Murad I Ottoman Period
Preceded by Orhan I	Ottoman Sultan 1359–1389	Succeeded by Bayezid I

Murad I (nick-named Hüdavendigâr, "the God-like One") (Turkish:I.Murat Hügavendigâr) (1319 or 1326 – 1389) (Arabic: مراد الأول) was the ruler of the Ottoman Empire from 1359 to 1389. He was the son of Orhan I and the Byzantine princess Helen (Nilüfer) who was of ethnic Greek descent^[1][2][3], and became the ruler following his father's death in 1359.

Establishment of Empire

He established the Empire by building up a society and government in the newly conquered city of Adrianople (Edirne in Turkish) and by expanding the realm in Europe, bringing most of the Balkans under Ottoman rule and forcing the Byzantine emperor to pay him tribute. It was Murad who established the former Osmanli tribe into an empire. He established the title of sultan in 1383 and the corps of the janissaries and the devşirme recruiting system. He also organised the government of the Divan, the system of timars and timar-holders (timariots) and the military judge, the kazasker. He also established the two provinces of Anadolu (Anatolia) and Rumeli (Europe).

Wars

Murad fought against the powerful emirate of Karamanid in Anatolia and against the Serbs, Bulgarians and Hungarians in Europe. His moves in the Balkans brought together a Christian coalition under the king of Hungary, but they were defeated at the Battle of Maritsa on September 26, 1371 by Murad's capable second lieutenant Lala Şâhin Paşa, the first governor (beylerbey) of Rumeli. In 1366 the Serbian king was forced to pay tribute to the Sultan and in 1385 Sofia fell to the Ottomans. In 1386 Murad invaded the Moravian Serbia, but Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović defeated him at the Battle of Pločnik. His army didn't suffer heavy casualties, and he was enable to capture Niš on the way back. In 1389 Murad's army indecisively defeated the Christian Serbian Army with its allies under the leadership of Lazar at the Battle of Kosovo. During the battle, Murad I was assassinated by Miloš Obilić, a Serbian noble who earlier swore that it would be his sword that would kill Murad. (see the conquests of Murad I), so his son Bayezid took charge over the battle. Though Murad made him swear to hold his brother dear, he executed him immediately as a pretender. After the victory, Bayezid retreated to consolidate control of the Empire.

Marriages and Progeny

Murad I, oil on canvas by Haydar Hatemi

Marriages of Murad I:

• Gulcicek Hatun - of Greek origin
• Maria Thamara Hatun - daughter of Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria and Theodora of Wallachia
• Pasha Melek Hatun - daughter of Kizil Murad Bey
• Fulane Hatun - daughter of Candaroglu

Progeny of Murad I:

• Yakub Celebi - (d. 1389)
• Sultan Bayezid I (1354-1403)- son of Gulcicek Hatun
• Savci Bey - son
• Ibrahim Bey - son
• Yahshi Bey - son of Gulcicek Hatun
• Halil Bey - son
• Nefise - daughter
• Sultan - daughter

Notes

References

Weblinks

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Murad I

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