gullari Principality
This principality was founded by Saruhan Bey as a forefront principality of Seljuk State. He established dominion in the province of Manisa and within the environs of Menemen, Kemalpasa and Foca. It has been known that this principality was annexed to the Ottoman State in the year of 1410. The founder of this principality was Saruhan who had been the commander of Harezm State. It is strongly probable that Saruhan was grandson of the emir with the same name who had been in the service of Turkey Seljuk State and the son of Alpagi.
Saruhanogullari principality had firstly dominated for 90 years since the year of 1300 until April 1390. Then, they established dominion for a separate 8 years since the date of 28th July 1401 until 1410. Therefore, the period of their domination was totally 98 years. Their capital city was Manisa. They had constituted a forefront principality of Seljuk State until the year of 1308. They had been submissive to Ilhanli State until 1335 and they became independent afterwards. Pursuant to Ankara War, they survived for 8 years under the domination of Ottoman State. The Ottomans had mostly appointed the crown princes to the bey governorship of the county of Manisa that was also called as Saruhan Tahtı (Throne of Saruhan). Excluding the districts of Soma and Alasehir, the principality covered the entire province of todays Manisa, and the districts of Menemen, Kemalpasa and Foça. In other words, it had been dominant in the valley of Gediz and it extended from a narrow land towards the Aegean Sea together with Gediz. Karasiogullari principality was on the north of it and Aydinogullari principality was on the south of it. Germiyanogullari principality that was located in the east of it had firstly been the sovereign of Saruhanlilar principality. Actually, the ancestors of Saruhan beys had been in the service of Germiyanogullari principality.
In the beginning, Saruhan had been a forefront bey connected to Germiyanogullari principality. Then, he conquered Manisa in the year of 1313, and expanded his borders. Furthermore, he composed a navy and started to attack to the surrounding regions. Upon the pressure of the forces connected to Saruhan, the Greek and Latin people living in Foça would pay an annual tax with the amount of 15.000 silver dirhams. Saruhan Bey organised military expeditions towards the islands in the Aegean Sea and the Balkans with his navy that he possessed. He had collaborated with the Byzantine and Aydinogullari principality against the Ottoman State and they attacked to Gelibolu. Then, they were involved in the struggles for the throne in the Byzantine. Therefore, Saruhans son, Suleyman Bey collaborated with Umur Bey from Aydinogullari principality and passed to Roumelia. But, he died within the environs of Küçükçekmece (1345).
Saruhan Bey was replaced by his son Fahreddîn Ilyâs Bey. The strengthening of Ottoman State and their conquests in Roumelia had closed their ways of holy wars for Saruhanli principality. In the period of Ishak Bey, Saruhanli principality had friendly relationship with the Ottomans. They had also sent reserve forces in the course of Kosovo war. When Yıldırım Bayezid ascended the throne, Saruhanogullari principality had joined in the alliance that was composed by Karamanogullari principality against the Ottoman State. Ottomans captured Manisa in the year of 1390 and united this city with Karasi and transformed it into a county district under bey governorship. Saruhan soldiers that had been involved in Ankara War (1402) together with the Ottomans had changed their sides and took side with their former beys, Orhan who was on the side of Timur. Timur who won the war gave the Saruhan principality to Orhan.
Therefore, the Saruhanogullari principality had been reinvigorated, but it could not live for long. In the course of the Interregnum period of Ottoman State, they were involved in an alliance against Celebi Mehmed. Celebi Mehmed defeated them and advanced swiftly towards Manisa. Then, he caught Hizir Shah who had been the last emir of the principality and had him to be killed (1410). Therefore, the lands of Saruhanogullari principality were annexed under the domination of Ottoman State.
Saruhanogullari principality had carried out several public works over the lands that they dominated. Among this dynasty, Ishak Bey attracts great attention through his public works. Manisa Ulu Câmii (mosque) and Ilyas Bey Mescidi (small mosque) pertain to him.
Similarly, Revak Sultan mausoleum in Manisa and Emet Câmii in Nif (Kemal Pasha) are considered among the Saruhanli works. The navies that had been possessed by Saruhanogullari principality had enabled the development of their economical situation and they had commercial relations with the western states and especially with the Genoese people.