From Tralles to Aydın Güzelhisar: the Menderes valleys become the home of the Oghuz and Turkomans
According to the medieval Byzantine historian Georgios Pachymeres (1242-1310): “The Turks invaded territories that nobody defended. Thus the valley of the Maeander was abandoned not just by brave fighters taking up positions in remote places but also by monks as well.”
At the beginning of the 14th century, when the Germianids (Germiyanogulları) were beginning to put pressure on the borders of Byzantium and capturing territory with their raids to the west, the principality of Menteshe (Mentese) had already become entrenched in what was once Caria and the valley of the Maeander. Before the Germianids turned their attentions towards Karesi, Saruhan, and the Aydın region, Aydın (Tralles) and Sultanhisar (Nysa) had already been besieged and taken (1280-1282) by Emir MenteÅŸe. After Emir Mentese’s death, his son-in-law Sasa Bey took the cities of Magnesia, Priene, and Ayasulug, extending his authority to the entire region. However Sasa Bey fell into a dispute with Mubarizuddin Ghazi Meh-med Bey, a member of the Aydınogulları (”sons of Aydın”) clan. Mehmed defeated Sasa and as a result gained control of the Aydın region. He selected Pyrgion (now Birgi) as his seat of government and having adopted the name Ulu Bey, he established the Aydınoglu principality in 1308. It was during this period that the name of the city of Tralles was changed to Aydın Guzelhisar. The three coastal principalities owed nominal allegiance to the Sultan of Rum and to the llkhanids. According to the Eflaki TeskeresHa 14th century biographical memoir) Arif Qelebi, the grandson of the Turkish poet and philosopher Mevlana, visited Mehmed Bey in Birgi. Ibn Battuta mentions doing the same thing in his Travels in Asia and Africa