House of Candar Candaroğulları
1291–1461
Candaroğulları Beyliği Principality
Capital	Eflani 1291–1309 Kastamonu 1309–1398 Sinop 1398–1461
Common languages	Old Anatolian Turkish
Religion	Sunni Islam
Government	Beylik
Bey
• 1291	Şemseddin Yaman Candar Bey
• 1461	Kızıl Ahmed Bey
Historical era	Late Medieval
• Established	1291
• Disestablished	1461
Preceded by Succeeded by Sultanate of Rum Ottoman Empire

TheCandar dynasty^[1] (/ˈdʒandar/) or theHouse of Candar (Modern Turkish:Candaroğulları),^[2][3]Beylik of Candar,Principality of Candar (Candaroğulları Beyliği,Candar Beyliği), also known as theIsfendiyar dynasty (İsfendiyaroğulları), is anOghuz Turkic^[4] princelyAnatolian dynasty that reigned in the territories corresponding to the provinces ofEflani,Kastamonu,Sinop,Zonguldak,Bartın,Karabük,Samsun,Bolu,Ankara andÇankırı in the present-dayRepublic of Turkey from the year 1291 to 1461. The region is known in Western literature asPaphlagonia, a name applied to the same geographical area during theRoman period.

The dynasty and principality, founded byŞemseddin Yaman Candar Bey,^[5] were incorporated into theOttoman Empire bySultan Mehmed II in 1461.

Descended from theKayı branch ofOghuz Turks,^[6] the dynasty began when the sultanMesud II of theSeljuks of Rum awarded the province ofEflani toŞemseddin Yaman Candar, a senior commander in the imperial armed forces, in gratitude for rescuing him fromMongol captivity. The province had previously been under the rule of theÇobanoğulları.

Following the death ofŞemseddin Yaman Candar, his son Süleyman I conquered the neighboring province ofKastamonu and annexedSafranbolu andSinop, formerly ruled by the descendants ofMu‘in al-Din Suleyman. Süleyman subsequently appointed his son Ibrahim I asGovernor ofSinop, while his second son Ali was appointed Governor ofSafranbolu. Süleyman reigned under the authority of theIlkhanate, the Mongols of Persia, until the death of their rulerAbu Sa'id.

Following the death of Süleyman I, his sons Ibrahim I and Ali were involved in a dynastic struggle for the throne. In 1339, Ibrahim was victorious and thus took over the rule ofKastamonu, the seat of the principality, asbey. Upon his death, he was succeeded by his cousin Adil (1346–1361), who in turn was succeeded by his own son, Kötürüm Bayezid. Kötürüm Bayezid Bey fought twice withKadi Burhan al-Din, ruler of theSivas region, and in 1383, lostKastamonu to one of his own sons, Süleyman, who had received military support from theOttoman sultanMurad I. Following this defeat, Kötürüm Bayezid Bey retreated toSinop, which led to the division of the Beylik of Candar.

On Kötürüm Bayezid's death in 1385, his son Süleyman succeeded him as Süleyman II, and reunited the recently divided principality back into one realm. WithKastamonu Castle as his seat, Süleyman II remained faithful toMurad I, his supporter in his revolt against his father and predecessor, and, from 1386 to 1389, participated in variousOttoman campaigns in Europe.

In 1391,Murad's successor to the Ottoman throne,Bayezid I, launched an assault onKastamonu in an attempt to gain control of theAnatolian beyliks,^[7] which saw the death of Süleyman II and with it an end to the Candar dynasty's long reign inKastamonu.

Succeeding Süleyman II asbey was his son and heirİsfendiyar Bey, who in a bid to avoid conflict with the neighboringOttomans, recognized thesuzerainty ofBayezid I and became anOttomanvassal, whichBayezid reciprocated by grantingİsfendiyarautonomy in his dominion. However, afterBayezid was defeated at the hands of theTimurids in 1402,İsfendiyar recognized the authority of theirKhan,Timur, who confirmedİsfendiyar's rule in the traditional Candar realm ofKastamonu,Kalecik,Tosya, andÇankırı.

Following the departure ofTimur fromAnatolia during theOttoman Interregnum,İsfendiyar Bey stood close to all the four sons ofBayezid I. When one of his sons, Kasım claimed control overÇankırı andTosya and declared the incorporation of these provinces to theOttoman Empire, the Candar dominion was divided once more. İsfendiyar revolted against the new sultanMurad II, only to be defeated, and retreated toSinop in 1423.İsfendiyar Bey died in 1439 and was succeeded by his son Ibrahim II, who upon his own death was succeeded by Ismail in 1443.

Following his conquest ofConstantinople in 1453, theOttoman sultanMehmed II turned to Anatolia to unite thebeyliks under his rule. In 1461, joining forces with Ismail's brother Kızıl Ahmed Bey, he capturedSinop and officially ended the reign of the Candar dynasty, although he did at first appoint Ahmed Bey as the governor ofKastamonu andSinop, only for the appointment to be revoked in 1464.^[8]

After the incorporation of the Beylik of Candar into theOttoman Empire, the ruling dynasty was offered various important functions within the administration of theOttoman state, which they maintained until its dissolution in 1922. Descendants of the Candar dynasty live today as citizens of theRepublic of Turkey mostly inIstanbul and inEurope, using various family names. Ayşe Sultan, who was the last identified descendant, died inAnkara in 1981, having benefited from the unique status afforded to the dynasty within theOttoman Empire.

Due to their similarities, the arms of Candar may be confused with what is now referred to as theStar of David. However, inmedieval times, this particular symbol was not solely associated withJudaism, but also withIslam where it was known as theSeal of Solomon,^[9] borne by the prophetSulaiman, son ofDavid. The symbol gained popularity amongst thebeyliks of Anatolia, with theBeylik of Karaman another state known to have adopted a variation of the seal on its flag.

• Karamanids
• Ramadanids
• Aydinids
• Sarukhanids
• Hamidids

• Mordtmann, J. H. (1978)."Isfendiyār Og̲h̲lu". Invan Donzel, E.;Lewis, B.;Pellat, Ch. &Bosworth, C. E. (eds.).The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition.Volume IV: Iran–Kha. Leiden: E. J. Brill.OCLC 758278456.
• Uzunçarşılı, İsmail Hakkı (1969).Anadolu Beylikleri Ve Akkoyunlu, Karakoyunlu Devletleri [Anatolian Beyliks and Aq Qoyunlu, Qara Qoyunlu States] (in Turkish). Turkish Historical Society Press. Retrieved8 January 2024.
• Yücel, Yaşar (1993)."Candaroğulları".TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, Vol. 7 (Ca'fer es-Sâdik – Ci̇ltçi̇li̇k) (in Turkish). Istanbul:Turkiye Diyanet Foundation, Centre for Islamic Studies. pp. 146–149.ISBN 978-975-389-434-0.

• http://www.dallog.com/beylikler/candaroglu.htm(in Turkish)
• CANDAROGULLARI BEYLIGI(in Turkish)

• Anatolian beyliks
• Candaroğlu
• Isfendiyarids
• Muslim dynasties
• Sunni dynasties
• States and territories established in 1292
• History of Kastamonu
• History of Kastamonu Province
• History of Karabük Province
• History of Sinop Province

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• Articles with Turkish-language sources (tr)
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