The first Turkish Sea Captain (B. and D. 11th
Century). There is not much information on his birth place and date but it is
understood from the sources that he was born by the beginning of 11th
century. His real name is Çakan or Çaga Bey. He belongs to Çavuldur clan of
Oghuz and to Turcoman Princes who started to settle to Anatolia
in 1071. During the conquest of Anatolia he succeeded in Malatya region as one of the commanders of
Danişmend Gazi. First details about Çaka Bey who was captured during a war
against the Byzantine Empire during the conquest of Western Anatolia
are present in a work written by Anna, the daughter of Byzantine Emperor, Alexi
Komnen. According to this source he is the youngest one among the Beys who
attacked Anatolia.
Like his other friends he also joined attacks and fought in Kastamonu and Bolu
regions and then went to Izmir.
He became famous with his courage during the wars in this region. During the
period in which he was captured he drew the attention of the emperor with his
dignified attitude. The Emperor did not use him for heavy duties like other
prisoners but kept him in the palace. Çaka Bey here learnt enough Greek to be
able to read Homeros’ legends titled İlyada and Odysseia. After
the Emperor was changed he escaped from the Byzantine
Palace,
went to Aegean shores and built an army there. After conquering Izmir
with this army he established Izmir Principality (1081-97). Meanwhile Turcoman
attacks had completed the conquest of Anatolia. Çaka
Bey expanded his principality including Aegean Isles. During those dates
Tanrıvermiş Bey of Turcoman Beys conquered Ephesus.
Çaka Bey built a fleet with the help of masters he
provided from Izmir harbor in order to possess Izmir
and Aegean Isles. He set sail for the Aegean Sea
with this fleet which consisted of approximately forty covert ships. Thus he
became the first Turkish sailor in the Mediterranean.
The first place he captured with his Turkish fleet was Foça. Later he captured
Midilli and Chios Isles. Since Çaka Bey was capturing the isles one by one, the
Byzantine Emperor Alexi Komnen sent a Byzantine fleet led by two commanders.
The fleet commanded by Çaka Bey entered into war with Byzantine ships and sank
many of them. Others passing through the strait escaped to Marmara. Some of the
Byzantine ships were captured by Turks. This sea war was the first victory of
Turks against Byzantine in the Mediterranean. This war which passed into history as the
first sea war done by Turks was recalled as “Sheep Isles Sea War”. Çaka Bey
together with many important isles captured the territory between Izmir
and Çanakkale and Thracian part of the Byzantine Empire.
He created a large fleet and captured first Edremit and Çanakkale region.
The Byzantine Emperor who witnessed Çaka Bey’s success
this time assigned one of his famous captains; an admiral called Konstantin,
and sent a second fleet to Turks. The fleet approached Chios
Island
and landed troops besieging the citadel. Turkish soldiers who defended the
citadel did not allow the enemy to enter. Çaka Bey who was in Izmir
in the meantime moved to Chios Island
with his fleet. Binding the ships to each other he moved towards the enemy in
the form of crescent. The Byzantine Emperor against this new martial tactic was
defeated.
Çaka Bey joined Edremit to his principality after
capturing Çanakkale region. He organized Pechenegs in Balkans, captured
Çanakkale and moved towards Marmara, which scared the Byzantine Emperor. He
planned to destroy Çaka Bey not by force but by trickery and for this made an
agreement with Kılıçaslan I, Sultan of Anatolian Seljuk Empire. According to
the agreement the Seljuk would prevent Çaka Bey to move towards Marmara. Çaka
Bey who was unaware of this agreement moved on the shores of Marmara with his
troops and reached Aidos. He encountered the Seljuk army in this region which
was under sovereignty of Seljuk Sultanate. Since his army was not powerful
enough to struggle against the Seljuk army he chose to make an agreement with
Kılıçaslan I. Çaka Bey was given a feast in 1097 in the military
quarters of Kılıçaslan I in Edremit. During this feast Kılıçaslan I
unexpectedly drew his sword, moved towards Çaka Bey and killed him. In this way
Çaka Bey who was regarded as a danger for Byzantine and Seljuk Empires was
removed by trickery. Izmir Principality was destroyed within sixteen years
after its establishment.
