The Offspring of Osman Bey, Son of Ertuğrul
In 1280, Osman married the daughter of his mentor, Adabali, named Mal Hatun, who bore him his son Orhan. There are various accounts regarding the number of wives Osman had; some suggest he was married solely to Mal Hatun, while other sources indicate that he took another wife, known as Rabia Bala Hatun, who gave birth to his eldest son, Alaeddin Pasha.
Some narratives claim that Osman had only one wife who possessed multiple titles and names, leading to speculation that the presence of two distinct names suggests he may indeed have had two wives. Osman had a total of eight children: seven sons and one daughter, namely: Orhan Bey, Hamid Bey, Bazar Bey, Alaeddin Pasha, Malik Bey, Coban Bey, Savcı Bey, and his daughter Fatma Hatun.
Orhan Bey, Son of Osman I
Orhan Ghazi is distinguished among his siblings, primarily because he was the son of Osman I and the heir to his father’s legacy. He became the second Ottoman Sultan and played a crucial role in continuing his father’s efforts to establish the Ottoman state. A fervent warrior passionate about jihad since his father’s time, he also had a keen interest in knowledge and scholars, whom he supported significantly. Orhan focused on laying the foundation of the state, establishing the military, and successfully maintaining the kingdom, all thanks to the grace of Allah.
Who is Osman bin Ertuğrul?
Osman is known as the father of the sultans, Ghazi Fakhr al-Din Qara Osman Khan I, son of Ertuğrul and Suleiman Shah, belonging to the Qayi tribe. He is often referred to as Qara Osman or Osman Bey. He was a leader within the Turkish Qayi tribe and served under the Seljuks of Rum in one of the Anatolian frontier principalities. He is credited as the founder of the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over Anatolia, the Balkans, North Africa, and the Arab East for a period spanning approximately 600 years until the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1922.
Born on the 8th of Safar 656 AH, corresponding to February 13, 1258 CE, in the city of Skod (the capital of his father’s principality), Osman grew up as a devout Muslim warrior. Following the customs of nomadic Turkic tribes, he mastered wrestling and swordsmanship from a young age and became proficient in horseback riding, archery, and hunting, ultimately gaining recognition for his military talents.
Osman I was characterized by numerous commendable and distinctive traits that immortalized his name in history, attracting the attention of historians. Among these qualities were bravery, initiative, wisdom in decision-making, patience to achieve his ambitions, spiritual charisma that inspired the conversion of many notable figures to Islam, as well as a genuine commitment to ethics, simplicity, fidelity, and justice.