The source provides an extensive analysis of the Ottoman Interregnum, or Fetret Devri, a devastating eleven-year civil war (1402–1413) that followed the catastrophic defeat and capture of Sultan Bayezid I by Timur at the Battle of Ankara. The text details the struggle for control among Bayezid's four surviving sons—Süleyman, İsa, Musa, and the eventual victor, Mehmed Çelebi—whose conflict was rooted in the Turkic tradition of collective dynastic sovereignty. This period saw the complete political and territorial fragmentation of the Ottoman state, especially in Anatolia, where Timur restored independent Turkish principalities, while the empire's European provinces (Rumelia) remained surprisingly resilient. Ultimately, the crisis acted as a crucible that forged a more centralized and resilient empire under Mehmed I, leading to the institutionalization of practices like royal fratricide to prevent future civil wars and shifting the military's reliance toward the loyal Janissary corps.
Note: This was made with AI research and AI audio output, and does not conform to academic standards. However, sources are confirmed as genuine.
This page was created on: September 23, 2025 and last updated: