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Er
Togrul Ghazi and Osman Ghazi
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Er Togrul Ghazi
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In
1299 Osman Ghazi founded the Ottoman State, which lasted 622 years,
during which 36 Soltans reigned. He was born in 1258, the third son of
ErTogrul Ghazy, who was one of the Turkmen Begs (principals). Due to
external, hostile pressures, the Turkmens who settled in Sogut,
Anatolia, in 1277 asked for help from ErTogrul Ghazi, who lived in their
homeland, Horasan. As a result of meetings held in Merw, ErTogrul Ghazi
decided to go to Anatolia and to support Turkmens there with his 400
horsemen. These 400 horsemen were composed of the atabegs and the
cavalry who had completed their fighting and commanding training with
flying colours and who were able to fullfill the will of Oguz Han, who
had said, “Each and every Turkmen soldier is equal to one thousand
enemies.”
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Osman
Ghazi was one of the atabegs who received training in fighting and
commanding and would establish a very powerful state in Turkey after 20
years.
(137.)
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If we pay close attention, we can see that the Oguz
people at the beginning used similar names to the Seljuks. However, in time each clan took the
name of their ruler. If we look at their dates of establishment and
termination, it will be clear that many of them are small principalities
founded just after the destruction of the Seljuks and Harzemsahs. Many
of them were later annexed to the Ottoman State by Osman Ghazi.
(112.)
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The flag of Osman
Türkmens State
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As a consequence of
the weakening
and collapse of the Anatolian Seljuk state by the end of the 13th
century, many beyliks emerged in Anatolia. The Ottoman state was one of
these beyliks. Ärtogrul Gazi was a frontier beg who lived in Sögüt,
with a cavalry of 400 at his command. Ärtogrul Gazi and his brother, Dündar
Beg, had settled in Anatolia, but his other two brothers Gündogdy and
Sungur Alp had returned to Horosan. After moving from place to place in
Anatolia, Ärtogrul and Dündar Begs had finally taken Sögüt from the
Byzantines.
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The mausoleum
of Er Togrul Ghazi
(Turkey. Söwüt.)

Ärtogrul gazynyò gubury
(Türkiýe. Söwüt.)
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Later, the Anatolian Seljuk Soltan Alaaddin Keykubat granted
Sögüt to them and Sögüt became their property. The Domaniç and
Ermeni Mountains were given as pasture. Ärtogrul Gazi made Sögüt his
home and died at the age of 93 in 1281.
After
Ärtogrul Gazi, his son
Osman Gazi replaced him. Gathering many Türkmen Begs around him, Osman
Gazi established the state.
Osman
Gazi was one of the three sons of Ärtogrul Gazi. He was distinguished
from his brothers by his foresight and vigorous personality. After the
death of his father, he succeeded in unifying the Türkmen Begs under
his leadership. He was 23 years old when he came to power. He was a very
handsome young Türkmen, tall, deep-chested, with heavy black brows over
hazel-colored eyes and a Roman nose. He was broad-shouldered and the
upper part of his body was longer than the lower part.
When
Ärtogrul was on his deathbed, he announced his last testament: “ O!
My Son! Every man will die. By the will of Allah, death has come at last
to me. This state is entrusted to you. And I am entrusting you to Allah.
Be just in all your affairs.”
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The
state Ärtogrul and Osman Gazis had founded dominated one third of the
world for more than 600 years under the title `Devlet-i Aliye.’
(233-235.)
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