Religius life in the Anatolian Principalities (Aydınids, Menteşe and Sarukhanids)

The purpose of this study is to examine the religious life in the principalities of Sarukhanids, Aydınids and Menteşe. In order to realize this aim, the policies related to religion and religious life of the rulers of the principalities were dealt with. Later on, the roles of religious characters and communities in the era of each ruler were scrutinized. Generally, the concrete symbols of religious life in central settlements in the principalities we investigated were Mosque, madrasa, tekke, zawiyya etc. However; in the countryside, zawiyyas widely became concrete symbols of religious life. While the representatives of these institutions were generally characters like mudarris, scholar of Islamic jurisprudence etc. in the central settlements; sheikh, hoca, ahi, sayyid etc. were the representatives of similar institutions in the countryside. In order to pursue their populating policies by the agency of these characters, rulers supported them to maintain Islamic life. The rulers of the Sarukhanids, Aydınids and Menteşe principalities tried to make their regions lands of Muslims. In order to achieve these goals, they run the populating policy with the help of religious personalities and groups. The religious characters they used in this policy were generally composed of the representatives of Sunni Islam. Consequently, Islamization of the lands made homeland by these principalities was accompanied by the Turkification of these lands.