Formation of the Karaman beylik
The founder of the Karamanogullar dynasty (1256-1474) is considered to be the leader of the Turkmen militia Karaman-bey (died in 1261 or 1263). Karaman at the head of the Turkmens of the Taurus foothills raided the Seljuqid rulers of Konya, Rum and Cilician Armenia.
Beylik of Karamanids under Karaman-bey
Al-Malik al-Zahir Rukn al-Din Beibars al-Bundukdari (1223 — July 1, 1277, Damascus) was a Mamluk sultan of Egypt and Syria (1260-1277) from the Bahrit dynasty. The most significant successes in repelling the aggression of the Iranian Ilkhanate and the crusaders of the West were achieved under Sultan Beibars, an outstanding military leader of the Middle East, who was popularly nicknamed Abu’l-Futuh, i.e. «Father of Victories». Also known as Beibars I
At this time, the Mamluks were opposing the Ilkhans. Karaman-oglu Mehmed-bey (d. 1277), the son and heir of Karaman negotiated with the Mamluk sultan to organize an anti-Mongol performance of the Turkmen in Asia Minor. In the spring of 1277 the Mamluks defeated the Mongols. Emir Karaman became the viceroy of the Mamluks in the regions of West Asia conquered by the Mamluks.
Karamanids went even further. In May 1277 they took Konya from the Mongols, but then returned🤔. In 1318 the Karamanogullars again recognized themselves as vassals of the Mamluk sultan An-Nasir Muhammad I
Al-Malik al-Nasir Nasir al-Din Muhammad ibn Qalaoun , known as Muhammad I (1285, Cairo — 1341, Cairo) was the ninth Mamluk sultan of Egypt, who ascended the throne three times: from December 1293 to December 1294, from 1299 to 1309, and from 1309 to his death in 1341
By 1335, the Karamanogullars had gained a final foothold in Konya. They declared themselves the successors of the Seljuqids. So they entered into a confrontation with the Ottomans.
The beginning of the confrontation with the Ottomans
By the end of XIV century Karamanogullars became one of the most powerful beyliks of Anatolia — rivals of the Ottomans.
Ottoman Sultan Murad I declared war on the Karamanogullars. Thus, the first Ottoman-Karamanid war of 1386-1387 began.
Strangely enough, the Ottomans were supported by the Mamluks led by Barkuk.
Al-Malik al-Zahir Seifuddin Barkuk ibn Anas ibn Abdullah al-Sharkasi (c. 1339-1399) — Mamluk sultan of Egypt (1382-1389, 1390-1399), founder of the Burjit dynasty
At the same time, Barkuk sent a letter to the ruler of Karaman, Ala ad-Din ‘Ali. Thus, he warned him against enmity, which apparently had the purpose of securing the northern borders of the Mamluks.
The war was successful for the Ottomans. But after Murad’s death, the Karamaogullars regained all the lost lands.
In 1390 Bayezid defeated a coalition of Beyliks led by Karaman. In winter 1390/1391 he occupied Konya and then Kayseri.
Thus, Bayezid subjugated all the emirates of western Anatolia to the Ottomans. In 1391 ‘Ala ad-Din ‘Ali asked for peace. It was concluded.
At the same time, the feud continued.
Barkuk, at the end of January 1392 granted Bayezid the title of ‘Sultan of Rum’.
In the fall of 1394, the Ottomans concluded a military and political alliance with Barkuk, promising to field a 200,000-strong army on demand.
The Karamanogullars entered into an alliance with Tamerlane.
Despite this, in 1397 Bayezid defeated ‘Ala ad-Din and occupied the eastern territories of Karaman. including Konya And went even further, subjugating part of Cilicia, the possessions of the Mamluk sultan. It was a betrayal that cost the Ottoman sultan dearly.
Bayezid had no allies left. And he was defeated quite easily by Tamerlane.
Tamerlane restored the Karamanids’ power and returned Konya to them. The Karamanids in turn captured Bursa from the Ottomans.
Beylik Karaman in the first half of the XV century
The Karamanogullars were not left out of the struggle for the throne between the successors of Bayezid. However, the Ottomans had Mehmed I, who did not let the rivals realize their ambitions. In 1414- 1416 he inflicted several defeats on Karaman, and in 1415/1416 he repulsed Konya. But still Karaman remained an independent beylik from the Ottomans.
The Karamanogullars sought an ally. In 1417 an embassy was sent to Cairo with the assurance of submission to the Mamluk sultan al-Mu’ayad. Also, Karaman had to part with Tarsus.
Tarsus (formerly Tarsus) is a historical city in south-central Turkey
The Karamaogullars were fed up. And in 1418 they besieged Tarsus. The approaching Mamelukes defeated the besiegers, and the ruler of Karaman Mehmet II was caught and thrown into the Cairo prison.
In 1421, by some miracle Mehmed II escaped from Cairo and returned to his homeland. In 1423, he was already eternally pacified by the Ottoman Sultan Murad II.
The Mamluks forced the Karamanogullars to recognize their suzerainty. Murad in turn put on the throne of Karaman a certain Ibrahim-bey. But the latter, too, went to rapprochement with the Mamluks, promising them to send them ten thousand dinars, thirty horses and thirty camels annually.
In 1435-1437 Murad II defeated Ibrahim-bey. However, he did not annex Karaman to the Ottoman possessions and left Ibrahim-bey on his throne.
In 1440, Ibrahim attacked the Ottomans again. He achieved some successes.
The Ottoman sultan became Mehmed II. He was preparing to take Constantinople. So he simply gave away his daughter to Ibrahim-bey.
Meanwhile, the restless Ibrahim Bey attacked the Mamelukes. In 1457, the Mamluks made a successful punitive expedition to Karaman. They destroyed four fortresses, most of the villages were plundered. Ibrahim-bey went to peace.
Inclusion of Karaman beylik into the Ottoman Empire
After the conquest of Constantinople, Mehmed II decided to do away with the Karamanogullars. At this time, a dynastic struggle was going on there. Two of Ibrahim’s many sons were the actual candidates for power: Ibrahim-bey’s favorite Ishak (d. 1465) and Pir Ahmet (d. 1474), grandson of the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II. Pir Ahmet, thanks to the support of the Ottomans, defeated Ishak in 1465.
In 1468, Mehmed II offered Pir Ahmet, who by then had become the ruler of Karaman, to join the Ottomans. The latter refused. Mehmed II took Konya and Pir Ahmet fled. After that, the Ottomans came to the border with the Mamluks, which caused the Ottoman-Mamluk wars.
But even before that, Karamanogullar in alliance with Venice, in 1472 tried to regain power in Karaman. But were defeated by the Ottomans.
In 1475 Karaman recognized the power of the Ottomans, but it was ruled by its own ruler from Karamaogullar — Kasim-bek (died in 1483).
After the death of Mehmed II in 1481, his brother Cem (d. 1495) opposed Bayezid II. Kasim-bek united with Cem, tried twice to take Konya, then was defeated by Bayazid II’s army. This ended the power of the Karamaogullar dynasty in Karaman.