee, earning the title 'lame prince' for the latter.
Beyazid stopped all military campaigns and secluded himself in his room, indulging in wine to forget the sorrows of losing 3 of his sons and having one rendered disable. Muhammad was the de facto ruler of Ottomans since early 806 and in 12 Shawwal 806 ( April 20 1404) Agas found the Sultan dead in his bed when they went to provide breakfast for him. Muhammad was declared sultan in an inauspicious ceremony. It was the start of the reign of Muhammad the First........
(From
'Eternal Kingdom: Rider from the sky' by Riyad Muqaddim Al Hussein)
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This silence, this moment, every moment, if it's genuinely inside you
brings what you need, live in silence.
-Jalaluddin Rumi
Persistence is the key
The vast Mongol steppe near the once bustling city of Karakorrum was testimony to the origin of the greatest empires on earth. The sparse trees, standing on the horizon like sentries in the never ending stretch of grassy plain whispered as the light summer breeze blew and created tunes of harmony in every branch, every leaf. Near a collapsed wall of the once great city, many people gathered as they handled books and scrolls. A moderate sized yurt was nearby which seemed like the center of the attention. It didn't bear any of the ornate flags or jewels like any army commander's yurt. But the man standing in front of the gathering knew he was serving a purpose equal, if not greater than the military of the Khan.
"Alright class, that's for today. If anyone requires any book then I'm available until the Zuhar salah." Atrak spoke as he prepared to leave.
Soon as he entered the yurt, Nogai* came running. Unlike dogs, his tail didn't wag but his eyes were enough to tell Atrak that this sub adult wolf was happy to see him. Bending down , he embraced his lupine companion and fed him some barbeque from the satchel he carried with him always. Unlike most people, he never carried a dagger, saying that 'Allah is protection enough for learnt men.' He began pouring water into a jar from a wooden reservoir. The sound of trinkets indicated that someone entered his yurt made him stop what he was doing and stepped to meet his 'guest'
"I have finished this book Sayyid." a female in traditional mongol dress stood with a book in her hands.
"Jazakallah, Narangerel ." Atrak said as he took the book from her hand. His lowered gaze was somewhat uneasy for a while.
Just as he was preparing to leave, Narangerel interrupted:
"Sayyid, I want that history book you mentioned last week, what was it? Kitab Al Uyun or something?"
Atrak sighed as he turned to face her again.
"Toghan Yogay took it from me last evening."
"Then can you please give me something else to read?"
"Wait here, let me go to my collection." Atrak solemnly stated as he went inside.
As he fumbled through the books in one of the 3 shelves which housed all his books, he was startled by the voice of Narangerel.
"What is this? Tawq Al Hamamah by Ahamd Sai'd Ibn Hazm. Looks interesting."
"Please wait outside until I can grab something suitable for you." Atrak was nervous that this young female barely in her 20s ventured deep inside his personal abode but maintained the sternness of a teacher in his tone.
As he heard footsteps fading away, he was able to concentrate on finding a book for his most 'enthusiastic' pupil. But a nagging feeling in the furthest corner of his mind screamed of an impending trouble.
He was completely taken by surprise as an arm was coiled around his throat. His hands upto wrist were in the tangle of ropes. Soon he felt the cold sensation of dagger on his throat and the breath of the 'unknown assailant' on his neck.
"All those subtle hints, all those winks and all those piece of paper I sent you....no response, no nothing. Why? Am I really not worthy of having your hand?" Narangerel whispered into the middle aged man's ears as she pinned him on the floor and climbed on his back.
"Child, you better not get yourself in trouble for this."
"Who says trouble? I've ridden unruly stallions, hunted cunning foxes and subdued even the most stubborn of falcons. My rule is clear, if I can't have you Mr. scholar then I'll break you."
"You insolent brat! Your father will-" but he went silent as the dagger pressed on his throat again.
"I give you two choices. Either you accept my offer and wed yourself to ME or I kill you right now and start a war between Mr. lame and your state." her voice was undaunted.
She flipped him and sat on his chest, eyes now locked together as Atrak wanted to make something of this strange girl and her antics. But his head found no reasoning other than blind love.
"So what is it going to be Sayyid Atrak Beg, son of Tini Beg from Altan Orda? Bed or blade? Choose wisely." Atrak couldn't count the number of emotions he saw in the Mongol girl's eyes as he gazed at his assailant bewilderingly. Love, lust, desperation and insanity? He couldn't choose which one was predominant yet they say 'eye is the mirror of soul.'
"Fine, I give in. You win, now get off me." Atrak said to the grinning girl.
"I will but not before this.." she leaned in wanted to lock her lips with him but he turned his face away.
"No fooling around before marriage please. Allah forgive me for the sin I've committed so far, I can't bear anymore." his voice was quivering.
"Alright, by sunset tomorrow, remember that my father won't let you go easily if you try anything stupid, which I believe you won't because a scholar always knows which one is greater good right?" Narangerel said with a wide grin as she lifted herself off her teacher and cut off the bindings on his hand.
She walked out of the yurt and scratched the head of a snoozing Nogai as she exited. Atrak just sat in a disheveled state in both shock and amazement. He wasn't supposed to look beyond his studies and never imagined himself in a married life. But this girl, with her constant nagging was getting on his nerves. Oh well, he is getting old, almost 40 next year. He better have a helper in his household. But one thing he really didn't understand, out of all the men in this settlement, why did Arughtai's daughter choose him?
'Oh Allah, I don't know what your plan is but surely your plan is the best plan.' he prayed in silence as the call for Zuhar prayer sounded far away.
(From 'Samarqand Diaries' by Edward Hoffman , English adoption of Sijillat Atrak)
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*he's a wolf found as a pup during a hunting trip. If he was a dog he wouldn't be staying inside the yurt as it is forbidden in Islam to keep dogs indoors.
My folks, we are dealing with an infatuated student here, one may think she is sapiosexual to have fallen for a man twice her age but our Atrak fellow isn't bad looking one either! But as with all historical novels/fictions, there is a healthy amount of imaginary editing by the author(or the interpreter in this case) which spices up the story. True that Atrak got married to the daughter of a Mongol noble named Arughtai(there are several of them from the same time period), the dramatic depiction of a yandere is purely the editor's touch here.
And the Alt battle of Ankara proves just as devastating for the Ottomans, except throwing them into civil war. and while Beyazid was a muslim, he drank a lot of Alcohol and was the pioneer of heavy drinkers among Ottoman dynasty. So I had to twist a lot to bring Mumammad(or Mehmed) to power, But only hope it was plausible. Constantinople has survived again, let's see how long they can keep it up.
My updates are rather erratic and are not coming on their usual routine of Wednesday/Thursday every week. Hope I can patch it up.
