Anatolia was ruled by Turkish Emirates established in various regions of Anatolia under the name of Anatolian Emirates in 14th century. These independent emirates, small and big, emerged after collapse of Seljukian State had conflicts until they linked to a single state power. Since they did not form a union, no peace could happen in Anatolia and the people longed for comfort constantly. Above all, there were two emirates which were both bigger and stronger than the others. One of them was Karamanogullari and the other was Ottomans... These had constant conflicts and incited the small emirates around them against each other. Eratna Emirate, holding Kayseri and Sivas region of Anatolia was one of these small emirates. In these years, there was a famous kadi named Şemseddin Ahmet in Kayseri. He was known and loved with his justice and knowledge. In 1344, Şemseddin Ahmed had a son and called this charming boy Burhaneddin. The great divan poet of Turkish Literature, Kadi Burhaneddin, the distinguished science and statesman was this child. Burhanettin, who was first taught by his father, learned Arabic and Persian languages apart from Turkish, sciences such as logic and philosophy when he was only 14, to the extent not expected from his age. Burhaneddin, not deeming the education in Kayseri adequate, left Kayseri one day, and first went to Cairo and then Aleppo to complete his education. His travel abroad lasted for 6 years and he turned back to Kayseri upon receiving a message on the death of his father in 1364.
There was no other person in Kayseri to replace Kadi Şemseddin Ahmed to be as just as him. His son Burhanedddin was only 20 years old then. He was young and unexperienced, but he made everyone fill in admiration for him with his knowledge and intelligence. Kayseri people succeeded him to the position of his father in a short time.
After that, he was called Kadi Burhanettin. That was not enough. He married the daughter of Eratna Emir Gıyaseddin Mehmed. Because Gıyaseddin Mehmed was murdered in a short time, his son Alaeddin ali Bey had replaced him. Alaeddin Ali Bey appointed his sister's husband Kadi Burhanettin as his vizier in a short time. Kadi Burhanettin both dealt with state affairs and constantly read, wrote books, and was engaged in Sufism and literature.
Towards 1380, death of Eratna Emir Alaeddin Ali Bey resulted in succeeding of his 7-year old son to the throne. This caused constant chaos and Kadi Burhanettin was given the throne in Sivas upon the will and insistence of the people and declared independence.
His sultanate of 18 years passed with disputes, wars and civil rebels. Despite such harsh conditions, he used his sword and pen skillfully and wrote a big Turkish divan containing 1500 gazels, 119 tuyugs and 20 Quatrains. Kadi Burhanettin is the person who used the type of poetry named Tuyug in Turkish literature and roared stoutheartedly in his tuyugs:
Özünü şeyh gören serdâr olur
Enelhak dava kılan berdâr olur.
Er oldur, Hak yoluna baş oynaya,
Döşekte ölen yiğit murdar olur.
* *
Cana can vermeyenin ne canı var,
Can verenin adı ile sanı var.
Er kişinin matahı erlik olur.
Cevherinin lâl ile mercanı var.
* *
Erenler öz yolunda er tek gerek
Meydanda erkek kişi mertek gerek
Yahşi yaman, katı yumşak olsa hoş
Serverim diyen kişi erkek gerek
Kadi Burhanettin, who used neither his name nor a penname in his poems, is a troubadour who is not introvert like lodge poets but a lively one in whose poems bravery and love coexisted like in Koroglu's poems, who used the people's language.
His book named İksîr-i Saâdet reveals his degree of knowledge apart from his Divan of 600 pages.
In one of his gazels, he said:
Şahâ, senün cemalünü göreyim ondan öleyim,
Susamışam visaline ereyüm andan öleyim
Dün gice düşte ben seni, benim ile görür idim,
Bu düşümün tabirini yorayım andan öleyim.
and always talked about his love until death.