On the Name and the Origin of Menteshe Beg and the Waqfs

Abstract

Menteshe Beg gave his name to the beylik founded in ancient Caria region from the last quarter of XIIIth century. Nearly any results have been obtained from the studies regarding the name and the origin of Menteshe Beg and from where they came to that region. The information that Byzantine historian Pachymeres had given regarding that Menderes Turks had helped Osman Gazi could not be understood clearly due to the perception of that beyliks were independent from each other. Therefore the dimensions of the struggle made by the Turks against Knights Templar for Rhodes Island could not be comprehended easily. This study binds the origin of Menteshe Beg to the Kayir/Kir Khan, the leader of Khwarezmians who took service with Seljukids after the Battle of Yassicemen in the light of waqf documents and shows that the beylik had come to that region from the vicinity of Sakarya River. Besides, the data about Sasan Beg who had significant role on the conquest of Western Anatolia was assessed. The possibility of that Kayir Khan bound Western Anatolia Beyliks and the Ottomans under his leadership by means of his other sons aside from Menteshe Beg makes us think that Khwarezmians that lost their state after Mongol invasion and battle of Yasscimen took a principal role for the foundation of a global state. The fact that the name of Kayir Khan's father was Nu'man may show that not only Karesiogullari but also many of governing class of beyliks had relation with Danishments. On that sense this study can be regarded as the first step of the attempt to reframe the matter of the Turkification of Western Anatolia.