Mehmed Bey (son of Işa)

## Mehmed Bey

   **Mehmed Bey** (1239/1241/1242 Bakvaär Palace - 1293 Pomegranate plain, Pomens) called also **Mehmed Çelebi** or **Efendi**; was son of Işa I and his first legal wife, Hürrem Hatun. He escaped together with his brother Mahmud when Murad I ascended the throne in 1278.

### Early life

He was the son of Işa I and Hürrem Hatun, according to some Hürrem conceived her first and only child on the same night of the wedding, however others like Atürkpaşahzade she did not become pregnant immediately but gave birth later in 1241 or 1242.

## As Sanjak-bey

Mehmed was sent in 1255 to the province of Bilçikek, Hürrem accompanied him and settled in her son's harem. Mehmed was described as a groaning and selfless ruler. In 1266 after the death of Çoban, but also as early as 1260 (after the death of Melek Bey), given that Çoban wasn't really taken into consideration as heir, Mehmed became Işa's oldest living son, this made him very important in domestic politics, being more involved in his father's wars. in fact during the Battle of Tears in 1268, he led the right flank of the army. Mehmed, however, took a backseat as Işa did not appreciate him as much as Murad.

When Işa died in 1278 Murad ascended the throne executing all his brothers and their sons however Hürrem, fearing for his son's life, hid him and helped him escape together with Mahmud Bey, another son of Işa. Mehmed managed to escape together with his concubine and his daughters, however Hürrem was not so lucky and was captured and arrested by Murad's men who had arrived to execute Mehmed. Mehmed's mother was tortured and killed by Murad himself and her body was thrown into a river.

## Exile

It is not known for certain where Mehmed and Mahmud fled but it was certainly outside the borders of the empire. It is believed, however, it's thought that remained in contact with their sisters, at least with Hiriban Hatun who later helped them as an intermediary between Murad and the two, others, however, say that they did not remain in contact with anyone and that simply when the two returned to the empire the sisters allied themselves with the parties that pleased them most.

However, it is known with certainty that the two gathered an army during their years of exile. Their army consisted of: some loyal men who escaped with them in 1278, mercenaries, and after many provinces declared war on Murad they allied with them.

## Return to the Empire

Mehmed and Mahmud returned to the borders of the empire after Murad signed the Treaty of Açukşu in (1288/1289) which caused many provinces to rebel against Murad and declare war. The province they were that of Koçi, Eskisanjak (where Şehzade Korkut was Snajakbey), Çaışık, Harmoçuk, Roşlik and border provinces such as: Küturma, Armina amd Rimanı (suppressed by Şehzade Ahmed and Kasım), Şirinşah and Mürmidan.

Mehmed and Mahmud gathered together with some provinces (the coastal ones and that of Çaışık) which offered their army and their economic help. Once they entered the borders of the empire they settled in Furdanı north of the province of Küturma. When Murad learned of their return he wanted to reach them and execute them, however once he learned of their army he withdrew and asked his younger sister, Hiriban Hatun to act as an intermediary between the two, thus becoming the first female ambassador of the Yoman Empire.

However, diplomacy failed to calm the waters and forced first the sisters of the princes and then the empire to take sides. However, this increased disagreements and betrayals in the family, causing much instability and fear among Murad's court. The execution by Murad of his mother Gülmah Hatun and of his sister Fatma Hatun (killed after Murad discovered that she was allied with Mehmed and Mahmud) exponentially increased the terrors at court. All this led Hundi Melek Hatun, another sister of Murad and Mehmed, to decide to take sides of Mehmed and Mahmud, in fact trying to ally the Janissaries with her.

Murad declared war on Mehmed and Mahmud in 1291, claiming it had already been declared in 1278 when they escaped execution. War was inevitable and would therefore be declared shortly thereafter by one of the parties.

## War of Redsons (1292-1293)

### Battle of Barsa

The war caused the empire to split in two, some by Murad and some by Mehmed and Mahmud. Murad had the majority having the Janissaries and most of the provinces on his side. Murad's army and that of Mehmed and Mahmud clashed at Barsa, however Murad did not present his entire army believing it was not necessary.

The battle was won by Mehmed and Mahmud, in fact Murad's army, although in the majority, had a high rate of betrayal. Both the Janissaries (thanks to the help of Hundi Hatun) and the allied provinces helped the enemy army with resources, aid and reinforcements.

### Battle of the Red River

After the Battle of Barsa, Mehmed and Mahmud's army remained victorious but also devastated, forcing them to flee together with their army and their followers. They retreated outside the empire, to Pomens near Arannia, the idea was to regenerate their strength and later return stronger. Their self-exile began in August of 1292.

Murad gathered his army again and the next year he reached, without the Janissaries, Mehmed's army which was in Pomens in the Pomegranate plain. Mehmed's army was much smaller than Murad's and his fate was inescapable. Mehmed's retinue were executed, including his son Orhan. Mehmed was brought before Murad and was executed before his eyes.

## Burial

It is not clear what happened to Mehmed's body as his türbe is empty. It is believed either that he was thrown into the sea as is the case with his mother Hürrem Hatun or that he was buried by Murad in some unknown place without much celebration or tribute. Others, however, say that his body may have been desecrated in some way.

When Mahmud learned of the deaths of Mehmed and his son Orhan, he built a türbe in Pomens in their honor.

## Family

### Consort

Mehmed had seven children (three sons and five daughters) in total, it is known that he respected the one-mother-one-son rule. Only the name of one of Mehmed's concubines is known.

* Gülbeyaz Hatun: mother of Hürremşah Hatun.

### Sons

* Süleyman Çelebi (1258 Bilçikek) he died in exile;
* Orhan Çelebi (1263 Bilçikek - 1293 Pomegranate plain, Pomens) murdered by Murad's army during the Battle of Redsons;
* Selim Çelebi (1277 Bilçikek - 1357) he ran away being a newborn. His life was pardoned by his uncle Mahmud when he ascended the throne.

### Daughter

* Hürremşah Hatun (1257 Bilçikek - 1325) - with Gülbeyaz. Firstborn. His name was chosen by his grandmother Hürrem. Işa married her in 1570 to Ibrahim Pasha, they had three sons, Abdüllah, Ahmed and Ibrahim (born posthumously). During Mahmud's reign she married the Grand Vizier Ferhat Ismail Pasha.
* Esma Hatun (1260 Bilçikek) died young.
* Şehrazat Hatun (1263 Bilçikek - 1313) she married Muçoglu Şahin Bey, she and her husband ran away with their father. They had six children. During Mahmud's reign she lived a comfortable and luxurious life after her husband was appointed Sanjakbey of Marda.
* Mihrimah Hatun (1271 Bilçikek 1307) She was married by Mahmud to Cemal Bali Bey, her husband is described as "handsome" and "desired" and they had five children in total. She died of smallpox.
* Aybige Hatun (1274 Bilçikek - 1253 buried in Devlet Süleyman Türbesi) married Osman Pasha on Mahmud's orders in 1302, they had a son called Yoman. She married Grand Vizier Devlet Pazarli Süleyman Pasha for the second time. They had three children and the marriage was very happy.