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Legacy of the Emirates
Region: Western Anatolia and Trace
ITINERARY I: Sultan of the Coasts
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The Byzantine Empire found itself unable to overcome the devastating effects of the Fourth Crusade (1204). The Anatolian Seljuq Sultans also fell in defeat against Mongolian attacks (1243). Distressed by Mongolian oppression, hundreds of thousands of people under the command of Turcoman Beys broke the resistance of the Byzantines, already weakened in West Anatolia, and settled in the region. Menteşe Bey and his successors occupied the area that was antique Caria and founded the Menteşe Emirate there (1280). They proceeded to co-operate with the local seamen, that is, the Rums, in order to develop themselves further by opening up to the seas. That Ahmet Gazi saw himself deserving of the title “Sultan of the Coasts” must be an expression of his aspiration to establish sovereignty over the seas. The Menteşe Emirate's economy, based upon bountiful plains and safe trade, created an important source for the country's development as it aspired to a rich and prosperous condition. Thanks to this healthy economy, monumental works were constructed in Beçin, Milas, and Balat. |