Âşıkî, Manzume 21: Gök Alp'uñ nesli 'Osmân gör ne kopdı

Manzume 21 — Gök Alp'uñ nesli 'Osmân gör ne kopdı

Amasya05 Editorial Board • Editor: Mevlüt Erdem Öztürk • 01 October 2026 • Updated: 14 October 2026 • 3 min reading

Five couplets with the refrain "kopdı" showing Osman as a thunderbolt sprung from the line of Gök Alp, after Köse Mihal's conversion and the taking of Lefke, Akhisar and Geyve.

Original Ottoman Turkish Text

Gök Alp'uñ nesli 'Osmân gör ne kopdı
Du'â aldı velîden vâlî kopdı

Âvâzı çıkdı kılıcuñ cihânda
Sadâsından kâfirde gavgā kopdı

Kaçan kim depreneydi Gāzi 'Osmân
Sanasın yıldırım gürledi kopdı

Kamu düşmân kuş oluban kaçarlar
Bilürler avlayıcı sunkur kopdı

Hevâyı seyr ider 'arşdan yokaru
Muhammed mi'râcından bile kopdı

In English

1. See what sprang from the line of Gök Alp, Osman: he received prayer from a saint, and a governor arose.

2. The sound of his sword went out into the world; from its clang tumult broke out among the infidels.

3. Whenever Gazi Osman stirred, it was as if a thunderbolt roared and burst.

4. All his enemies turn into birds and flee; they know a hunting falcon has appeared.

5. He surveys the air above the Throne of God; he arose (with a share) of Muhammad's ascension.

Literary and Historical Commentary

Mihal Becomes a Muslim

Wishing to turn towards the Sakarya, Osman Gazi summons Köse Mihal in the twentieth chapter. Mihal finishes his affairs and comes quickly, offers horses and swords as gifts and says, "My khan, make me a Muslim from now on"; the faith is taught to him and he is clothed in a robe of honour with a banner. Osman leaves his son Orhan and Saltuk Alp at Karacahisar, leaves another son with his mother at Bilecik and sets out. The tekfur of the fortress of Leblebüci meets him in submission; the tekfurs of Lefke and Çadırlı also hand over their lands and become Osman's retainers. Samsa Çavuş is given a small fort on the bank of the Yenişehir stream; the author says the place was called "Çavuşköyi" in his day. Mekece submits, Akhisar is taken in battle, the tekfur of Geyve is caught at the hayfield of Koru Deresi, and Tekürpınarı falls too. They remain in the district for over a month and the places that submitted are given to timar holders; according to the author this arrangement lasts down to his own time. The author sets these events in 704 (1304-05).

A Line Breaking Forth

The refrain "kopdı" moves in this chapter between "to appear" and "to burst out roaring". In the first couplet Osman is said to have "broken forth", that is appeared, from the line of Gök Alp; in the third the same verb describes the roar of a thunderbolt. The image of the falcon in the fourth couplet sets up a hunting scene in which the enemies turn into birds and flee. The last couplet carries the praise up to heaven by linking Osman to the Prophet Muhammad's ascension. "Velîden du'â", prayer from a saint, in the first couplet recalls Edebali's prayer and the interpretation of the dream.