Some Considerations on the Cultural Milieu of the Principalities

At the eve of the Mongol invasion, the Turkmen immigrants were settled in the frontiers of the Seljuk Sultanate. Since Mongols were unsuccessful in controlling the frontiers, the Turkmen leaders established principalities in different regions of Anatolia following the death of Sultan Gıyas al-Din Kaikubad II in 1247 and during the decline of the Seljuks. The present study is an attempt to consider briefly the contribution of the eleven principalities to the cultural life of the period. The period extending from the late 13th century to the middle of the 15th century is distinguished by the construction of 1269 buildings. In the light of documents and sources besides epigraphical evidence, 627 of those were erected by the Ottomans, almost 49 percent of the entire building program. Moreover, 39 buildings were restored in this period. 60 meliks are known to have founded 457 edifices. Besides Kadi Burhan al-Din, five Ottoman, three Karamanid and three Menteshe, two Aydın and two Eretna, one Jandarid and one Saruhanid meliks were distinguished by the title “sultan” in their inscriptions. Not all Emirate patronage was the province of the meliks, however. Other members of the royal family besides the ruling class, the military officials, the governors, the leaders of the educational staff, religious leaders, akhis, merchants and persons with uncertain status were also responsible for the building activities. It is important to note that, women patrons also played a significant role by their contribution to the cultural milieu of the period. All the monuments besides the building complexes required for the urban life were constructed by the emirates. The large scale building programs in particular played a consequential role in the urban development of the period. Besides the artisans with distinct nisbas, the mutavallis (superintendents) belonging to the ruling class like Vizier Ivaz Pasha were responsible for the execution of the monuments. Different techniques and repertory animated with rich colours besides the tradition inherited from the Seljuks were employed on architectural decoration, mainly stone carvings, tile revetments and faience mosaics, painted decoration on wooden cornices, walls and ceilings besides stucco. The impressive artefacts from carpets to ceramics, the arts of calligraphy and books to objects made of wood or metal decorated with geometrical and floral compositions besides figural representations reflect the aesthetical taste of the period. The patrons were not unfamiliar to the scientific studies besides other artistic activities. The scientists and artists, namely poets, were under the patronage of the founders. Thus, Eretna Beg was arranging meetings with the scientists and discussions were carried on in his diwan in the presence of her wife. Emir Shadgeldi of the Eretna and his son Emir Ahmed were engaged in scientific studies and they were the true patrons of the scientists and artists. The renowned “poet” melik Murad II of the Ottomans, Musa Beg of the Karamanids, Kadı Burhan al-Din Ahmed and İsmail Beg of the Jandarids, besides the famed sufi Ashik Pasha and the savant Ibn Melek were amongst the founders. The Emirate period, a time of intensive artistic and scientific activities, displays a long and a distinguished transitional era between the Seljuks and the Classical Ottoman period. The architectural features and the works of decorative arts reflect the aesthetic taste and the lively cultural milieu of the principalities.

Keywords

Turkmens, Mehmed Bey, Melik of the Karamanids, Architecture, Scientific Activities, Literature, Trad