Some heroes rise on battlefields filled with roaring armies.Others rise quietly — step by step, victory by victory — until their names carve themselves into history. Among the early Ottoman warriors, few figures are as legendary or mysterious as Abdurrahman Ghazi, the man whose capture of a forgotten fortress became the first real breakthrough on the long road to Constantinople. This is the true story of the commander whose courage changed the direction of an empire.
The World Abdurrahman Ghazi Was Born Into
Travel back to the late 12th and early 13th centuries.
The Ottoman beylik had not yet become an empire; it was a fragile frontier state surrounded by threats:
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Byzantine strongholds in the west
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Mongol pressure in the east
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Rival Turkish beyliks on every side
In such a world, every fortress mattered, and Aydos Castle was among the most important.
Aydos Castle — The Gateway to Constantinople
Built in the Byzantine era, Aydos Castle stood atop the hills of modern Sultanbeyli, controlling the forest roads leading directly to Constantinople.
It was not just another stronghold —
it was part of the city’s defense network.
Whoever controlled Aydos controlled the Asian approach to the capital.
This made it a prize too important to ignore.
Abdurrahman Ghazi: A Warrior Forged by Three Generations
The early life of Abdurrahman Ghazi remains mostly unknown, but historians believe he was born near the end of the 12th century — decades before the Ottoman state even existed.
He served three legendary leaders:
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Ertuğrul Gazi
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Osman Gazi
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Orhan Gazi
By the time Orhan ascended to power, Abdurrahman was no longer a simple soldier.
He was a frontline commander, respected for his skill and endurance after decades of border warfare.
Orhan Gazi’s Strategic Mission
Around 1328, Orhan Gazi laid out a bold plan:
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Konur Alp would push toward the Black Sea.
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Akça Koca would tighten Ottoman control over Kocaeli.
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Abdurrahman Ghazi would conquer Aydos Castle — no matter the cost.
The siege would become one of the most fascinating stories in early Ottoman history.
The Legendary Siege of Aydos Castle
The siege dragged on.
The Byzantines refused to surrender.
The terrain made supplies difficult.
The walls remained unbroken.
Then came a twist that chroniclers still write about centuries later.
The Tekfur’s Daughter and the Dream
According to 15th-century historian Aşık Paşazade, the Tekfur’s daughter had a dream:
A warrior lifted her from darkness into the light.
When she saw Abdurrahman Ghazi from the castle walls, she recognized him as the man from her vision.
Her admiration became love —
and her love sparked betrayal.
The Secret Message
During a skirmish, she threw down a stone tied to a message:
She would open the castle gates
— if Abdurrahman returned at night.
The Night the Fortress Fell
Abdurrahman ordered a false retreat, tricking the Byzantines into lowering their guard.
That night:
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The defenders relaxed
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Patrols weakened
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Torches dimmed
The Tekfur’s daughter lowered a rope.
A small Ottoman squad climbed up, opened the gates from inside, and the castle fell within hours.
Aydos — the first step toward Constantinople — was now in Ottoman hands.
After the Conquest: A Turning Point in History
According to renowned historian Halil İnalcık, Orhan Bey encouraged Abdurrahman Ghazi to marry the Tekfur’s daughter.
They had a son, and Abdurrahman settled at Aydos, launching deep raids into Byzantine territory — even reaching the shores of Üsküdar.
İnalcık wrote:
“The conquest of Istanbul began at Aydos Castle.”
This victory gave the Ottomans their first real approach toward the city that would become their capital.
The Mysterious End of Abdurrahman Ghazi
In 1329 — only a year after his greatest victory — Abdurrahman Ghazi died under unclear circumstances.
Two places claim his burial:
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Samandıra (near Istanbul)
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Abdurrahmangazi Village (near Eskişehir)
A hero whose life changed an empire left behind a legacy scattered across regions.
Why Abdurrahman Ghazi’s Legacy Matters
Empires are not built by sultans alone.
They are built by men who:
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Lead the frontlines
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Scale the walls at night
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Take impossible risks
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Turn small victories into historic turning points
The fall of Aydos Castle was more than a conquest —
it was the spark that ignited the centuries-long Ottoman march toward Constantinople.
Abdurrahman Ghazi lived in the shadows of the frontier…
but died a legend whose courage shaped the destiny of a rising empire.
