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Osman was born in 1258 in Sogut, Anatolia. Osman was considered the most succesfful ghazi, or warrior, of Islam. Followers of Osman were called "Ottomans "and people in the West referred to him as Othman.
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Osman became chief after his father died in 1281. Mercenaires came from all over the Islamic world to fight agaisnt the Orthodox Empire. Many Ghazi warriors got away from the Mongols. Through that Osman became a very good leader and laid down the law.
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Osman married his wife, Mal Hatun, in the year 1281. It is reported that Mal Hatun was the daughter of the Anatolian Turkish Bey, Ömer Bey, although some say she was the daughter of Sheik Edebali. Osman and Mal Hatun were married from 1281 until Osman's death in 1326.
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Osman and Mal Hatun's son, Orkhan, was born in the year 1288. Due to increasing age and illness, Osman put Orkhan in charge of his troops prior to his death. Orkhan succeeded his father, upon his death, in 1326.
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Osman announced the independence of his own small kingdom from the Seljuk Turks in 1299. The westward drive of the Mongol invasions had pushed Muslims toward Osman's principality. As the Byzantine Empire declined, the Ottoman Empire rose to take its place.
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Osman proclaimed his intent to attack the Greek fortress, Keaprihissar, to his uncle Dundar and a group of followers. Dundar opposed the idea; he was worried it would cause problems with the neighboring rulers, Turkish and Greek. It is reported that Osman did not speak a word and killed his old uncle on the spot, with an arrow, in an attempt to teach a lesson to anyone who opposed his ideas.
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Osman started to build a small, Muslim State in Anatolia. Anatolia is located in the westernmost part of Asia, making up the majority of the Republic of Turkey. The Black Sea is located to its north, the Mediterranean Sea to its south, the Aegean Sea to its west, and the Amenian Highlands to its east. Because Anatolia has been home to many civilizations, it is one of the archaeologically richest areas in the world.
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After easily defeating a Byzantine force near Nicea, Osman's forces started to settle closer to Byzantine-controlled areas. The majority of Osman's army were migrants, but it was also comprised of Ghazi warriors, Islamic scholars, and others. Due to Osman's rising influence, the Byzantines left the Anatolian countryside and committed themselves to the navy.
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Before Osman's death in 1326, there was a battle against the Byzantines in the city of Bursa. Osman did not physically take part in the battle but the victory at Bursa proved to be a significant one. The Ottomans were then able to use the city as a staging ground against the Byzantines in Constantinople.
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In 1326, Osman died at the age of 68 in Sogut, Antolia. Osman was a very successful ruler. He founded the Ottoman Empire, the powerful world empire that prevailed for over six centuries. He was succeeded by his son, Orkhan I, who became the second Ottoman leader.
