All You Need To Know Visiting Ertuğrul (PHOTOS)

Sun 16 June 2019:

Diriliş: Ertuğrul, the wildly popular Turkish historical-drama series, is set in 13th century Anatolia, at the eve of the founding of the Ottoman Empire. The series has a huge following outside of Turkey too, inspiring numerous Facebook fan groups and memes (including a FB page dedicated to them) and no shortage of jokes based on the double-meaning of ‘bey’ (including this title).  Though no doubt dramatised, the series is based on the lives of real people, namely Ertuğrul Gazi, the father of Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire, and his contemporaries. As a huge fan of the series,

Historical Background 

Suleyman Shah, a military leader in the Seljuk period, was from the nomadic Kayi tribe, who had migrated to Anatolia from the steppes of Central Asia to escape the Mongol invasions. After his passing in 1236, his son Ertuğrul Gazi, on whom the popular television series is based, became the Bey of the Kayi tribe and spent his life struggling to find and establish a permanent homeland for his people. 

Ertuğrul Gazi is thought to have envisioned a prosperous and secure state for all peoples, Muslim and non alike, a state rooted in the principles of the Islamic faith, and justice and fairness for all. In his time, the Byzantines and the Seljuks were two of the major competing powers, vying for control of Anatolia, as well as the Mongols. As a reward for aiding the Seljuks against the Byzantines, the Seljuk Sultan gave control of the town of Sogut, and the area surrounding it, to Ertuğrul.  This new ‘homeland’ became the foundation for what would become the Ottoman Empire. Ertuğrul is thought to have passed away in Söğüt at the age of 90 in the late 1290’s.

Söğüt

Sogut, in north-western Turkey, is about 2-3 hours from Istanbul, and is best reached by car. You can do the drive yourself, as signs to Söğüt and Ertuğrul Gazi’s tomb are frequent and clear. However, if you plan on going to Inegol and Bursa as well,

Guards outside the tomb of Ertugrul

The tomb of Ertugrul Gazi in Sogut

Inegol 

Bursa 

During his own lifetime, Ertuğrul named his son Osman as Bey of the Kayi tribe. Osman continued his father’s struggles and eventually established an ‘Ottoman state’ in 1299. This state would continue to grow and after the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 be officially known as the Ottoman Empire. 

Osman Gazi passed away in 1324 during the siege of Bursa, a town in modern day Turkey. He was initially laid to rest in Sogut with his father, however, when Bursa was conquered two years later by Osman’s son Orhan, his body was moved to Bursa as per his last will. 

Tomb of Osman Gazi, Bursa, Turkey

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