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Document Details : Title: The Legend of Köse Mihal - Additional Notes Author(s): SABEV, Orlin Journal: Turcica Volume: 34 Date: 2002 Pages: 241-253 DOI: 10.2143/TURC.34.0.884 Abstract : The present article is inspired by an article of Colin Imber entitled “The Legend of Osman Gazi” and claiming that the popular figure of Köse Mihal, appearing in the earliest preserved Ottoman chronicles of the late 15th century, is “entirely fictitious”. The current additional notes attempt to question Colin Imber’s assertion by drawing attention to other kind of sources dealing in particular with the eventual descendants of Köse Mihal. A special consideration deserves a berat of 1390 issued by sultan Bayezid (1389-1402) and mentioning the name of a certain “Mihal Beyoglu Ali Bey”. The berat, however, could be hardly used as an evidence for the historical reality of Köse Mihal himself because, firstly, we have at hand only rather later copies of that source dating from the late 19th century, and, secondly, the “document” itself could be a later version. In conclusion, the article suggests the earliest preserved Ottoman chronicles of the late 15th century could reflect real historical persons although being featured with fictitious elements. |
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