Osmanl

Osmanl is not a widely recognized standalone term in historical reference. It most often appears as a truncated form of Osmanlı, the Turkish word meaning “of Osman,” used to denote the Ottoman dynasty and the state it founded. In some contexts, Osmanl may also appear as a surname or in abbreviations. This article uses Osmanlı to refer to the empire when explaining the historical subject that Osmanl may allude to.

Osmanlı refers to the Ottoman Empire and the Ottoman dynasty founded in the late 13th century by Osman I. The state emerged in northwestern Anatolia and expanded to control much of Southeast Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa at its height in the 16th and 17th centuries. The capital moved from Bursa to Edirne and later to Constantinople (Istanbul) after its conquest in 1453. It was a multi-ethnic, multilingual polity governed by a sultan and a hierarchical bureaucracy, with the millet system allowing religious communities a degree of autonomy. The empire developed a sophisticated military-administrative framework, including the Janissaries and the timar system.

Throughout its history, the Ottoman Empire engaged in frequent wars and diplomacy with neighboring powers, including the Persian Safavids and European states. It experienced periods of reform and modernization, notably during the Tanzimat era (1839–1876) and late 19th-century constitutional movements. The empire gradually lost territory and influence, culminating in its defeat in World War I. The sultanate was abolished in 1922, and the Republic of Turkey was established in 1923 under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Osmanlı heritage persists in law, architecture, language, and cultural traditions across regions once under its rule.