2. Ottoman Sultan
Orhan Gazi
Orhan Bey
- Reign
- 1326 – 1359
- Born
- 1281
- Died
- 1359
He took Bursa and moved the seat of the state there. The first standing army and the first Ottoman coinage date from his reign.
Orhan Gazi was born in 1281. His father was Osman Gazi; his mother was Mal Hatun, daughter of Ömer Bey, one of the notables of the Kayı tribe. Orhan Gazi was fair-bearded, fairly tall and blue-eyed. He was mild in temper, merciful, fond of the poor, respectful towards scholars, devout, just, careful with accounts and never given to alarm — a bey who had made himself loved by the people. He often went among them and took great pleasure in visiting them.
Orhan Gazi came to the head of the principality on the death of his father Osman Gazi in 1326. In 1346 he married Theodora, daughter of the Byzantine emperor John VI Kantakouzenos. Separately, when Holofira, daughter of the lord of Yarhisar, was to be married to the lord of Bilecik, the wedding was raided, Holofira was taken captive and married to Orhan Gazi. After becoming a Muslim her name was changed to Nilüfer Hatun; from that marriage was born Murad Hüdavendigâr, who would become the third ruler of the Ottoman state.
- Sons: Süleyman Paşa, Murad Hüdavendigâr, İbrahim, Halil, Kasım
- Daughters: Fatma Hatun
Source: Osmanlı Tarihi Interaktif CD-ROM (Türk Tarih Kurumu Yayınları XXXI. Dizi-Sa.2)