| Battle of Dimbos | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theByzantine–Ottoman Wars | |||||||
 Drawing showing Turkish leader Osman, (the man holding up a parchment) who is the founder of the Ottoman Empire. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Byzantine Empire | Ottoman Beylik | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Tekfurs ofBursa,Kite,Kestel,Adranos,Ulubat | Osman Ghazi Orhan Ghazi | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| ~6,000 | ~5,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 3,500 | 1,500 | ||||||
TheBattle of Dinboz[1][2] orDimbos[3](Turkish: Dimbos Muharebesi) took place between theOttoman Beylik (laterOttoman Empire) and theByzantine Empire in 1303.[3]
After thebattle of Bapheus in 1302, Turkishgazis from all parts ofAnatolia began raidingByzantine territories. Byzantine emperorAndronikos II Palaiologos tried to form an alliance with theIlkhanid Mongols against the Ottoman threat. He even offered a political marriage toMahmud Ghazan. The recent defeat atMarj al-Saffar and the rapid decentralization of Mongol domains in Anatolia and the Middle East made him decline. Realizing that he was losing his hold on the frontiers, he decided to attack theOttomans with his own army.
The battle is known only through later traditions which include semi-legendary elements, and hence probably reflects more folk tradition than actual historical events. According toTheodore Spandounes, "Dimbos" (in Greek) or "Dinboz" (deriving fromdin bozmak, "change of faith") was the first Byzantine town to fall to the Ottomans. The 15th-century chroniclerAşıkpaşazade drew on accounts of another battle near Koyunhisar (Battle of Bapheus) from other chronicles and moved them to the vicinity Dimbos to form his account of the "Battle of Dinboz".[1][2]
The Anatolian host of the Byzantine Empire was composed of the forces of local garrisons likeAdranos (modern Orhaneli), Bidnos, Kestel (modern villageErdoğan) and Kete (modern village of Ürünlü). In the spring of 1303, the Byzantine army gathered inBursa and advanced toYenişehir, the capital of theOttoman Turks which was north east of the city. Their goal was to relieve the major city of Nicea which was currently under siege byOsman I who moved west when he heard the news. The two armies met near the mountain pass of Dimbos on the way to Yenişehir which alleviated the Byzantine numerical superiority. During the battle both sides suffered heavy casualties.[citation needed] On the Ottoman side, Osman's nephew Aydoğdu and on the Byzantine side the governors of Kestel and Dimbos were among the losses.[4][5] As the Byzantines started to tire, the cavalry underOrhan forced them into an organised retreat which achieved the Ottoman victory.
TheTekfur of Kite tried to escape to nearbyLopardion (modernUlubat) fort once his force was routed. Osman caught him before he could do so and he was arrested. After he was executed in front of the fort it subsequently surrendered and was integrated into the domains of theOttoman Turks.Ulubat andKestel would follow suit. This battle would be a major catalyst for theSiege of Bursa.