Bayezid I

Reign: 1389 – 1402
Life: 1354–1403

He adopted the title of Sultan-i Rûm, Rûm being the Arabic name for the Eastern Roman Empire. In 1394, Bayezid unsuccessfully besieged Constantinople. Two years later, he defeated the crusaders at the Battle of Nicopolis in what is now Bulgaria in 1396. Bayezid vanquished all the Anatolian beyliks and proceeded to conquer and vassalize the entirety of Anatolia. In 1402, he once more besieged Constantinople, appearing to find success, but he ultimately withdrew due to the invasion of the Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur. Bayezid was defeated and captured by Timur at the Battle of Ankara in 1402 and died in captivity in March 1403, which triggered the Ottoman Interregnum between his sons.

During Bayezid I's reign, John I of Portugal ruled Portugal, Ashikaga Yoshimochi ruled Japan (Shogunate), and Charles VI of France ruled France.

Want to learn more? Further reading

The Ottoman Centuries by Patrick Kinross

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The World During Their Reign

The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

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The Ottoman Centuries

Patrick Kinross

Bayezid the Thunderbolt, victory at Nicopolis and catastrophe at Ankara in Kinross's narrative.

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