Orhan

Orhan, born on February sixth, 1281, in Söğüt, was the second sultan of the Ottoman Empire, reigning from 1323/4 to 1362. As the son of Osman I and his consort Malhun Hatun, he inherited a burgeoning state that he would expand significantly during his rule.

In the early years of his reign, Orhan concentrated on conquering much of northwestern Anatolia, which was predominantly under Byzantine control. His military prowess was first demonstrated at the Battle of Pelekanon, where he triumphed over the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos. This victory set the stage for further territorial gains, including the lands of the Karasids of Balıkesir and the Ahis of Ankara.

The political turmoil within the Byzantine Empire, particularly the civil wars surrounding the ascension of the young emperor John V Palaiologos, proved advantageous for Orhan. During the Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347, the regent John VI Kantakouzenos allied with Orhan by marrying his daughter Theodora to him, utilizing Ottoman warriors to combat rival factions. This collaboration allowed the Ottomans to raid Thrace effectively.

Orhan's influence continued to grow during the Byzantine civil war of 1352–1357, where he was granted control of a European fortress at Çimpe. Following a devastating earthquake in Gallipoli two years later, his son, Süleyman Pasha, seized the town, establishing a crucial foothold for the Ottomans in mainland Europe. Renowned Muslim scholar Ibn Battuta described Orhan as 'the greatest of the Turcoman kings and the richest in wealth, lands, and military forces.'