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Orhan
Crossing into Rumelia
He took the institutional steps that turned a principality into a state: a regular army, the madrasa, the imperial council and the navy all date from his reign. His most lasting act was crossing into the Balkans, which made the Ottomans a European power.
Open the reign of Orhan on the mapFamily
| Father | Osman I |
|---|---|
| Mother | Malhun Hatun (disputed in the sources) |
| Consorts | Nilüfer Hatun, Theodora Hatun (daughter of Byzantine Emperor John VI), Asporça Hatun |
| Children | Murad I, Süleyman Pasha, İbrahim, Halil, Kasım, Fatma Hatun, Selçuk Hatun |
Major achievements
- Conquest of Bursa (1326) and Nicaea (1331); the capital moved to Bursa
- First regular army units: the yaya and müsellem corps
- The first Ottoman madrasa founded at Nicaea (İznik)
- First naval power with the takeover of the Karesi fleet
- Permanent crossing into the Balkans with Tzympe (1352) and Gallipoli (1354)
- First vizier and imperial council established
Treaties
- Kantakouzenos alliance with Byzantium (1346) — sealed by marriage to Theodora
Grand viziers
| Name | From | To | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alâüddin Pasha | 1324 | 1331 | 6-7 years |
| Nizamüddin Ahmed Pasha | 1331 | 1348 | 16-17 years |
| Hacı Pasha | 1348 | 1360 | 11-12 years |
| Sinanüddin Fakih Yusuf Pasha | 1360 | March 1362 | 1-2 years |
Battles and treaties
| Year | Event | Result / parties |
|---|---|---|
| 1326 | Siege: Conquest of Bursa | Ottoman victory · The Ottomans capture Bursa and establish their first capital. · Bursa becomes the first official capital of the Ottoman Beylik. |
| 1329 | Battle: Pelekanon (Maltepe) | Ottoman victory |
| 1331 | Siege: Conquest of Nicaea | Ottoman victory |
| 1346 | Treaty: Kantakouzenos alliance with Byzantium | |
| 1354 | Campaign: Crossing to Gallipoli | Ottoman victory |
Full infoboxes are in the site’s “Battles and Treaties” tab; source: English Wikipedia.
Death
He died of natural causes in 1362. His last years were overshadowed by the death of his son Süleyman Pasha, who led the Balkan conquests, in a hunting accident.
Territorial change
The lands that changed hands in this period, and the battles or treaties that brought the changes, can be seen on the map: map of the reign of Orhan.