1. First Ottoman Empire created in 14th century by founder of Ottoman dynasty and of Ottoman gazi principality, Osman I (1290?-1324?), his son Orhan (1324?-1360), Murad I (1360-1389), and Bayezid I (1389-1402). Destroyed by Tamerlane, Turkic invader from Central Asia, at Battle of Ankara (1402).

2. Little information about Osman I(1290?-1324?). Gazi commander of Seljuks against Byzantines, attracted Turkomans into Ottoman service, built gazi community, living off loot (booty), established policy of expanding only against Christian neighbors, avoiding conflict with Muslim Turkoman principalities. First Ottoman capital established at Yeni?ehir (1301), then expanded in Bithynia west to Gulf of Nicaea (1305), south to Sea of Marmara (1308), north to Black Sea (1313), isolalating Bursa, capital of Bithynia, taken by siege in 1324.

3. Orhan (1324?-1360?) probably commanded army that captured Bursa. Transformed Ottoman principality into state, taking over Byzantine governmental and military machinery centered at Bursa. Declared independence, threw off vassalage to Seljuks and Ilhanids, minted own coins, had name recited in Friday prayers. Used peaceful means to take over neighboring Turkoman principality territory. Enlisted Byzantine officers and men in Ottoman service without requirement to convert. Defeated Byzanine army at Battle of Pelacanon/Maltepe (1345), ending Byzantine rule in western Anatolia. Took over Turkoman state of Karesi on Sea of Marmara, giving Ottomans their first fleet. Began raiding into Byzantine territory, mixing into Byzantine politics in Constantinople. Helped John VI Cantacuzene take throne from John V Paleologes. Given right to raid Byzantine territory in Thrace and return, showing Ottoman soldiers opportunities for loot/booty in declining Byzantine state. Role of his son Suleyman based in Gallipoli.

4. Murad I (1359-1389). First Ottoman ruler to plan and carry out organized conquests up to Danube river. Control of Byzantine food supplies enabled him to make Byzantine emperors into vassals. Initial conquests of Thrace and capital Edirne (Adrianople) in 1361, giving him control of Byzantine administrative, financial and military center in Southeastern Europe. Edirne became base for further conquests along Black Sea coast, through Bulgaria and Rumania to mouths of Danube; through Balkan mountains in Bulgaria west to Maritsa river, where they defeated Serb army in 'Rout of the Serbs' battle (1364); along shores of Aegean Sea to Salonicawith help of Byzantine nobleman Evrenos, routing Bulgars in Macedonia t Battle of Samako (1371); advance from Salonica north up Vardar River under command of Turkoman prince Kara Timurtash, captured Nish (1386). Joined army advancing through Balkan mountains, advanced up Vardar and captured Serbia to Danube River. Serbian prince Lazar (1372-1389) organizes Christian crusades army that defeats Ottomans at Battle of Ploshnik (1388). Ottomans return in spring of 1389, destroy Lazar's Crusades army at Battle of Kosovo (1389), destroying Serbian independence and establishing Ottoman rule in all of Southeastern Anatolia up to Danube river. Balkan notables accept Ottoman suzerainty. Europe becomes aware of Ottoman danger for first time and begins to organize Crusading army, but Murad killed at Battle of Kosovo, so Ottoman advance stopped for a time.

5. Bayezid I (1389-1402) influenced by Christian advisors in Ottoman court to abandon gazi tradition of advancing into Europe and turning to conquer Muslim Turkoman principalities in Anatolia. European Crusade army tries to use Bayezid's move into Anatolia to reconquer Serbia, advances up Danube from Vienna. Bayezid returns from Anatolia, destroys European Crusade army at Battle of Nicopolis (1396) on Danube. Rewarded with title of Sultan by Caliph in Alexandria. Called Yildirim (lightening) because of rapid military movements. Moves through Anatolia and conquers Turkoman principalities. Surviving Turkoman princes flee to refuge with Mamluks and with new Tatar state in Central Asia and Iran ruled by Tamerlane. Tamerlane wants to conquer India but fears Bayezid advance in his rear from Anatolia, so invades Anatolia, destroys Ottoman army at Battle of Ankara (1402), captures Bayezid and some of his sons, causes Ottoman Empire to break up, restores Turkoman principalities.

6. Ottoman state development as background to defeat  by Tamerlane at Battle of Ankara.

Development of Ottoman principality, with Ottoman leaders as 'frontier princes'(uc bey) with limited authority over tribes like old Turkish khans. Able to increase power  by right to collect one-fifth of loot taken from defeated armies as pencik. ('one fifth'). Capture of Byzantine administrative machinery at Bursa enabled Orhan to tranfrm this gazi organization into independent principality (beylik) led  by prince (bey), independent of Seljuks and Ilhanids. Victory at Crusade of Nicopolis gave Bayezid financial and military resources so that he could now claim to be Emperor (Sultan), with right to become secular ruler of state and to legislate in secular matters. Used pencik to create slave army enabling them to increasingly dominate tribal army and to become real rulers of what became a state. In developing machinery of state, they used  both Byzantine and Seljuk heritages. Domination of Byzantine tradition in court and central administration enabled Turkomans in Ottoman Ruling Class. Byzantine traditions used in court ceremonial, and in tax and financial systems established in what had been Byzantine territories. Iqta system made basis of bureaucratic organization, but individual iqtas largely preserved Byzantine practice but with Muslim names. Islamic tradition dominated in administrative organization, with officials given rank of vezir and deciding policy in Imperial Council (divan). Turkic traditions remained in army, with titles of Bey, Pa?a and A?a used to show rank. Most important vezir made Chief Executive Officer of Sultan called Grand Vezir. Position of Grand Vezir dominated by Turkoman Çandarl? family from 1360 to 1453, giving Turkish aristocracy supremacy in Ottoman system though they were increasingly challenged by Christians and Christian converts in Ottoman service. Domination of Turkomans in Turkish aristocracy angered Murad and Bayezid I who tried to counteract their power by creating mercenary standing army of infantry (yaya) and cavalry (musellem), replacing nomads who were pushed to frontier as gazis fighting infidel Christians. But yayas and musellems came under control of Turkish aristocracy, thus ending their use to sultans to counteract power of Turkish aristocracy. They too were pushed to frontiers as gazis, generally called akincis, or raiders. Sultans therefore followed example of Seljuks by creating Mamluk slave army, using pencik right to take 1/5 of booty in form of captured soldiers. Made into slaves, converted to Islam, entered into army and Ruling Class as Kapi Kulu ('slaves of the Porte'). Later also recruited from young Christian  boys in conquered Christian provinces taken through Dev?irme system of recruitment and training, and entered into Janissary (Yeniçeri) infantry force which became most important element in Ottoman army. Rise of Dev?irme men with Christian converts lessened power of Turkish aristocracy. Bayezid gave conquered lands to Kapu Kulu slaves to increase their power and enable them to counter power of Turkish aristocracy. Caused Dev?irme men to support further conquest and advocate conquest in Muslim Turkish territories. When Bayezid accepted their ideas and went through Anatolia, Turkish aristocracy feared further loss of power, so they refused to participate, leaving only Christian vassal contingents from Europe and beginnings of Janissary corps to face Tamerlane.  Caused defeat at Battle of Ankara.