Eretnids

Eretna was the name of an Anatolian principality ( Beylik ) with capital in Sivas and Kayseri later, which consisted of 1328 to 1381.

The ruling family was Uighur origin, taking over after the fall of the Ilkhanate rule over a part of Anatolia. The Beylik extended over Central Anatolia and included the present-day cities of Nigde, Aksaray, Ankara, Develi, Karahisar, Darende, Amasya, Tokat, Merzifon, Samsun and Erzincan.

It is named after the founder of the Beylik Eretna, a Uighur officer in the service of Tschupaniden. The name probably derives from Eretna from the Sanskrit word for Ratna gem. During the clashes between the Tschupaniden and their overlords, the Ilchanen, Eretna had to flee to Egypt in 1326. He could later build his Beylik using the Mamluks and proclaimed himself Sultan. He slept with the nickname Ala ad-Din. Eretna died in 1352 and his son Ghiyath ad-Din Muhammad became his successor. But he was already in 1365 assassinated and his son the principality was weak. Some subordinate princes rebelled. The Ottomans occupied the west and the Aq Qoyunlu in eastern areas of the Eretna. The principality was nominally ruled by Ala ad-Din Ali Beg, but in reality there was the vizier Kadi Burhan al-Din. Ala ad-Din Ali Beg died in 1380 during a campaign against the rebellious princes and Kadi Burhan al-Din succeeded against the heirs and became the new Sultan. Thus ended the Principality of Eretna.

Source

• Claude Cahen: Eretna. In: The Encyclopaedia of Islam. New Edition.