The legal concept of political power in the 13th and 14th century Anatolia

This thesis discusses the legitimacy of power relations in the period of 13th and 14th centuries and geography. In light of theoretical data on power and society, this thesis argues that power gains legitimacy according to certain rules and maintains this legitimacy only as long as it abides by these rules. The power relation is examined in two parts: principle and administration. First, the administration and its administrator are concretized, which is then followed by findings in relation to "töre" as the principle that legitimizes the administration and its administrator. The analysis regarding the administrator focuses on the possibility to consider the Anatolian Seljuk State, the Mamluks, some rulers subject to the principalities (beyliks), and in particular, the principalities and Ilkhanids as political power, as well as on the possibility to consider "ahi"s, the Sunni Islamic community, and sects as social power. In light of the conclusions of this analysis, the related elements are examined in a holistic manner. The historical analysis of "töre" in this thesis enables the determination of its aspects that have changed and remained constant. The conclusions of this analysis help reveal the laws that determine power and its limits in the 13th and 14th century Anatolia. This study puts forward that in addition to the main rules that make the ruler a ruler, there are laws supported by different powers and validated with reference to the principle-töre, and that these laws determine and limit power.