The Fetret Period was a crucial time of crisis for the Ottoman Empire. After Sultan Bayezid the First was defeated and captured by the Mongol conqueror Timur at the Battle of Ankara in 1402, the Ottoman state fell into chaos. With no clear successor, Bayezid's sons began fighting each other for control of the remaining Ottoman territories, leading to eleven years of civil war.
With Sultan Bayezid captured, four of his sons emerged as claimants to the Ottoman throne. Mehmed Çelebi controlled territories around Amasya in central Anatolia. İsa Çelebi held Bursa, the former Ottoman capital. Musa Çelebi commanded the European territories in Rumelia, while Süleyman Çelebi controlled Edirne and parts of the Balkans. Each brother had his own power base and supporters, setting the stage for a prolonged civil war.
The Fetret Period unfolded over eleven tumultuous years. It began in 1402 with the devastating Battle of Ankara, where Timur crushed the Ottoman forces and captured Sultan Bayezid. From 1403 to 1410, the four brothers engaged in constant warfare, forming and breaking alliances. A crucial turning point came in 1410 when Musa defeated and killed Süleyman. Finally, in 1413, Mehmed emerged as the sole victor, defeating his remaining brothers and reunifying the fractured Ottoman Empire.
Mehmed the First proved to be the most capable of Bayezid's sons. Through strategic alliances and military prowess, he systematically defeated his brothers and their supporters. By 1413, he had successfully reunified all Ottoman territories under his sole rule. His victory marked the end of the devastating civil war and earned him the title "Mehmed the Restorer." The empire emerged from this crisis stronger and more centralized than before.
The Fetret Period, though devastating, ultimately strengthened the Ottoman Empire. The crisis forced institutional reforms that centralized authority and established clearer succession principles. The empire's ability to survive such a prolonged civil war demonstrated remarkable resilience. Under Mehmed the First and his successors, the Ottomans not only recovered but expanded further into Europe and Asia. This period of crisis became a foundation for the empire's future golden age, proving that the Ottoman state could adapt and emerge stronger from even the most severe challenges.