Söğüt, Turkey
Coordinates: 40.025327, 30.179102
Ertuğrul or Ertuğrul Gazi was the father of Osman I. According to Ottoman tradition, he was the son of Suleyman Shah, the leader of the Kayı tribe of Oghuz Turks, who fled from western Central Asia to Anatolia to escape the Mongol conquests.
Ertuğrul and his followers entered the service of the Sultanate of Rum, for which he was rewarded with dominion over the town of Söğüt on the frontier with the Byzantine Empire. This set off the chain of events that would ultimately lead to the founding of the Ottoman Empire.
Nothing is known with certainty about Ertuğrul’s life, other than that he was the father of Osman; historians are thus forced to rely upon stories written about him by the Ottomans more than a century later, which are of questionable accuracy.
Having become very old, Ertuğrul Gazi left the leadership of the clan to his son Osman Gazi. He was said to be over 90 when he died in 1281. Ertuğrul Gazi was buried near Söğüt. After his death, his tomb became a spiritual destination. The locals in Karakeçili have visited the tomb every year since then and continue to hold festivities.
A tomb and mosque dedicated to Ertuğrul is said to have been built by Osman I at Söğüt, but due to several rebuildings nothing certain can be said about the origin of these structures. The current mausoleum was built by sultan Abdul Hamid II in the late 19th century. The town of Söğüt celebrates an annual festival to the memory of the early Osmans.
After arriving at the Ertuğrul Gazi tomb, they perform honors and engage in prayers for three or four days in the environs, chanting “Lâ ilâhe illallah” (There is no god but God). And then they return pleased. The clan’s arrival to their villages becomes something of a national holiday. Public officers also treat them kindly.
Lately, interest in the life of Ertuğrul Gazi has increased significantly thanks to the popular TV series, “Diriliş (Resurrection).” Historical sources, however, offer very little information about him.
If you love him then the long journey worth every minute because its not easy to reach the place. There you will find the tomb of the great Ertuğrul , his wife Haleme, his 2 sons and his close friends
Know This
A long drive from Bursa to Sogut but worthwhile once you’ve arrived at the location. Entrance to the tomb is free like many Islamic tombs. The changing of the guards is worthwhile watching.
Once you arrive at the Ertrugul Gazi site, there’s plenty of parking in front of the tomb which doesn’t open around 9.30am. Although you can access the site 24 hours, the actual room housing the tomb is only manned during office hours.
