Principality (Principality of Guilds)

The Ahi government had been established within the centre of Ankara and its environs. It is like a republic of dervish-tradesmen. It resembles to the Italian city-states in the Middle Ages in one way. Its period of dominance had started in approximately 1290 and continued for nearly 64 years until 1354. They had been submissive to Seljuk States until the year of 1308, to Ilhanli State until the year of 1335, and then to Eretnaogullari State, and finally to Karamanogullari State. They had not ever been independent. Osmanoglu Ghazi Suleyman Pasha (Crown Prince that was the Conqueror of Roumelia) had conquered Ankara in the year of 1354 and they had been submitted to Ottoman State. Although Ankara was captured by Karamanogullari principality for a specifi period, Suleyman Pasha’s brother, Sultan Murad I had immediately reached to the area and captured Ankara definitely. In the course of the strange fate, Ankara has also become the capital centre of a great Turkish Republic after 570 years.

Since the republican government had been unknown among Turks before Ataturk, Ahi Republic is of great interest. Ahi people are the chairmen of the guild of tradesmen that are organised and based on mystic dervish order and principles. They have an important role in the foundation of the Ottoman State. However, it has been understood that Ahi presidents of republic were of the same dynasty. The dynasty of Ahi Şemseddin Yusuf Effendi must have attained great influence. His sons were Ahi Hüseyin Effendi and Ahi Kemaleddin Hasan Effendi. Pursuant to Hüseyin Effendi, it has been understood that his son, Mehmed Effendi and then, Mehmed Effendi’s son, Huseyin Effendi II had become the chairmen and the chief. Huseyin II Effendi’s brothers were Hasan and Yusuf Effendis.

The word of Aki that is originally written as Akhi means kardeşim (my brother) in Arabian language and it has been rumoured that this word was derived from the word of akı/akhı in Turkish language. Presidents of Ankara Ahî Republic (1290?-1354 = 64?) 1. Ahi Hüsâmeddin I.Hüseyin Effendi (1290-1296) 2. Ahi Şerefeddin Mehmed Effendi (1296-1332) 3. Ahi II.Hüseyin Effendi (1327-1354)