← Explore on the interactive map

Umur Bey of Aydın

Type Figure Region Anatolia Time c. 1309–1348 Also known as Umur Bey、Gazi Umur Bey、乌穆尔贝伊、艾丁奥卢乌穆尔

Umur Bey (c. 1309–1348) was ruler of the Anatolian Aydın beylik, famed for naval raiding and jihad;…

Timeline

  1. 1330–1336Aydın · AydınSucceeding his father Mehmed Bey, Umur ruled Aydın, based his fleet at Bergama, and launched raids against Christian merchant ships and islands in the Aegean, developing the Aydın beylik into one of the most maritime Anatolian states of the 14th century.
  2. 1337–1343Smyrna · IoniaUmur held the castle of Smyrna against Genoese forces and, at the request of Byzantine emperor John VI, sent troops to aid him in his civil war. His fleet at times penetrated the Dardanelles and Sea of Marmara, demonstrating the profound impact of Anatolian Turkic sea power on Byzantine fortunes.
  3. 1343–1348Smyrna · IoniaIn 1343 Pope Clement VI organized the Smyrna Crusade against Umur, and the coalition besieged the castle of Smyrna several times. Though Umur repeatedly repelled the attackers, he was killed in August 1348 during the siege; Aydın's maritime dominance quickly collapsed, and his brother Hakan Bey's power greatly diminished after succeeding him.

Sources