Halil Bey

**Halil Bey** (1217-end of August 1262) was son of the Eski Sultan Orhan I (Old Sultan). He is remembered as an excellent governor and skilled warrior.

## Personal life

### Title

Sanjak-bey of Kutlur (former)
 Sanjak-bey of Marda (former)
 Sanjak-bey of Mëhrem

### Spouse

Zeynep Hatun (legal wife)
 eleven other minor concubines

### Issue

Süleyman Bey
 Hundi Hatun
 Yomanşah Bey
 Ismihan Hatun
 Menekşe Hatun
 Osman (disputed)

## Early life

Born in 1217, his mother's identity is unknown but she is known to have been alive when Halil was appointed Sanjakbey of Marda.

Halil grew up in Yşrin Palace along with his brothers and sisters being educated in history, literature, writing and poetry and trained. According to sources, he had the same master of his brothers Işa I, and Murad Bey, Lala Üluloglu Mehmed.

## As Sanjakbey

### In the province of Kutlur

At the age of 12 in 1229 he was sent to the province of Kutlur, his mother and guardian followed him.

He had at least two concubines who however both died in childbirth, one in 1231 together with her son and the other in 1234 whose son survived. Their bodies are buried in the palace of Kutlur.

He was much loved in Kutlur province by both the citizens and the pashas of the province.

### In the province of Marda

Halil's skills were so good that Orhan assigned him to a larger province, Marda In 1236/1237.

Here Halil married the daughter of Kuyuku Ismail Pasha. Zeynep Hatun. It is not clear whether the two were in love or whether the marriage was for political reasons. However, Halil had seven other concubines and two other main consorts following tradition.

During this period Halil participated alongside his father, Orhan, in campaigns against the coastal populations, managing to conquer the territory of the Mermedians. He and his army are known to have kidnapped and raped several Mermedian women. According to legend, a child called Osman was born from this rape but it is not certain whether this is true or not, given that there is no concrete evidence.

#### In the province of Mëhrem

When Vaher Bey, his brother was killed in 1258 during an ambush by Dërmeled rrioters and he was prevented from fulfilling as Sanjak-bey of Mëhrem. Orhan appointed Halil in his place, deeming him capable enough to run such a disorderly province and to stop the Dërmeled rioters.

This created disagreements between Halil and his brother Işa, who wanted to be named as such. It is said there was a strong argument between the two, in the palace of Fatma Gülcemal Hatun, where palace officials had to intervene to stop them.

Halil managed to stop the corruption that governed the province of Mëhrem. He instituted three reforms to decrease crime and corruption rates. Halil continued to rule the province of Mëhrem until Orhan's death in March 1262.

## Civil war against Işa I

When Orhan died in 1262 Işa was the first who learned of his father's death. Together with his court he quickly left for the capital and was appointed sultan. Shortly afterwards his brother Murad arrived and was executed immediately. The same end befell Mehmed who was however executed in his own palace in the province of Çirik.

When Halil learned of the death of his brothers. Halil allied himself with the provinces of Marda and Kutlur which had previously belonged to him. It is said that Halil thought that his brother Ali Şah was dead, given that when he asked for alliance in the province of Kutlur (where Ali Şah was Sanjak-bey) he was not answered by his brother but by one of the pashas of the council. Halil was allied with the provinces of his executed brothers, the large province of Eskisanjak (belonged to Murad), Çilik and Harmoçuk (belonged to Mehmed). Halil demanded allegiance to the provinces belonging to his sons, Çirmel (belonging to Süleyman) and Ankalia (belonging to Yoman Şah).

Halil marched towards the capital together with his men between March and April. The army of Işa and Halil clashed in Irma towards the end of May, Halil won and got closer and closer to the capital but once they arrived in Erkman between July and August, Halil settled in the castle together with his men as a camp. Işa decided to end the war and went into battle. After a three-day siege of the castle, Işa entered and executed his brother Halil, putting an end to the civil war.

## Burial

Although Işa wanted to throw the body away and not deign the Grand Vizier with a grave, Meyli Pasha convinced him and they decided to bury him in Erkman's castle, together with his wife and his sons Süleyman and Yoman Şah both executed by Işa I.

## Family

### Consort

Halil had only one consort, his legal wife, Zeynep Hatun. He is known to have had eleven other concubines with unknown names:

* a concibine who died in childbirth in 1231, buried in the private cemetery of the palace of Marda;
* a concubine who died in childbirth in 1234, buried in the private cemetery of the palace of Marda. Was the mother of Süleyman Bey;
* Zeynep Hatun: was the daughter of Kuyuku Ismail Pasha. Legal wife and mother of Hundi Hatun and Yomanşah Bey. She was buried in Erkman Castle cemetery;
* the second main consort, possibly mother of a son;
* the third main consort, possibly mother od a son;
* seven other concubines.

### Sons

Halil had at least five sons, plus he is said to have had an illegitimate child born of a rape:

* *Fülan* Çelebi (1231 - 1231) Stillborn.
* Süleyman Çelebi (1234 - exuted by Işa I in 1262, buried in Erkman Castle cemetery) was Sanjak-bey of Çirmel from 1246/1247 until his death;
* Yomanşah Çelebi (1240 - exuted by Işa I in 1262, buried in Erkman Castle cemetery) was Sanjak-bey of Ankalia until his death;
* *Fülan* Çelebi (? - before 1262) son of the second main consort;
* *Fülan* Çelebi (? - before 1262) son of the third main consort;
* According to legend he had a son called Osman, born from the rape of a Mermedian woman

### Daughters

Halil had three daughters:

* Hundi Hatun (1238/1239 - 1278) she married Hasan Pasha in 1254 and he died of an illness, perhaps smallpox.
* Ismihan Hatun (born after 1238/before 1254) died young.
* Menekşe Hatun (1256 - 1308) she married firstly Selim Ahmed Bey of Çirmel and they had a son Mahmud, then she married Hamid Pasha in 1276. Hamid Pasha died in 1293. He is said to have had a good relationship with his cousin Murad I and to have married her to Hamid Pasha to please her. She and Hamid Pasha had two sons and a daughter: Murad Pasha who was Grand Vizier during the reign of Haznir Bey, Korkut Pasha who died at the age of 18, he had a son and a concubine which were maintained by Menekşe after Korkut's death.