Ahis

The Ahi Brotherhood (Turkish: Ahî, plur. Ahîler), referred to as Ahi Republic by modern historians,^[1] was a fraternity, guild and a beylik based in modern-day Ankara in the 13th and 14th century Anatolia.

Etymology

The traditional explanation for the name "Ahi" is that it is the Turkish pronunciation of the Arabic word "akhi", meaning "my brother". Another possibility is from an early Turkish word aqi, recorded in Mahmud al-Kashgari's 11th century Turkish dictionary Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk as meaning "generous, courageous, virtuous". A progression from aqi to akhi to ahi is "entirely consistent with the phonetic development of Anatolian Turkish".^[2]

Background

Turkic people began settling in Anatolia in the second half of the 11th century. But they mainly preferred rural areas. Seljuk government on the other hand encouraged those who preferred a settled life in cities. After the Mongols began occupying Khorosan in the early 13th century, people from Khorasan took refuge in Anatolia and the Seljuk government settled some of the newcomers in the cities. So a class of Muslim craftsmen and merchants appeared in the history of Anatolia.

Emergence of Ahis

Ahi Evren, a Muslim preacher came to Anatolia before the Mongol invasions in Khorosan. He worked as a leather dealer in Kayseri and began organizing Muslim craftsmen in the cities. This organization was named after him. He moved to Konya and after Mongol invasions to Denizli and Kırşehir where he died.

Ahi as a political power

After the Battle of Kösedağ in 1243, Seljuks were puppets of Ilkhanate Mongols and during the power vacuum in Anatolia, various tribes or local warlords established their principalities as vassals of Ilkhanids. Ahis in Ankara also saw their chance to declare their semi-independence under Mongol suzerainty towards the end of the century (about 1290).^[3] However, Ahi Beylik, unlike the others, was not ruled by a dynasty. It was a religious and commercial fraternity which can be described as a republic not much different from the mercantile republics of the medieval Europe.

End of Ahi Beylik

In 1354, Ankara was briefly annexed by Orhan Bey of Ottoman Empire (then known as beylik). Although Ahis tried to restore their independence after Orhan’s death, in 1362 Murat I ended the political power of Ahis and they became the part of Ottoman Empire.^[4] In later years, some Ahi leaders even appeared as Ottoman bureaucrats.

See also

• Akhiya

References

• v
• t
• e

Seljuk Sultanate of Rum

Ancestor

Qutalmish

Founder

Suleyman I

Capital

İznik, then Konya

Important centers and extension	Konya Kayseri Sivas (1175) Malatya (1178) Alanya Antalya
Dynasty	Suleyman I (1077–1086) Kilij Arslan I (1092–1107) Melikshah (1107–1116) Mesud I (1116–1156) Kilij Arslan II (1156–1192) Kaykhusraw I (1192–1196) Süleymanshah II (1196–1204) Kilij Arslan III (1204–1205) Kaykhusraw I (2nd reign) (1205–1211) Kaykaus I (1211–1220) Kayqubad I (1220–1237) Kaykhusraw II (1237–1246) Kaykaus II (1246–1260) Kilij Arslan IV (1248–1265) Kayqubad II (1249–1257) Kaykhusraw III (1265–1282) Mesud II (1282–1284) Kayqubad III (1284) Mesud II (2nd reign) (1284–1293) Kayqubad III (2nd reign) (1293–1294) Mesud II (3rd reign) (1294–1301) Kayqubad III (3rd reign) (1301–1303) Mesud II (4th reign) (1303–1307) Mesud III (1307)
Chronology	Timeline of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum
Wars and major battles	Byzantine–Seljuk wars Seljuk campaigns in the Aegean Siege of Nicaea (1097) Battle of Dorylaeum (1097) Battle of Dorylaeum (1147) Battle of Mount Cadmus (1148) Battle of Myriokephalon (1176) Battle of Iconium (1190) Battle of Köse Dağ (1243) Battle of Elbistan (1277)
Culture	Arts Seljuk architecture Writers and scholars Rumi Haji Bektash Veli Fakhr al-Din Iraqi Siraj al-Din Urmavi Karim al-Din Aqsarayi Ibn Bibi
Other notable people	Gevher Nesibe Gurju Khatun Sâhib Ata Baba Ishak Shams al-Din Altınapa Sa'd al-Din Köpek Ikhtiyar al-Din Hasan ibn Ghafras Manuel Maurozomes Mu'in al-Din Parwana Shams al-Din Isfahani

Anatolian beyliks
Tzachas (1081 - 1092) Founder Tzachas Capital İzmir Important centers and extension: Ephesus Lesbos Chios
Shah-Armens (1100–1207) Founder Sökmen el Kutbi Capital Ahlat Important centers and extension: Silvan Malazgirt Erciş Adilcevaz Başkale Eleşkirt Van Tatvan Bitlis Muş Hani Dynasty: Sökmen el Kutbi (1100–1112) Ibrahim bin Sökmen (? - ?) Ahmed bin Ibrahim (? - ?) Sökmen the Second (1128–1185) Seyfeddin Begtimur (1185–1193) Aksungur (1193–1197) Muhammed bin Begtimur (1185–1207) Important works: Ahlat Tombs
Artuqids (1102 - ) Ancestors Eksük and his son Artuk, from Döğer Oghuz Türkmen clan Founder Muinüddin Sökmen Bey Capitals Three branches in Hasankeyf, Mardin and Harput Important centers and extension: Diyarbakır Hasankeyf Silvan Mardin Midyat Harput Palu Aleppo (temporarily in 1117) Hasankeyf Dynasty or Sökmenli Dynasty: Müinüddin Sökmen Bey (1102–1104) Sökmenli Ibrahim Bey (1104–1131) Mardin Dynasty or Ilgazi Dynasty: Necmeddin Ilgazi (1106–1122) Hüsameddin Timurtaş (1122–1154) Necmeddin Alp (1154–1176) Harput Dynasty: Belek Bey (1112–1124) Nureddin Muhammed (? - ?) Sökmen the Second (? - ?)
Danishmends (1071–1178) Founder Danishmend Gazi Capitals Sivas Niksar Important centers and extension: Sivas Niksar Malatya Kayseri Tokat Amasya Kastamonu Ankara Dynasty: Danishmend Gazi (1071–1084) Gazi Gümüshtigin (1084–1104) Emir Gazi (1104–1134) Melik Mehmed (1134–1142) Melik Zünnun (1142–1143) Yağıbasan (1143–1164) Melik Ismail (1164–1175) Nasreddin Muhammed (1175-1178)
Mengujekids (1071–1277) Founder Mengücek Bey Capitals Erzincan, later also Divriği Important centers and extension: Erzincan Divriği Kemah Şebinkarahisar Dynasty: Mengücek Bey (1071–1118) Mengücekli Ishak Bey (1118–1120) 1120–1142 Temporarily incorporated into the Beylik of Danishmends Erzincan and Kemah Branch Mengücekli Davud Shah (1142- ?) 1228 Incorporation into the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum Divriği Branch Mengücekli Süleyman Shah (1142- ?) 1277 Beylik destroyed by Abaka
Saltukids (1072–1202) Founder Saltuk Bey Capital Erzurum Important centers and extension: Erzurum Tercan Dynasty: Saltuk Bey (1072–1102) Ali bin Ebu'l-Kâsım (1102 - ~1124) Ziyâüddin Gazi (~1124–1132) Izzeddin Saltuk (1132–1168) Nâsırüddin Muhammed (1168–1191) Mama Hatun (1191–1200) Melikshah bin Muhammed (1200–1202)
Aydinids (1307–1425) Founder Aydınoğlu Mehmed Bey Capitals Birgi, later Ayasluğ Important centers and extension: Tire İzmir Alaşehir Aydın Sakız/Chios (between 1336–1344) Dynasty: Aydınoğlu Mehmed Bey (1307–1334) Umur Beg (1334–1348) Aydınoğlu Hızır Bey (? - ?) Aydınoğlu Isa Bey (- 1390) Events 1390 First period of incorporation (by marriage) into the Ottoman Empire under Bayezid I the Thunderbolt 1402–1414 Second period of Beylik reconstituted by Tamerlane to Aydınoğlu Musa Bey (1402–1403) Aydınoğlu Umur Bey (1403–1405) İzmiroğlu Cüneyd Bey (1405–1425 with intervals) 1425 Second and last incorporation (by conquest) into the Ottoman realm under Murad II
Candaroğulları (~1300–1461) Founder Şemseddin Yaman Candar, commander descended from Kayı branch of Oghuz Turks in the imperial army of Seljuk Sultanate of Rum Capital Kastamonu Important centers and extension: Sinop Eflani Çankırı Kalecik Tosya Araç Samsun (temporarily) Dynasty: Candaroğlu Süleyman Pasha (1309 - ~1340) Candaroğlu Ibrahim Bey (1340–1345) Candaroğlu Adil Bey (1340–1361) Celaleddin Bayezid (1361–1385) Candaroğlu Süleyman Pasha the Second (1384–1392) Sinop Dynasty or Isfendiyarid Dynasty : Isfendiyar Bey (1385–1440) Taceddin Ibrahim Bey (1440–1443) Kemaleddin Ismail Bey (1443–1461)
Chobanids (1227–1309) Founder Hüsamettin Çoban Bey, commander from Kayı Oghuz clan of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum Capital Kastamonu Important centers and extension: Kastamonu Taşköprü Dynasty: Hüsamettin Çoban Bey (1309 - ?) Alp Yürek (? - ?) Muzafferüddin Yavlak Arslan (? - ?) Çobanoğlu Mahmud Bey (? - 1309)
Dulkadirids (1348- ~1525) Ancestor Hasan Dulkadir Founder Zeyneddin Karaca Bey Capital Elbistan Important centers and extension: Maraş Malatya Harput Kayseri Antep Dynasty: Zeyneddin Karaca Bey (1348–1348) Dulkadiroğlu Halil Bey (1348–1386) Sûli Bey (1386–1396) Nâsıreddin Mehmed Bey (1396–1443) Dulkadiroğlu Süleyman Bey (1443–1454) Melik Arslan (?-?) Shah Budak (?-1492) Şahsuvar (?-?) Alaüddevle Bozkurt Bey (1492–1507) Şahsuvaroğlu Ali Bey (1507- ~1525)
Eretnids (1328–1381) Founder Eretna Bey, brother-in-law of the Ilkhanid governor for Anatolia, Timurtash Capital Sivas, later Kayseri Important centers and extension: Sivas Kayseri Niğde Tokat Amasya Erzincan Şebinkarahisar Niksar Dynasty: Eretna Bey (1328–1352) Giyath al-Din Muhammad (1352–1365) Alâeddin Ali Bey (1365–1380) Mehmed Bey the Second (1380–1381)
Eshrefids (1288–1326) Founder Seyfeddin Süleyman Bey, regent to the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum Capital Beyşehir Important centers and extension: Beyşehir Akşehir Bolvadin Dynasty: Seyfeddin Süleyman Bey (1288–1302) Eşrefoğlu Mehmed Bey (1302–1320) Eşrefoğlu Süleyman Bey the Second (1320–1326)
Germiyanids (1300–1429) Ancestor Kerimüddin Alişir Founder Germiyanlı Yakub Bey the First Capital Kütahya Important centers and extension: Kula (District), Manisa Simav Yenicekent Yenicekent (Beylik of Lâdik between 1300–1368) Dynasty: Germiyanlı Yakub Bey the First (1300–1340) Germiyanlı Mehmed Bey (1340–1361) Germiyanlı Süleyman Shah (1361–1387)
Hamidids (~1280–1374) Ancestors Hamid and his son Ilyas Bey, frontier rulers under Seljuk Sultanate of Rum Founder Hamidoğlu Feleküddin Dündar Bey Capital Isparta Important centers and extension: Eğirdir Uluborlu Gölhisar Korkuteli and Antalya transferred in 1301 to Dündar Bey's brother Tekeoğlu Yunus Bey Dynasty: Hamidoğlu Feleküddin Dündar Bey (~1280–1324) Hamidoğlu Hızır Bey (1324–1330) Hamidoğlu Necmeddin Ishak Bey (? - ?) Hamidoğlu Muzafferüddin Mustafa Bey (? - ?) Hamidoğlu Hüsameddin Ilyas Bey (? - ?) Hamidoğlu Kemaleddin Hüseyin Bey (? - 1391)
Karamanids (~1250–1487) Ancestor Nure Sûfi from Afshar Oghuz clan Founder Kerimeddin Karaman Bey Capitals successively Ereğli Ermenek Larende (Karaman) Konya Mut Dynasty: Kerîmeddin Karaman (1256–1261) Mehmet I (1261–1283) Güneri (1283–1300) Bedreddin Mahmut (1300–1308) Yahşı Han (1308–1312) Bedreddin Ibrahim I (1312–1333) Alâeddin Halil Mirza (1333–1348) Bedreddin Ibrahim I, 2nd reign (1348–1349) Fahreddin Ahmed (1349–1350) Şemseddin (1350–1351) Burhaneddin Musa (1351–1356) Seyfeddin Süleyman (1356–1357) Alâeddin Ali (1357–1398) Nasreddin Mehmed Bey (1398–1399) Sultanzâde Mehmet II (1398–1399, 1402–1420, 1421–1423) Bengi Alâeddin Ali (1418–1424) Ibrahim II (1424–1464) Sultanzâde Ishak (1464) Sultanzâde Pîr Ahmed (1464–1469) Kasım (1469–1483) Turgutoğlu Mahmud Bey (1483–1487)
Karasids (1303–1360) Ancestor Melik Danişmend Gazi Founder Karesi Bey Capital Balıkesir Important centers and extension: Aydıncık Bergama Edremit Bigadiç Ezine Dynasty: Karesi Bey (1307–1328) Demir Han (1328–1345) Yahşı Han (1328–1345) Süleyman Bey (1345–1360)
Ladik (~1300–1368) Ancestor Germiyanlı Ali Bey Founder Inanç Bey Capital Denizli Important centers and extension: Denizli Dynasty: Inanç Bey (~1300 - ~1314) Murad Arslan (~1314 - ?) Inançoğlu Ishak Bey (? - ~1360) Süleyman Bey (1345–1368)
Menteshe (~1261–1424) Founder Menteshe Bey Capitals Beçin castle and nearby Milas, later also Balat Important centers and extension present-day Muğla Province Muğla Finike Kaş Çameli Acıpayam Tavas Bozdoğan Çine temporarily Aydın and Güzelhisar, also Rhodes between 1300–1314 Dynasty: Menteshe Bey (~1261 - ~1282) Mesut (~1282 - ~1320) Orhan (~1320 - ~1340) Ibrahim (~1340 - ~1360)
Pervâneoğlu (1261–1322) Ancestor Mühezzibeddin Ali Kâşî (vizier of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum) Founder Süleyman Pervâne Capital Sinop Important centers and extension: Sinop Dynasty: Süleyman Pervâne (1261–1277) Pervâneoğlu Mehmed Bey (1277–1296) Pervâneoğlu Mesud Bey (1296–1300) Pervâneoğlu Gazi Çelebi (1300–1326)
Ramadanids (1352–1516) Founder Ramazan Bey from Yüreğir Oghuz clan Capitals Adana Important centers and extension: Adana Tarsus Dynasty: Ibrahim Bey (1344-?) Ahmed Bey (?-1416) Ibrahim Bey (1416–1417) Hamza Bey (1417–1427) Mehmed Bey (1427-?) Eyluk Bey (? - ?) Dündar Bey (? - ?) Omer Bey (?-1490) Giyas al-Din Halil Bey (1490–1511) Hahmud Bey (1511–1516) Selim Bey (?-?) Kubad Bey (1517-?)
Sahib Ataids (1275–1341) Founder Sahib Ata Fahreddin Ali, vizier of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum Capital Afyonkarahisar Important centers and extension: Akşehir Beyşehir Sandıklı Denizli Dynasty Sahib Ata Fahreddin Ali (1275–1288) and sons Nusreddin Ahmed (1288–1341)
Sarukhanids (1302–1410) Founder Saruhan Bey Capital Manisa Important centers and extension: Demirci Nif (Kemalpaşa) Akhisar Gördes Menemen Dynasty Saruhan Bey (1302–1345) Fahreddin Ilyas Bey Muzafferuddin Ishak Bey (-1388) Hızır Shah (1388–1390)
Teke (1301–1423) Ancestors Hamidoğlu dynasty Founder Tekeoğlu Yunus Bey Capitals Antalya Korkuteli Important centers and extension: Antalya (lost to the Kingdom of Cyprus between 1361–1373) Teke Peninsula Dynasty: Tekeoğlu Yunus Bey (1301-?) Tekeoğlu Mehmud Bey (?-1327) Tekeoğlu Hızır Bey (? - ?) Tekeoğlu Dadı Bey (?-?) Zincirkıran Mehmed Bey (~1360 - ~1375) Tekeoğlu Osman Bey (~1375–1390)

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