The Germiyanoğulları Dynasty in Ottoman History: Osman’s Identity and Yakub Bey’s Death
The Germiyanoğulları Bey, particularly Yakub Bey, has become an object of interest due to his portrayal in the popular Turkish TV series, Establishment Osman, as well as in books and movies. Many people are now curious about the importance of Yakub Bey in history and who the Germiyanoğulları were.
According to the Encyclopedia of Islam, Yakub Bey was the son of Kerîmüddin Alişîr from Germiyan. The first record of him was found in the repair inscription of the Ankara Kızılbey Mosque minbar, dated 699 (1299), which revealed that he ruled in Ankara under the Seljuks and expanded his sphere of influence to Kırşehir. Yakub Bey’s reign was the most glorious period for the Germiyanoğulları. At the beginning of the 19th century, all Turkish chiefs in a wide region—including Antalya, Isparta, and the upper Sakarya basin, which extended to Aydın and İzmir regions—were affiliated with the Germiyanoğulları. The Germiyanoğulları reportedly had 40,000 horsemen, and their army was able to take out 200,000 cavalry and infantry soldiers equipped in times of war.
During Yakub Bey’s reign, 100,000 dinars tax and some valuable goods came from Byzantium every year. Yakub Bey was said to have had amirs, viziers, judges, treasuries, and mansions like great rulers, owning everything reserved for sultans. He was referred to as “el-emîrü’l-ecellu’l-kebir” in the inscription of the Ankara Kızıl Bey Mosque. Byzantine historian Gregoras stated that Alişîr (Alisurios) from Germiyan captured most of Inner Phrygia and Philadelphia (Alaşehir), the Antiochia region located around the Menderes Stream. From this, it is understood that Yakub Bey fought with the Byzantines and made conquests around Menderes.
After Yakub Bey captured the city of Tripolis near the Menderes river, he besieged Alaşehir, and Sasa Bey and Aydınoğlu forces were present in this siege. In the war with Catalan forces (1304), the Germiyan army consisted of 8000 cavalry and 12,000 infantry. Yâkub Bey had to go to Emir Çoban, who was sent by İlhanlı Ruler Olcaytu Han to subdue the Anatolian principalities in 1314 and who had encamped between Erzincan and Sivas, and had to declare his loyalty to him.
There is little information about Yakub Bey’s date of death, and besides a record in Ṣubḥu’l-aʿşâ that Yâkub Bey corresponded with Egypt in 741 (1340), there is no further information available.
Yakub Bey’s son, Mehmed Çahşadan Bey, took his place after his death. A copy of the foundation certificate dated 721 (1321) belonging to Yakub Bey is available, which belongs to a zaviye established in the town of Uşak, and also Hacimköy and other foundation lands around it and their borders are determined. It is also stated that literary and scientific activities increased during the reign of Yakub Bey, and that Kütahya developed as a principality center.
