I. MURAT'IN İLK FETİH DÖNEMİ 1357 - 1371

Join this channel to enjoy exclusive benefits:    / @tarihveturkler   Sultan Murad I, after the death of his elder brother Gazi Suleyman Pasha in 1357, crossed into Rumelia with Lala Şahin Pasha. From 1359 onwards, he led conquest campaigns in the region stretching from Tekirdağ to Edirne. As a result of these campaigns, Edirne was conquered in 1361, and the city soon became the most important center of the Ottoman Empire in Rumelia. In 1362, after Orhan Gazi died of the plague, Prince Murad returned to Bursa and ascended the Ottoman throne. Following his accession, he eliminated his brothers to consolidate state authority. He then launched campaigns in Anatolia against the Karamanids and the Eretna Beylik, who were attacking the area around Ankara. He brought Ankara back under Ottoman rule and further strengthened political unity in Anatolia by annexing the last remaining territories of the Karesi Principality. Sultan Murad I also made significant reforms in the state organization, establishing the Rumelia Beylerbeylik and appointing Lala Şahin Pasha as its first Beylerbey. During the same period, he appointed Çandarlı Kara Halil to the position of Kazasker (chief judge), taking important steps in the institutionalization of the Ottoman administrative and military organization. After establishing order in Anatolia, Sultan Murad returned to Rumelia, directing his conquests towards the territory extending to Constantinople. Between 1367 and 1369, he launched successive campaigns against Eastern Roman and Bulgarian territories. While he himself conquered Aydos, Süzebolu, Kırklareli, Vize, and Pınarhisar, Kara Timurtaş Bey incorporated Yanbolu and its surroundings into Ottoman territory. Lala Şahin Pasha, meanwhile, captured Ihtiman and Samakov, making significant progress towards Sofia. Following this rapid Ottoman advance in Rumelia, Serbia and the Eastern Roman Empire formed an alliance. In 1371, Serbian forces marched on Çirmen. However, a successful night raid led by Hacı İlbey resulted in a heavy defeat for the Serbian army. After the victory at Çirmen, the Serbian principalities and the Eastern Roman Empire accepted Ottoman supremacy and became subject to tribute. Thus, the greatest obstacles to the Ottoman advance towards Macedonia were removed, and a new era of conquests in the region began.