Warning: Long Post With Spoilers⚠️
Episode 113!
Another wonderful episode that not only, through effective storytelling, kept us glued to the screens, but also, through brilliantly executed progression in world building, further elaborated upon, immersed us in, early 14th century Frontier Milieu in North West Anatolia.
We see a truly praiseworthy attempt here…in the script….to provide a well researched answer to the question, that is, perhaps, the most sought after by students of early Ottoman history.
And the question is…
The Ottoman principality was only one of many principalities that had emerged in Anatolia in the last two decades of the thirteenth century so WHY, what was the reason, that it was only Osman Gazi and not his bigger, richer, more powerful neighbors, that spiraled up to dominance…with him not only declaring an independent state…but with him & his successors creating, in relatively short period of time, across just a few generations, a centralized political and social structure that enabled them to dominate first their home region of Bithynia, then expand across the Bosphorus to Thrace and finally, in 1453, to take the Byzantine capital of Constantinople.
Some factors that are mentioned in books (references upon request) contributing toward possible answers or theories…
– “The Gaza Ethos”. The Gaza Spirit.
– “Inclusivity – alliances cutting across religious & ethnic divides”. “
– “Considerable agency to capitalize upon their favorable geographical position in Bithnya (Northwest Anatolia) and better manipulate the “constantly shifting matrix of alliances and tensions” to achieve hegemony”. Politics. Strategy.
– The Turkish Warrior Spirit: ‘Oğuz Han’ ‘Kizil Elma’ ‘The Sky Is My Tent & The Sun My Lamp’.
– “Osman’s contact with the settled peasant population of the Bithynian countryside which fostered a sympathetic relation- ship with the local Byzantine population. This group had long been disenchanted with Byzantine rule which had imposed heavy taxes and provided inadequate security in the wake of destructive wars with Rome and the West”.
– Divine Providence.
And although I still maintain that History is best learnt from books & not from shows, I think it’s absolutely BRILLIANT how Mehmet Bozdağ not only managed to wrap all of the above & MORE in Entertainment – but also initiated CONVERSATIONS, an interest in our history – that was long overdue.
And I believe in what our Creator says that the purpose of knowing/ remembering history/ incidents from the past is not just to debate about petty matters like whether there were 7 or 8 youths in the cave (Surah Kahf) but to ponder upon, to take lessons from it…
And I love Kuruluş Osman because it doesn’t just jump from event to event, from thrill to thill, but actually pauses in between to explore, in a delightfully nuanced way, themes & ideas & motifs, to develop, in ways that tug our heart strings, characters & relationships…to not just TALK & TALK but to SAY something…
🌙 Osman Bey’s Historic Honorific Title: Pride Of Faith, Father of Kings, The Gazi, the Sultan, Kara Osman Gazi:
“Either Freedom Or Martyrdom”
“Look into the eyes of those that don’t fear death so you can remember death ”. “Mercy to the oppressor is cruelty to the oppressed”.
“They are more than us, they are more powerful than us but evelAllah, with Allah’s help, we are equal to/ enough for them”.
I think these lines, the context in which they were used, the way they were delivered – were very effective in capturing this Gaza spirit or ethos.
The lines from this episode in particular reminded me of the Prophet David( Peace be upon him) & Goliath story mentioned in the Quran….
“……But those ˹believers˺ who were certain they would meet Allah reasoned, “How many times has a small force vanquished a mighty army by the Will of Allah! And Allah is ˹always˺ with the steadfast.” Quran: 2:249
🌙 Olof Efendi & The Fall Of Inegol: Andronikos III and His New Commander In Chief.
Yes, it was sad, extremely sad to lose Inegol after all the strife & sacrifices, sweat & martyr’s blood, that had gone into conquering it.
But surprising? Pull up some old maps…
If anything, it underscores one of the very basic reasons why a power structure, a State, is urgently needed.
And even though Olof has gotten over his ‘rebel phase’ and turned into a ‘respectable’ Byzantine commander with Emperor Andronikos III and the power of Byzantine Empire, behind him, I’m sure Inegöl won’t stay in his hands for long…
Can’t wait to see how this will play out and for Bayinder the Greedy Spineless Scaredy Cat Traitor’s worst nightmare to come true!! I’m so looking forward to that!
And I can’t wait to find who the emperor’s new Commander In Chief is!!
🌙 From A Principality To A State: Suzerainty to Sovereignty.
The Year Of The Establishment Of The State is disputed just like pretty much everything from that period but I think the show makers are going to follow Halil Inalçık on this one.
Halil İnalcık gives the year 1302 as the establishment year. He believes that between 18th and 27th of July, 1302, the Ottoman forces, defeated the Byzantine forces in the plain where the village of Koyunhisar, or formerly Hamidiye, of today’s Bursa, Yenişehir district, is located. The Famous Battle Of Bapheus. And the State was established soon after Osman Gazi’s Legendary Victory in this battle – which prompted the Byzantine chronicler George Pachymeres to pen….”And this was the beginning of great trouble for the whole region”
I personally think it’s a good decision because it will make for a more spectacular, more dramatic, more impactful narrative 🔥
🌙 Cerkutay & Ulgen: The Road to Kopruhisar.
Loving these two and they way they provide some might needed light moments.
I like how they’ve included them both in a thread that is both entertaining & purposeful.
And I am looking forward to the two of them having a meaningful conversation, for Cerkutay to finally open up about Aygul….and express his grief that he probably keeps pent up inside & refuses to address…
🌙 Alçıçek & Aktımur
I like their individual growth arcs & the way their story continues to progress.
Loved Aktimur & Alçıçek’s moments under the tree. Beautiful & subtle & not corny!
The way Alçıçek is more self assured, coming out of her mother’s shadow and discovering her long neglected sense of self – wonderfully written & executed.
Also, Aktimur & Osman are fast becoming my most favorite, most heartwarming, most interesting, Uncle-Nephew duo ever! Love their relationship & all the scenes they’re in.
🌙Ismihan Sultan:
“Your heart is always famous and proud, you are excused.
You never knew what sadness was, you are excused.
I swallowed blood a thousand nights without you;
You didn’t stay a night without you, you’re excused…”
The opening scene, the way Ismihan Sultan said those beautiful lines by Ahmed Ghazali, younger brother of the more famous Abu Hameed Muhammad Al Ghazali, was absolutely CHILLING – showcasing not only the talent & brilliant screen presence of the actor, but also the Machiavellian evil, the disturbing charisma, the artful deception of my new favorite villain, the queen of smoke & mirrors, Ismihan Sultan!!
Love all scenes she & Osman Bey are in – the mind-games that continue to twist & turn with every episode 🔥
Loved the Tribe scene, how Osman Bey was well aware of her fake facade but played along….& invited her in just to get inside her mind & fathom what her true intentions were.
The way he crumpled her ‘gift’ & said that one can’t gift someone something that already belongs to them – and the way he called the alps in to make his point! It was a very well written, compelling & impactful, scene.
🌙 The 14th Century Anatolian Beyliks: The Diwan Scene
– Karasıds/ Karesioğulları
– Germiyanids/ Germiyanoğulları
– Jandarids/ Candaroğulları
I’ve been waiting for them & finally, they enter Soğut, one by one, individual flags aloft and trailed by a caravan of uniformed soldiers and fine horses, gifts for Ismihan Sultan & alms for the poor…in an extravagant show of power…
Ismihan had wanted to make Osman Bey feel small in front of them but by sheer force of his awe inspiring personality….his steely resolve, his fiery stance, his jaw dropping, blood splattering boldness, Osman Bey seemed taller, more majestic, than all of them combined!! 🔥
What a powerful performance! What a MAGNETIC screen presence!!! What extraordinarily expressive eyes – the entire gamut to emotions that can flutter through them within a matter of seconds!! 👏👏
Mehmet Bozdağ most definitely hit the casting jackpot in choosing Burak Özçıvıt for this role!! He is simply INCREDIBLE as Osman Gazi 🔥
Can’t wait for the next episode…especially after the way it ended!!!
