OTHMAN, OTHOMAN, or OSMAN I., surnamed (" the conqueror") the founder of the Turkish power, was h. in Bithynia in 1259. His father, Orthogrul, the chief of a small tribe of Ogfizian Turks, had entered the service of Alla-ed-din Kaikobad, the Seljuk sultan of Iconium, and had rendered important services to that monarch and his successors in their wars with the Byzantines and Mongols. Orthogral dying in 1289, after a rule of more than half a century, his tribe chose his son Osman (i.e., the "young bustard,") as his successor. Othman trod in his father's footsteps; and on the destruc tion of the sultanate of Iconium in 1299 by the Mongols, succeeded in obtaining sion of a portion of Bithynia. He had previously subjugated many of the neighbOring Oguzian chiefs, and this new accession of territory rendered him powerfnl enough to attack the Byzantines with success. In July, 1299, he forced the passes of Olympus, and took possession of the whole territory of Nicaea, with the sole exception of the town of that name, which resisted his efforts for five years longer. In 1301 he defeated the
emperor Andronicus II. at Baphaeon; in 1307 he incorporated the province of Marmara in his dominions; and continued till his death, in 1326, steadily to pursue his plans of conquest. " Othman," says Knolles, " was wise, politic, valiant, and fortunate, but full of dissimulation, and ambitious above measure; not rash in his attempts, and yet very reso lute; to all men he was bountiful and liberal, especially to bis men of war and to the poor. Of a poor lordship, he left a great kingdom (Phrygia, Bythnia, and the neighboring districts), having subdued a great part of Asia Miuor, and is worthily accounted the first founder of the Turks' great kingdom and empire." Othman assumed the title of sultan (though this is denied by many historians) on the extinction of the Iconian sul tanate in 1299, held his court at Kara-Hissar, and struck money in his own name. From him are derived the terms Ottomans, Othomans, and Osmanli or ()mania, which are employed as synonymous with Turks. See OTTOMAN EMPIRE.