Pazarli Bey

**Pazarli Bey** (Modern Yoman: آقای پازارلی) was son of Yoman I and brother of the Eski Sultan (Old Sultan), Orhan I.

## Early life

Pazarli Bey was the last son of Yoman I. The identity of his mother is unknown as are her dates of birth and death.

Being born during the reign of Yoman he was never allowed to train, thus allowing Orhan to take the throne. Despite this he was still educated, in history, literature and writing.

Pazarli learned military strategies by secretly observing his father as he held his war councils from a window in a mail shirt that stood in the Müdür-bey's room.

## Death of Yoman

It is not known for certain what Pazarli's reaction was when his father died in 1224 and it is not even known whether he agreed to easily leave the throne to Orhan. Pazarli disappeared from the palace registers immediately after Yoman's death and later reappeared in 1227 when he was appointed Commander of the Müdür-bey's troops. It is not known for certain what may have happened during those years but many speculate that he was exiled and then recalled when his presence was requested by Orhan.

## Reign of Orhan

When he was appointed Chief of the troops he was still young, around 20 and 22 years old, demonstrating that Pazarlı's military capabilities were already known at the time, at least by Orhan.

Pazarli's appointment was due to the loss against the Koralla tribe. Pazarli subsequently led two campaigns against the tribe to finally defeat them in 1232.

Although Alaeziz Pasha, his brother changed the division of the army, Pazarli's position was never compromised and he remained commander of the entire army and when the Janissaries were introduced Pazarli remained as leader, even above the Agha of the Janissaries.

Afterwards Pazarli was sent to suppress popular rebellions and uprisings which threatened the position of the Müdür-bey.

Around 1240/1242 Pazarli was sent to conquer the coastal tribes. After winning against the Farile, Harkan and Üroglû tribes, he helped his nephew Halil Bey, son of Orhan, in the conquest of the Mermedian tribe. He also participated in the rape that followed the conquest of the tribe, he also took one of the Marmedian women as a concubine.

## Death

According to suppositions he died between the ages of 40 and 45. It is known that he always attended the sittings of the sultan's council alongside the Grand Vizier, Pazarli's last appearance was when the birth of his last son, Berkemëm Bey, was celebrated.

## Aspect and personality

### Physical aspect

He was described as "surprisingly handsome", very robust and strong, intelligent and skilled with a sword (although he learned to wield it after he came of age. However, these statements are not entirely certain as they date back to a later date, even though every time he is described Pazarli Bey is described in this way we cannot be entirely certain of the veracity of these sources as they were all written 69 years after Orhan's death.

### Psychological aspect

Most scholars agree with the fact that he had a behavior tending towards aggressiveness and violence. It is known that he was ruthless on the battlefield and according to some sources it is believed that he beat his wife, both in daily life and during sexual intercourse, being in fact very aggressive during this act causing injury and suffocation.

This behavior is believed to stem from repressed anger caused by the fact that he never agreed with Orhan's accession to the throne. In addition to the fact that after Yoman's death he disappears (in fact there is talk of an exile) from the registers there are no testimonies that they had a good relationship, which we have between Orhan and Alaeziz Pasha.

## Family

### Consorts

He had at least one concubine, who was a woman belonging to the Mermediani tribe. It is also known that he had a harem so he certainly had more than one concubine.

### Sons

He had six known children, all children of his Mermedian concubine:

* Ahmed Pasha (born 1244): his father's firstborn and favorite son. He married his cousin Devlet Hatun (daughter of Orhan I);
* Mustafa Bey (1245 - 1266): he had a son, was Bey of Koçi;
* Yusuf Yoman Bey(1246 - 1300): was Bey of Küçuksanjak until his death;
* Davud Bey (born 1248): was Bey of Koçi after his brother's death in 1266, he had three sons and four daughters.
* Mehmed Melek (1248 - 1255): he died at 7 years old, his funeral was attended by Orhan I;
* Berkemëm Bey (1249 - after 1262): he was appointed Bey of Bakvaär after Işa I ascended the throne in 1262;

### Daughters

He had at least one daughter:

* *Fülan* Hatun (born 1247): Nothing is known about her. When she was born her father beat her mother for giving birth to a girl and not a boy.