Orhan Bey & Nilüfer Hatun story narrated by Sheyh Hamid-I Vali aka Somuncu Baba who lived in 13/14 century….It’s a must read to understand current story of Orhan & Nilüfer on KO
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Lady of Bursa and Orhan Gazi: Nilüfer Hatun
When Orhan Bey was 17 years old, he met Holofira/Olivera, the daughter of Yarhisar Tekfuru Aydos, and lost his heart to her. Their meeting was as follows: Mr. Orhan was passing in front of Yarhisar one day. At that time, he saw Holofira pulling water from the well in front of the fortress. They looked at each other and a spark caught fire in the hearts of both of them. They occasionally met each other in the market places.
Then, Holofira was curious about Islam. He started to ask questions to Mr. Orhan. Orhan Bey introduced Islam to her and explained the principles and conditions of religion. Holofira, who was very impressed by what Orhan told, soon chose Islam voluntarily. She changed her name to Nilüfer/Ülüfer.
But there was a great danger: her father was about to marry her to a man she didn’t want. By agreeing and contracting between them, she decided to flee to Mr. Orhan and combine her life with him. Orhan Bey knew the war with Bilecik/Belekona Tekfuru as a booty and kidnapped Nilüfer.
This kidnapping story developed as follows: Bilecik Tekfuru, who was disturbed by the rise of Osman Gazi in 1298-1299 and sensed the danger before he took action. He wanted to form an alliance by marrying the daughter of Yarhisar Tekfuru, Holofira, and her son. He also planned to call Osman Gazi to the wedding, to ambush him and kill him. However, Harmankaya Tekfuru Köse Mihal, who is a friend of Osman Gazi and has an enmity between him and Bilecik Tekfuru, informed Osman Gazi about this treacherous conspiracy. He prevented him from falling into a trap.
The wedding was to be held in Çakırpınar, two hours from Bilecik. Osman Gazi made his plan. As part of the plan, he wrote a letter to Tekfur – stating that he had accepted his invitation. However, he made some requests: “O Bilecik Tekfuru, I received the wedding invitation. In accordance with our custom, I send my gifts loaded with forty mules. The mules will bring several female drivers. I ask you to welcome our women, not your men, and your women to be relevant to them. Because our women don’t meet men. This is considered a sin in our religion.”
Thus, forty brave men would disguise them as women and enter the castle with the belongings, as if they were the families of the Kayı Tribe. In addition, a bahadır will be hidden in the treasure chests; As soon as the sign was given, they would jump from here and go to war. On the other hand, the brave men who took on felts and entered the castle in a flock of oxen would also support them. The kidnapping of Nilüfer was added to this plan. Because Osman Bey was told his son Orhan lost his heart to her.
In May 1299, Çakırpınar was filled with thousands of guests. A bride tent was set up on the head of the square. Holofira was watching the wedding in very fancy dresses. But she was very sad, holding herself hard not to cry. Osman Gazi, Orhan Bey and his friends, who were invited to the wedding. Especially his young son Orhan Bey was adorning his dreams. His admiration for Osman Gazi and his son had turned into a great love. Finally, Osman Gazi came out with a few people. Bilecik Tekfuru was very happy. The whole plan had started to work.
Towards the evening, Osman Gazi and his friends would be captured by a sudden attack and the great danger would disappear.
Early in the morning, the Greek cavalry would attack the lands of the Kayi Tribe and expel the Turks from the Byzantine lands. Meanwhile, one of the Turkish bahadır brought a cryptic news to Osman Gazi. Osman Gazi and his friends suddenly jumped out of their places. They quickly drove away, riding their horses in the blink of an eye. They ran towards the opposite slope where their animals were.
All the guests were puzzled. But no one had predicted that they would come back a little later. A little later, the situation was understood. Turkish bahadar in the women’s outfit, who entered Bilecik Castle, threw the clothes on them, drew their swords and eliminated the drunken castle guards. The other soldiers hiding in the treasure chests also got out of their places and held the castle door. Thus, they easily received the castle, which was already vacated due to the wedding.
Meanwhile, Osman Gazi and his comrades in arms also caught up in Bilecik. Osman Gazi, who placed the guards in the castle, immediately returned and came to the wedding area. The Tekfurs began to understand the situation that about 50 Ottoman bahadırs suddenly attacked Greek soldiers, whose numbers were more than 1000. The Greeks, who did not think of such a thing, were not in a position to move from their places with the effect of the drink they drank too much. Within an hour, more than half were killed by the sword, the rest were captured.
Among the prisoners were the Bilecik and Yarhisar Tekfurs. Orhan Bey and his friends ambushed on the road where the wedding procession would pass and kidnapped Nilüfer in the Kaldık/Kaldırayuk Strait. Nilüfer survived a marriage she didn’t want, she was very happy that she fell into the hands of the Turks and that Mr. Orhan saved himself.
Osman Bey and all the Kayis opened their hearts by loving Nilüfer. They accepted and loved her as easily as their own daughter. Orhan Bey and Nilüfer married with a big toy and wedding ceremony. She was now the sultan’s wife, Nilüfer Hatun was a trainer who raised the ruler of the future. In 1316, their first son, the future Rumeli Conqueror Suleiman, was born. Then Balkan Conqueror Murad was born. They lived a very happy family life together. Their hearths have always been cheerful and fruitful.
Nilüfer Hatun was an extremely religious and benevolent lady. She built many mosques and charity works in Iznik and Bursa. With her charity and harvest, she established a throne in the hearts of the people of Bursa. The famous Seyyah Ibn Batuta recorded in his travelogue that he met with Nilüfer Hatun while visiting Iznik in 1335, that she was a “saliha and fadıla” (religious, moral and virtuous) woman, and that he accepted herself to peace and gave a treat and bestowal.
Nilüfer Hatun built a bridge over the tea in the east of Bursa, whose previous name was Odrises, and caused this tea and bridge to be called by her own name. She also built a mosque in Bursa Castle and a lodge in the hot spring part. Her son Murad Hüdavendigar, on the other hand, built the famous Nilüfer Hatun Imareti (today’s Iznik Museum) in Izmit on behalf of his mother. In addition, her name was given to a district in Bursa.
The date of death is not known. However, since the imar built by his son Murat Hüdavendigar for him was dated 1388, it is likely that she died before this date, around 1380. The grave is in Orhan Gazi Tomb in the Tophane district of Bursa.
