Battal Gazi

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Battal Gazi or Seyyid Battal Gazi (* end of the 7th century; † 740 ) was a legendary leader of the Arabs in the wars against Byzantium during the Omayyad period. The existence of the historical figure is certain, but no details of his life are known. Battal Gazi's life, however, inspired folk poets to write several epic epics about him. He embodied the typical way of life of an early medieval inhabitant of the border areas between the Christian and the Muslim world . One of the most important epics is the Arabic epic Ḏāt al-himma  /ذات الهمةand the Turkish epic Seyyid Baṭṭāl  /سيد بطال. Both stories are related to one another, but were created independently of one another without influencing one another. Probably both go back to an old Arabic tradition.

The traditions and poetry, especially after the Turkish conquest of Anatolia, made Battal Gazi the main character in various stories and a contemporary of the Abbasids and the alleged founder of the Danishmend dynasty in Anatolia . In one of his stories, which takes place during the Umayyad period , he moves with the Arabs against Constantinople and besieges the city. His opponent is the Emperor Leon. In fact, the Arabs besieged Constantinople from 717 to 718 and a ruler named Leon III. is occupied for 717. If you consider that Seyyid Battal Ghazi was between 20 and 30 years old in this story, he was born between 690 and 695. The year of death is assumed to be 740. He was killed during the Battle of Akroinon in what is now Afyonkarahisar Province .

In the book called Danishmendnâme, which tells about the first Danish ruler, Danischmend Ghazi , Battal Gazi is seen for the first time as the ancestor of this dynasty. The Danishmendnâme was a century after the death of Gazi Danishmend on behalf of the Seljuks Kai Kobad I made. It was given its final shape in the early 15th century by the Ottoman Sultan Murad II.

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Seyyid Battal Gazi's grave is today in the Seyitgazi district in the Eskişehir province, which is named after him . In 1207, Ummühan Hatun, wife of the Seljuk Sultan Kai Chosrau I and mother of Kai Kobad I, had the grave expanded into a complex with a mosque, a madrasah and other buildings such as kitchens and bakeries. Sultan Bayezid II restored the tomb complex. Today the grave is still the destination of many people.

Other graves in other Turkish cities are also given as the grave of Seyyid Battal Gazi or his father Hüseyin Gazi. There are graves of Hüseyin Gazi in Divriği as well as in Ankara . In honor of Battal Gazi, a district of Malatya was renamed after him. The wife and two of his children are allegedly buried in Malatya.

Film adaptations

  • Battal Gazi Destanı , (de: The Battal Gazi Epos ), Turkey 1971 with Cüneyt Arkın
  • Battal Gazi'nin İntikamı , (de: Die Rache des Battal Gazi ), Turkey 1972 with Cüneyt Arkın
  • Battal Gazi Geliyor (de: Battal Gazi is coming ), Turkey 1973 with Cüneyt Arkın
  • Battal Gazi'nin Oğlu (de: The son of Battal Gazi ), Turkey 1974 with Cüneyt Arkın

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ I. Melikoff: Al-Battal (Sayyid Battal Gh AZI). In: The Encyclopaedia of Islam. New Edition
  2. ^ Elizabeth A. Zachariadou : U dj . In: The Encyclopaedia of Islam. New Edition

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Gazi, Battal
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gazi, Seyyid Battal
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Leader and alleged founder of the Danish Menden dynasty in Anatolia
DATE OF BIRTH between 685 and 700
DATE OF DEATH 740