State

Kadi Burhâneddin Ahmed who had been the vizier of Eretnaogullari principality overthrew them and ascended the throne in Sivas. Kadi Burhaneddin was a great scholar, poet and statesman that was considered as one of the distinguished characters of the Turkish history. Kadi Burhaneddin was the son of Semseddin Mehmed who was the Muslim judge of Kayseri, and Semseddin Mehmed was the son of Judge Sirâceddin Süleyman. Burhaneddin’s grandfather’s grandfather’s father was Sevinçoğlu Resul oğlu Mehmed and this person had come from Harzem to Kastamonu in the year of 1230. He had been from Salur tribe of Oguz people. Kadi Burhaneddin was an important poet that could use Arabian, Farsi languages and especially Turkish in his great divan. He had mostly used the Azerbaijani accent of Oguz dialect. He had also had scientific works. He was married with Dulkadiroğlu Süli Bey's daughter. At the same time, he was Süli Bey's son-in-law and father-in-law. Sheikh Mueyyed who was his sister’s son died in the year of 1396 while he was commissioned as the governor of Kayseri. Habîbe Selçuk Hatun who was one of his daughters was married with Dulkadiroğlu Süli Bey and died in the year of 1447. Mısır Hatun was married with Dulkadiroğlu Mehmed Bey. His elder son, Mehmed Bey died in the year of 1391 while he was a crown prince for 11 years. His younger son, Zeynelâbidin Bey whose mother was a Dulkadir Princess had been a crown prince for 7 years until the year of 1398 and he had become a ruler for several weeks pursuant to his father. Then, he was in the service of Dulkadir principality and then in Ottoman State. He had lived until the year of 1445. When Kadi Burhaneddin was killed, he was so young. His state was captured by Osmanoglu Yıldırım Bayezid.

Kadi Burhâneddin’s Struggles

Kadi Burhaneddin had killed his rivals in the course of the struggles for the sovereignty in the Eretna State and he became the regent.

After a while, he declared his sultanate in Sivas (1381). In the course of his domination, Kadi Burhâneddîn had fought against the Amasya Emirate, Erzincan Emirate, Candarogullari, Karamanogullari and Tâceddînogullari principalities and he was able to establish dominion and influence over these principalities. The friendly relationship between the Mameluke Sultan Berkuk and Kadi Burhaneddin could only be established against the threat of Timur. Kadi Burhanettin was on strained terms with Akkoyunlular State in the beginning, but he arranged this relationship in order after the year of 1386. His frienly relationship with Ottoman State had continued until the Kosovo War in 1389. From that date on, this friendship had been undermined due to the reasons such as his expansionist policy towards the west, and his threat for the influential regions under the domination of Ottomans, and additionally the provocation of Taceddinogullari and Candarogullari principalities, etc. As a result, the war was inevitable between both states and the vanguard forces of Kadi Burhanettin defeated the vanguard forces of Ottoman State in the desert of Corumlu in a crushing manner (1392).

The struggles between both sides had been substituted with friendly relationship again upon the outbreak of the threat of Timur. Then, Kadi Burhaneddin was on strained terms with Akkoyunlular State. Karayuluk Osman Bey from Akkoyunlular State took Kadi Burhaneddin as prisoner in the war that occurred near Sivas and killed him (1398).

The people of Sivas declared Kadi Burhaneddin’s son, Alaeddin Ali as the ruler who was fourteen years old. Meanwhile, the threat of Timur emerged in regards with the invasion of Anatolia. There were not any strong characters that could dominate the state against this threat. Due to this situation, the people of Sivas gave the deliveery of the city to Yıldırım Bayezid. Therefore, Kadi Burhaneddin Ahmed State came to an end (1398).