ABSTRACT

The principalities period, which emerged as a result of political and social events as the central authority of Anatolian Seljuk State weakened, has a significant place in terms of Turkey’s history. Among these principalities, Karamanid Dynasty has extra importance that protected Turkish language and culture, as much as in Turkish history. Besides being referred to as a state rather than a principality, it went down in history with the roles which was equally as good as Byzantine intrigues, played in Seljuk, and later in Memluk-Ottoman political stability, as well as rising Ottoman Empire. Karamanids, who perceived themselves as the real heir of Anatolian Seljuk State, desired to be forceful also on other Turkish principalities. Especially the rich soils of Cukurova, in which Tarsus also takes place, witnessed the fighting of Karamanids that lasted for many years. Tarsus has a strategic status as an administration and trade center, besides being the door of Anatolia that opens to Syria. In this study, the struggles of Karamanids’ in order to hold on Tarsus, and its relationships with Ramazan and Dulkadir principalities and hence will focus on relations with the Mamluks which they connected.