Rumeli’de Akıncı Ailesi Gâzi Mihaloğulları

During the foundation of the Ottoman Beylik, one of the most important narratives is that Köse Mihal, the tekfur of Harmankaya, became a Muslim subject to Osman Gâzi. As is known, Köse Mihal's descendants continued their existence in two main branches. The Rumelia branch of Mihaloğulları continued through Köse Mihal's sons Aziz and Balta, while the Anatolian branch continued through Gâzi Ali Bey. Aziz's descendants settled in Pleven after Edirne. Balta's son Mahmut settled in the city of Ihtiman. The family established foundations in many parts of Rumelia and thus made many settlements flourish. In Rumelia, Gâzi Mihaloğulları became famous as one of the Ottoman raiding fighter families. The most famous raiding lord of Gâzi Mihaloğulları was Gâzi Mihaloğlu Ali Bey. Gâzi Ali Bey, in addition to raiding the Western Balkans and the lands beyond the Danube, also served as subash and sanjakbeylik in Rumelia. Other members of the family also served as sanjakbeyi. Apart from their military services, Mihaloğulları contributed to the shaping of social life in Rumelia by establishing mosques, imaret, baths and zaviye. This study will focus on the military activities of Mihaloğulları in Rumelia, the buildings they built in Edirne, Pınarhisar, Plevne and İhtiman and the foundations they established.