Mawlawiyah in Western Anatolian principles Mawlawilodge (Menteşeoğulları, Saruhanoğulları Ve Aydınoğulları)

The conquest of Anatolia by the Turks was a historical turning point in terms of Anatolian and Turkish history. This already beautiful geography became even more beautiful with the arrival of the Turks to the region. It lived its golden age especially during the period of the Seljuks in Anatolia. The sultans of the Seljuks built the lands under their rule and protected the scholars and the artisans of the time. The intelligentsia who escaped from the Mongol invasion because of knowing about the situation, flocked to Anatolia in order to provide a shelter for themselves. This wave of migration from the East had been instrumental in the arrival of new cultures and beliefs in Anatolia. Especially these sufis who escaped from the Mongols, had the opportunity to spread their views in the atmosphere of tolerance in Anatolia. Mawlawiyah had taken its share from the environment of tolerance created by the Seljuks in Anatolia. The Mawlawi order was established in Anatolia and was supported directly by the Seljuki state's itself. When the Mongols reached the Gates of Anatolia, it was the beginning of the end of the Seljuks authority over the region. After the beginning of the Mongol dominaton over Anatolia, the Mawlawi elders implemented a policy of a balance and spread over the area as wide as they could reach without challenging the Mongols. The Mawlawi caliphs preffered to spread through the powerful principalities in their early periods. Actually the Western Anatolian Principalities at that time in Anatolia were strong in politics and economy for Mawlawi's to turn their attraction. This region was personally visited by Mawlana'a son Sultan Veled and his grandson Ârif Çelebi and they left behind caliphs in that land. These visits yielded results in a very short time. Many principalities in Western Anatolia after that period started to accept Mawlawism in general. Key Words: Anatolia, Mongol Invasion, Seljuk State, Mawlawism, Western Anatolian Principalities.