BAKTASHI SECT & ITS ROLE IN OTTOMAN EMPIRE
HE HISTORY OF THE SECT
Baktashi sect noted for Bektaşi, due to a single non-Sunni sect attracted the most attention among the citizens of empire and played the political role & unifying structure during the establihment of Janissary army foundation, has preserved its influence & power for about 400 hundred years as well as it was officially recognized as the military sect by Ottoman state in 14th century. It was brought from Khorasan to Anatolia in 13th century AD by the dervish Baba Ilyas and it was renamed & divided into three main groups as Kalenderiyye, Haydariyye and Yeseviyye . The Yesevi branch was represented in Anatolia by Sheikh Hodja Ahmet Yesevi later and one of his descandants named Hadji Baktashi Vali in Sulucahoyuk central Anatolia began teaching & training Turkish nomadic troops with his caliphs & dervishes called as “ Abdalan-ı Rum / Anatolian dervishes “ whom they have made the great contributions to make the Anatolia Turkification. They also helped the Ottoman troops with Ahi guilds to establish a new state first then as the Ottoman state was xepanded in Balcan countries after new conquests during the 14th century AD, they began training the local inhabitants & the Turkish immigrants sent from central Anatolia by opening new lodges & centers in the strategic counties such as Kosovo, Mostar, Skopje, Sarajevo and Tirana. They were called Baktaşi dervishes as the illimuntaors of the Balcan region representing true islamic principles without superstitions. One of the Baktashi dervishes named “ Sarı Saltuk - Blonde Saltuk “ has been a holy mthy among the balcan inhabitants with his effort, attitude, honesty and courage. Blonde Saltuk was so affective among the non-muslim population in Balcan countries that Muslim population began to increase around his lodge day by day and the Ottoman forces did not come across with trouble during the conquests because of his missionary works . Therefore Baktashi sect began spreading over on Christian commonuities especially among the candidate Janissary soldiers who were the Christian origins and in 1361 it was accepted as the offical sect for janissary army by Ottoman state. During the establishment of Ottoman state another Baktashi dervish named abdal Musa became very famous with his caliphs in the south part of Anatolia called Teke region and he was settled down in Elmalı town for opening his logde connected to the main one in Sulucahoyuk so Abdal Musa was accepted the first founder of baktashi sect. The Baktashi sect was created & developed as one of main sects of Ottomans in 1500 by Balım Sultan with its rules, rituals, principles and practices in order to distinguish from other sects and wrong beliefs. The Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II had an interview with Balım Sultan and the Ottomans recognized Baktashism as the main sect and his followers as the Baktashi lovers so the sect was powered officially with the new opportunities throughout Ottoman countries. The main lodge in Sulucahoyuk was the main center of the sect amd hundreds of new branch offices were opened all over the empire later. During the reign of Selim I, the eastern part of the state was under the influence of Shiites and Persian shah was Ismail . Both Turkish sultans had a big fight to establish dominance on Silk Road , via Anatolia, Egypt and North Afica. The winner in 1530 were the Ottomans and thousands of Baktashi & Turcman Turks were executed. On the other hand, the Arabic sects became spreading over the whole empire after Mecca & Medina were added to Ottoman land after the conquest of Egypt, the non-origin Turks were appointed as Grand viziers to rule the empire and Turks were classified the second class citizens as the beginning of dark ages for Baktashism. These factors & conditions made ill effect on Baktashi lovers and the sect began losing its importance & mission in Ottoman soceity. The Janissaries also began doing some trouble as subsequent riots, robberies, curelty and immorality rings depending on economical crisis and declining of the empire, the Baktashi sect was detected as the center of evils. Not only Baktashi sect but also the other sects and its lodges became the homes of drunken, punks deserters and thieves after 1750 AD. To become Janissary in Ottoman army was corrupted and the rules were broken and the number of Janissaries artficially increased 3-4 times in total. This chaos was ended up in 1826 by sultan Mahmut II as remeoving Janissary army and the leaders of Baktashi sect were executed, thousands of innocent Baktashi lovers were imprisoned or exiled to the far corners of the empire and the branches offices were closed. The main lodge was not closed but Naksibendhi sheikh was appointed to rule the sect and its foundations. The population of Baktashi lovers population of Turkey at the moment is about 20 millions and they are not Shiites but called as “ Alevi-Baktashi lovers “ as the cement of Turkish nation. They are the patriots of Turkey, honest & kind people with carrying the real Turkish origin as the Pure Turks in their veins altough they had been isolated for the two hundred years.
BAKTASHI PRINCIPLES & FEATURES
Baktashisim is one of the Turkish sects brought from Khorasan to Anatolia and has been spread all over the world with milllions of fans. Baktashism was founded depeneded on the teaching of Hadji Baktasi Vali by Abdal Musa & Sarı Ismail and Sarı Saltuk and was systematically formed by Balım Sultan in the beginning of 16th century AD. The main teaching is based on the love of Hazrat Caliph Ali, the son—in law of Prophet Mohammed (peace upon him ) and 12 imams. Maturity, love, identity, equality and freedom create its policy. The main focus of Baktashi sect is to grip union aims of God-Universe and the human so Allah-Muhammed –Ali is the main focus of love in Baktashism. Hadji Baktashi Vali says that all human are bothers in the earth that it should be benefit in peace be equipped with the divine nature of man. 12 is the holy number in Baktashism so the Bektashi teachers called “ Dede “ are worn 12 sliced headgear is worn made in white felt by Dede during the ritual ceremony called Semah of which is one of the world intangible cultural heritage in the list of Unesco today. 12 duties are important to be done, 12 imams are holy, 12 sliced surrender Stones on their necks, the human can not die before completing 12 different tasks and etc. The Baktashi sect has been spread all over the Anatolia and Balcan countries in a short time and has been adopted millions of people due to Shaman tracks, no discrimination, spoken Turkish language, open their lodges to ordniary class citizens and its principles practised easily by everybody.
BAKTASHI GRAVESTONES
Baktashi headgears on Ottoman gravestones are divided into two categories ; Fahir has 12 sliced headgear carved on gravestone. Some fahir headgears were painted in green and some in white and has 12 sliced surrender stone on it neck representing 12 imams & 12 tasks. Another headgear is called Husseini with 4 sliced carvings representing 4 gates which open through 4 main strains. Most of the Baktashi sect gravestones can be found in the backyard of the lodges known as “ Cemevi-meeting house”.
Baktashi sect noted for Bektaşi, due to a single non-Sunni sect attracted the most attention among the citizens of empire and played the political role & unifying structure during the establihment of Janissary army foundation, has preserved its influence & power for about 400 hundred years as well as it was officially recognized as the military sect by Ottoman state in 14th century. It was brought from Khorasan to Anatolia in 13th century AD by the dervish Baba Ilyas and it was renamed & divided into three main groups as Kalenderiyye, Haydariyye and Yeseviyye . The Yesevi branch was represented in Anatolia by Sheikh Hodja Ahmet Yesevi later and one of his descandants named Hadji Baktashi Vali in Sulucahoyuk central Anatolia began teaching & training Turkish nomadic troops with his caliphs & dervishes called as “ Abdalan-ı Rum / Anatolian dervishes “ whom they have made the great contributions to make the Anatolia Turkification. They also helped the Ottoman troops with Ahi guilds to establish a new state first then as the Ottoman state was xepanded in Balcan countries after new conquests during the 14th century AD, they began training the local inhabitants & the Turkish immigrants sent from central Anatolia by opening new lodges & centers in the strategic counties such as Kosovo, Mostar, Skopje, Sarajevo and Tirana. They were called Baktaşi dervishes as the illimuntaors of the Balcan region representing true islamic principles without superstitions. One of the Baktashi dervishes named “ Sarı Saltuk - Blonde Saltuk “ has been a holy mthy among the balcan inhabitants with his effort, attitude, honesty and courage. Blonde Saltuk was so affective among the non-muslim population in Balcan countries that Muslim population began to increase around his lodge day by day and the Ottoman forces did not come across with trouble during the conquests because of his missionary works . Therefore Baktashi sect began spreading over on Christian commonuities especially among the candidate Janissary soldiers who were the Christian origins and in 1361 it was accepted as the offical sect for janissary army by Ottoman state. During the establishment of Ottoman state another Baktashi dervish named abdal Musa became very famous with his caliphs in the south part of Anatolia called Teke region and he was settled down in Elmalı town for opening his logde connected to the main one in Sulucahoyuk so Abdal Musa was accepted the first founder of baktashi sect. The Baktashi sect was created & developed as one of main sects of Ottomans in 1500 by Balım Sultan with its rules, rituals, principles and practices in order to distinguish from other sects and wrong beliefs. The Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II had an interview with Balım Sultan and the Ottomans recognized Baktashism as the main sect and his followers as the Baktashi lovers so the sect was powered officially with the new opportunities throughout Ottoman countries. The main lodge in Sulucahoyuk was the main center of the sect amd hundreds of new branch offices were opened all over the empire later. During the reign of Selim I, the eastern part of the state was under the influence of Shiites and Persian shah was Ismail . Both Turkish sultans had a big fight to establish dominance on Silk Road , via Anatolia, Egypt and North Afica. The winner in 1530 were the Ottomans and thousands of Baktashi & Turcman Turks were executed. On the other hand, the Arabic sects became spreading over the whole empire after Mecca & Medina were added to Ottoman land after the conquest of Egypt, the non-origin Turks were appointed as Grand viziers to rule the empire and Turks were classified the second class citizens as the beginning of dark ages for Baktashism. These factors & conditions made ill effect on Baktashi lovers and the sect began losing its importance & mission in Ottoman soceity. The Janissaries also began doing some trouble as subsequent riots, robberies, curelty and immorality rings depending on economical crisis and declining of the empire, the Baktashi sect was detected as the center of evils. Not only Baktashi sect but also the other sects and its lodges became the homes of drunken, punks deserters and thieves after 1750 AD. To become Janissary in Ottoman army was corrupted and the rules were broken and the number of Janissaries artficially increased 3-4 times in total. This chaos was ended up in 1826 by sultan Mahmut II as remeoving Janissary army and the leaders of Baktashi sect were executed, thousands of innocent Baktashi lovers were imprisoned or exiled to the far corners of the empire and the branches offices were closed. The main lodge was not closed but Naksibendhi sheikh was appointed to rule the sect and its foundations. The population of Baktashi lovers population of Turkey at the moment is about 20 millions and they are not Shiites but called as “ Alevi-Baktashi lovers “ as the cement of Turkish nation. They are the patriots of Turkey, honest & kind people with carrying the real Turkish origin as the Pure Turks in their veins altough they had been isolated for the two hundred years.
BAKTASHI PRINCIPLES & FEATURES
Baktashisim is one of the Turkish sects brought from Khorasan to Anatolia and has been spread all over the world with milllions of fans. Baktashism was founded depeneded on the teaching of Hadji Baktasi Vali by Abdal Musa & Sarı Ismail and Sarı Saltuk and was systematically formed by Balım Sultan in the beginning of 16th century AD. The main teaching is based on the love of Hazrat Caliph Ali, the son—in law of Prophet Mohammed (peace upon him ) and 12 imams. Maturity, love, identity, equality and freedom create its policy. The main focus of Baktashi sect is to grip union aims of God-Universe and the human so Allah-Muhammed –Ali is the main focus of love in Baktashism. Hadji Baktashi Vali says that all human are bothers in the earth that it should be benefit in peace be equipped with the divine nature of man. 12 is the holy number in Baktashism so the Bektashi teachers called “ Dede “ are worn 12 sliced headgear is worn made in white felt by Dede during the ritual ceremony called Semah of which is one of the world intangible cultural heritage in the list of Unesco today. 12 duties are important to be done, 12 imams are holy, 12 sliced surrender Stones on their necks, the human can not die before completing 12 different tasks and etc. The Baktashi sect has been spread all over the Anatolia and Balcan countries in a short time and has been adopted millions of people due to Shaman tracks, no discrimination, spoken Turkish language, open their lodges to ordniary class citizens and its principles practised easily by everybody.
BAKTASHI GRAVESTONES
Baktashi headgears on Ottoman gravestones are divided into two categories ; Fahir has 12 sliced headgear carved on gravestone. Some fahir headgears were painted in green and some in white and has 12 sliced surrender stone on it neck representing 12 imams & 12 tasks. Another headgear is called Husseini with 4 sliced carvings representing 4 gates which open through 4 main strains. Most of the Baktashi sect gravestones can be found in the backyard of the lodges known as “ Cemevi-meeting house”.
