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The Effects of Succession Crisis between Bayezid II and Cem Sultan on Ottoman Foreign Policy

After the era of Bayezid I who first left Ottoman gradual conquest policy that depended on negotiation and compromise with both local and imperial powers rather than direct centralized authority belonging to Sultan’s initiative, Ottomans faced first interregnum period in which each successor tried to gain power in their regions because of the defeat of Bayezid I in Ankara battle. Beyond the political reasons that Bayezid I led beyliks to be against him, the Seyh Bedreddin rebellion also erupted in the same period due to the economic causes which political chaos contribute to tax and land issues. Mehmed I took all power in his hand after eliminating other successors, returned conservative policy towards both beyliks and other neighbors and Ottoman state mind never forgot this conflict period, which would led later Ottoman sultans to create legitimated succession law for “devletin bekası”. However, unexpected death of Mehmed II, who turned forceful policy of unification to build more centralized authority over beyliks and neighbor territories like his ancestor Bayezid I and succeeded to create unified empire, caused the second interregnum period which was between his two sons Bayezid II and Cem.


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