Demir Khan
Bey of Karasi from c. 1328 to 1332
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Demir Khan was Bey of Karasi from c. 1328 to 1332.[2]
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| Demir Khan | |
|---|---|
Undated coin minted by Demir Khan. | |
| Bey of Karasi | |
| Reign | c. 1328 – 1332 |
| Predecessor | Karasi Bey |
| Successor | Yakhshi Khan |
| Died | c. 1347[1] |
| Issue | Jüje Khan |
| Father | Karasi Bey |
| Religion | Islam |
According to modern historian Elizabeth Zachariadou, Demir Khan inherited the throne from his father and successor Karasi Bey.[3] Demir Khan was the ruler of Balıkesir, while his brother Yakhshi Khan controlled the area around Pergamos, though Zachariadou pointed out Demir Khan was likely the senior emir.[4] Demir Khan was also identified as Yakhshi Khan's son,[5] specifically by the Byzantine historian and Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos (r. 1347–54), which is claimed to be false by several historians.[6]
Demir Khan harassed the towns near Cyzicus[7] and raided coastal parts of southern Balkans through his naval forces based in the Sea of Marmara.[8] For this matter, Byzantine Emperor Andronikos III (r. 1328–41) met with Demir Khan in Pegai in 1328, when they signed a treaty. In 1333, Demir Khan met with the Maghrebi traveller Ibn Battuta.[7] Ibn Battuta deemed Demir Khan a "worthless" person like the population of Balıkesir,[9] and mentioned that the former was disliked by his own people.[10] According to historian al-Uryan, the ruler of Pergamos was "Senbogha", who was subordinate to Demir Khan.[11] Some modern historians maintain that Demir Khan had a short reign.[9]
Demir Khan is alternatively identified as Karasi's later ruler (Yakhshi's son).[5] Claude Cahen proposes that Ajlan, the Karasid prince mentioned by Ottoman sources (died c. 1335) may have been Karasi Bey's nickname, and so his sons who were involved in a dynastic conflict may be Demir Khan and Yakhshi Khan (named Dursun). Dursun was subsequently killed, and the Ottomans thus annexed the territory.[12]