(The power struggle between Bayezid II and Cem during the Ottoman era and the interactions of some European powers in the late fifteenth century)

Abstract

The conflict between Bayezid II and his brother Cem stands as one of the most significant political events in the late fifteenth-century Ottoman Empire, due to the far-reaching developments it entailed—surpassing a mere struggle for the throne. The confrontation was further complicated by extensive regional and international involvement, which revealed the nature of succession practices within the Ottoman polity and provided European powers with an opportunity to exploit one of the disputing princes to advance their political influence and strategic interests. This exploitation aligned with Europe’s broader aim of reclaiming territories that had been lost during previous Ottoman expansions, particularly following the conquests led by earlier sultans, culminating in Mehmed the Conqueror’s capture of Constantinople—then the principal military stronghold of Christian Europe.

The importance of this topic lies in its illumination of the interaction and overlap between religious, political, and military institutions, and the decisive role these institutions played in securing Bayezid’s victory. The religious establishment, in particular, was employed as an instrument of authority in the hands of the political elite. Externally, European states capitalized on the losing party—Prince Cem—using him as a means of exerting pressure on Bayezid to obtain political and economic concessions. Consequently, this conflict marked the beginning of a significant political shift within the Ottoman Empire, both internally and externally, at a time when the state had long been viewed as a symbol of cohesion and power from its early emirate period up to the death of Mehmed the Conqueror in 1481. This study presents the events of the conflict based on documented historical sources and scholarly research.