The Turks of Khorasan are one of the most Decently rooted and widespread communities in Turkish history; they played a critical role in the Turkification of Anatolia, the waves of migration extending from Central Asia to the west, and the spread of Islam among the Turks. Khorasan is a large region covering the northeast of present-day Iran, part of Turkmenistan and the north of Afghanistan. Throughout history, this geography has been both a settlement place and a transit point for Turkish tribes. Now, let's take a step by step look at the history of the Turks of Khorasan:
Origin and Early Periods
Khorasan takes its name from the Persian meaning “the place where the sun rises” and has been a strategic center since ancient times. The Turks first came to this region during the Huns and Göktürks period, that is, 4.-6. he Decamped between the centuries. However, Khorasan's intense relationship with the Turks, 8. it began with the spread of Islam in the century. During the Umayyads and Abbasids, Turks migrated from Central Asia to Khorasan; they first took root here as mercenaries, and then as a settled Tuesday. Turkish tribes such as Karluk, Oguz, Kipchak took this region as a homeland.
with the weakening of the Abbasids in the century, Khorasan became the scene of the rise of the Turkish-Islamic states. The Samanids (819-999) became powerful in this region with the support of soldiers of Turkish origin and blended Turkish culture with Islam. During this period, Khorasan experienced a kind of “Turkish-Islamic renaissance”; science, literature and art blossomed here.
The Period of the Ghaznavids and Seljuks
A turning point in the history of the Khorasan Turks, 10. it came with the rise of the Ghaznavids (963-1187) in the century. The Ghaznavids, a dynasty of Turkish origin, made Khorasan one of their centers and organized expeditions to India from here. Leaders such as Sultan Mahmud united Turkish power under the banner of Islam. But the real big transformation is 11. it happened with the Seljuks in the century.
The migration of Oghuz Turks to Khorasan accelerated with the establishment of the Seljuk State (1037-1194) under the leadership of Alp Arslan and Tugrul Bey. the Seljuks, who defeated the Ghaznavids at the Battle of Dandanakan in 1040, completely captured Khorasan. This place became both an administrative center and a gateway to Anatolia for the Seljuks. Cities such as Nishapur, Merv and Tus have become the shining stars of Turkish-Islamic civilization. During this period, the Turks of Khorasan were among the pioneer forces participating in the conquest of Anatolia. Dec.
The Mongol Invasion and Its Aftermath
the Mongol invasion in the century deeply shook Khorasan. in 1220, Genghis Khan's armies burned and destroyed the region; the cities fell into ruins, the population decreased. Despite this, the Turks maintained their identity even under Mongol rule. After the Mongols, during the Ilkhanids and Timurids, Khorasan again came under Turkish rule. Although Timur (1370-1405) established a Turkic-Mongol mixed state, the cultural influence of the Khorasan Turks continued.
After the Mongol invasion, many Khorasan Turks migrated to Anatolia and Iran. These migrations enabled the spread of Turkmen tribes (such as Avşar, Bayat, Kınık) in Anatolia in particular. Even in the foundations of the Ottoman Empire, there are traces of these Turkmens from Khorasan.
Safavids and the Ottoman Period
during the century, Khorasan came under Shiite influence with the rise of the Safavids (1501-1736). This situation led to Deconflictions between the Sunni Turkmens and the Safavids. Many Khorasan Turks fled from Safavid oppression and took refuge in Ottoman lands. Especially the Yoruks and Turkmens settled in the mountainous regions of Anatolia (such as the Taurus Mountains). The Ottomans knew these communities from Khorasan as “Khorasan Ereni” or “Turkmen dervishes”; they were usually identified with the Bektashi and Alevi traditions.
Cultural Heritage and Present Day
The Turks of Khorasan preserved Oghuz Turkish in their language and blended Islam with their own traditions. Epics (such as Dede Korkut), folk poetry and Sufism reflect their cultural richness. Today, the Turkmens living in Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Anatolia are the descendants of the Khorasan Turks. Those who say “I am from Khorasan” in Turkey usually refer to this deep-rooted past.
As a result, the Turks of Khorasan are a bridge stretching from Central Asia to Anatolia. It is a people that Turkified Anatolia with the Seljuks and continued this heritage with the Ottomans. Figures such as Mustafa Bey, who was an oba beylik in the Taurus Mountains, can be seen as local heroes of this long history. If you want information about a more specific period or event, tell me, let me explain in depth!
Details of the Seljuk period
The Seljuk period is a golden age in the history of the Khorasan Turks and the rise of Turkish-Islamic civilization in general. The Great Seljuk State (1037-1194) was an empire founded by the Oghuz Turks centered on Khorasan, and this period left deep traces in political, military, cultural and religious terms. Now, let's examine the Seljuk period in detail in the context of the Khorasan Turks:
The Foundation of the Seljuks and the Conquest of Khorasan
The Seljuks come from the Kinik tribe of the Oghuz Turks. 10. in the century, with the weakening of the Oghuz Yabgu State, the Kinik Turks, led by Selcuk Bey, spread to Khorasan and the steppes of Central Asia. Tugrul Bey and Çağrı Bey, the grandsons of Selçuk Bey, laid the foundations of the state. Khorasan was under the control of the Ghaznavids during this period and was a strategic center with rich cities (Nishapur, Merv, Balkh).
the Battle of Dandanakan in 1040 was a turning point for the Seljuks. Tughrul Bey defeated Sultan Massud of Ghazni and captured Khorasan. This victory opened the door for the Seljuks to establish not only Khorasan, but also an empire extending to Iran, Iraq and Anatolia. The Turks of Khorasan formed the backbone of the Seljuk army during this period; the nomadic Turkmens played a key role in the spread of the state with their warrior skills.
Administration and Central Location of Khorasan
The Seljuks made Khorasan the first capital of the state. Nishapur was the administrative center during the reign of Tughrul Bey; viziers, scholars and commanders gathered here. The Seljuk administration combined the Turkish nomadic traditions with the Persian-Islamic burocrat. Khorasan was the most vivid example of this synthesis. While madrasas, mosques and caravanserais were built in the cities, the Turkmen obas continued their nomadic life in the countryside.
During the reign of Sultan Alp Arslan (1063-1072) and his son Melikshah (1072-1092), Khorasan experienced the golden age of the state. Although Melikshah moved the capital to Isfahan, Khorasan retained its importance from a cultural and military point of view. Turkmen gentlemen ruled semi-independent obas in Khorasan; these gentlemen were both subordinate to the sultan and local authorities. The ancestors of the oba beys in the Taurus Mountains, such as Mustafa Bey, may have migrated from Khorasan to Anatolia during this period.
The Gateway to Anatolia: Manzikert and Migrations
The greatest legacy of the Seljuks for the Turks of Khorasan is the conquest of Anatolia. the Battle of Manzikert, in which Alp Arslan defeated Byzantium in 1071, opened a new homeland for the Turkmens from Khorasan. After the war, thousands of Turkmen families migrated from Khorasan to Anatolia. The Taurus Mountains became an important stop in this migration wave, because these places were suitable for the highland-winter life of nomadic Turkmens.
The Turks of Khorasan served as the “end master” in Anatolia on behalf of the Seljuk sultan. These gentlemen, while protecting the borders against Byzantium, also spread Turkish-Islamic culture. For example, the Seljuks of Konya (Anadolu Selcuklu), led by Suleyman Shah, were founded with the support of Turkmens of Khorasan origin.
The Brilliance of Khorasan in Culture and Science
During the Seljuk period, Khorasan was not only a military, but also a cultural center. The Nizamiye Madrasas founded by Nizamulmulk created an educational revolution in Khorasan. The madrasa in Nishapur was one of the most prestigious schools in the Islamic world. Mathematicians such as Omar Khayyam, scholars such as Imam Gazzali, grew up in this region. Turkish-Islamic thought took shape in Khorasan and moved to Anatolia.
The Seljuks also left their mark on art. Mosques, mausoleums and tile embroideries in Khorasan reflect Turkish aesthetics. Turkmen carpets and epics (such as Dede Korkut) developed in Khorasan during this period. Nomadic Turks carried this culture to Anatolia; for example, the Yoruk motifs in the Taurus Mountains are based on the origin of Khorasan.
The Military Structure and the Turkmens
The Seljuk army received strength from the belligerence of the Khorasan Turks. Turkmen, famous for their mounted archers, participated in the conquests with the title of “gazi”. However, these nomadic communities sometimes defied the sultan. After Melikshah, Turkmen rebellions increased, which weakened the central authority of the state. Nevertheless, the Turks of Khorasan were an integral part of the Seljuk identity.
Decadence and Legacy
With the death of Melikshah in 1092, the Seljuks were dragged into internal conflicts. Khorasan succumbed first to the Kharzemshahs (1157), then to the Mongol invasion (1220). However, the Seljuk heritage lived on through the Turks of Khorasan. Anatolian Seljuks, Ottomans and even Safavids carried the traces of this period. Anadolu Selcuklu, Ottomans and even Safavids. Local leaders, such as the oba beys in the Taurus Mountains, continued this tradition as descendants of the Seljuk Turkmen.
Summarize
The period of the Seljuks was an era of rise and expansion for the Turks of Khorasan. Khorasan was the heart of the state; the Turkmens who came out from here made Anatolia their homeland. Figures such as Mustafa Bey may be representatives of the migrations that stretched from Khorasan to the Taurus Mountains during this period. Political power, cultural wealth and military heroism are the hallmarks of this period.
History of Anadolu Selcuklu
Anadolu Selcuklu (1077-1308) is a state founded in Anatolia as a branch of the Great Seljuk State and rooted the Turkish-Islamic civilization in these lands. This state, shaped by the migrations of the Khorasan Turks, played a fundamental role in the Turkification and Islamization of Anatolia. The ancestors of figures such as Mustafa Bey, who was an oba beylik in the Taurus Mountains, may have been born from the dynamics of this period. Now, let's examine the history of the Anatolian Seljuks in detail:
Establishment: from Malazgirt to Iznik
The foundation of the Anatolian Seljuks was laid with the victory of the Great Seljuk Sultan Alp Arslan at Manzikert in 1071. This victory broke the Byzantine dominance in Anatolia and opened a new homeland for the Turkmen tribes from Khorasan. Suleyman Shah (Kutalmışoğlu Süleyman), the nephew of Alp Arslan, took advantage of this opportunity and moved to Anatolia. in 1075, he took Iznik from Byzantium and officially founded the Anatolian Seljuk State in 1077. Anadolu Selcuklu State. Iznik became the first capital. Kayı Boyu is one of the 24 boys of the Oghuz Turks, who constitute the origin of the Ottoman Empire, and has an important place in Turkish history both politically and culturally. The name ”Kayı” carries meanings such as "power, might, order", which symbolizes the neck leadership qualities. Kayılar, which is a part of the Turkmen heritage that the Khorasan Turks carried to Anatolia, especially played a central role in the establishment of the Ottoman Empire. The ancestors of figures such as Mustafa Bey, who made an oba principality in the Taurus Mountains, may be connected with Kayiler or similar Turkmen tribes. Now, let's take a deep look at the history and details of Kayı Boyu:
Oghuz Turks and the Origin of Kayı
Kayı Boyu belongs to the “Bozok” branch of the Oghuz Turks. Oguzlar, in Central Asia 8.-10. it was a powerful confederation for centuries and was referred to as “Turkmen” in the Dede Korkut Epics. Oguzes are divided into 24 sizes; Kayi is one of the most prominent of these sizes. The neck symbol is “Two arrows and a bow”, which represents belligerence and the ability to establish order.
Kayaks existed in Central Asia during the period of the Göktürks and Uyghurs. 10. in the century, they turned to the west with the collapse of the Oghuz Yabgu State. The Oghuz who converted to Islam migrated to Khorasan, where they participated in the rise of the Seljuks. The leaders of the Kayı Boyu continued their nomadic life as oba gentlemen during this period.
Migration from Khorasan to Anatolia
Apricots, 11. he settled in Khorasan with the Seljuks in the century. after the Battle of Dandanakan in 1040, they became part of the Great Seljuk State. There were also Kayis among the Turkmens who crossed to Anatolia with the Seljuk conquests. Dec. After the Manzikert Victory of 1071, some branches of the Kayı Boyu spread to Anatolia. But the real great migration is the 13th. it began with the Mongol invasion in the century.
When the Mongols invaded Khorasan in the 1220s, the Qays moved westward. According to legend, the leader of the Kayis, Suleyman Shah (Gündüz Alp in some sources), drowned while crossing the Euphrates River; this event symbolizes the difficulties in crossing the neck to Anatolia. Suleyman Shah's son Ertuğrul Gazi brought the apricots to Anatolia.
Kayilar and Ertuğrul Gazi in Anatolia
When the Kayılar came to Anatolia, they first settled around Ahlat (Eastern Anatolia). When the Mongol pressure increased, Anadolu Selcuklu Sultan I. Alaeddin Keykubad gave Söğüt and Domanic to Kayaks as dormitories (1230s). This region was a strategic end line on the Byzantine border. Ertuğrul Gazi, as the oba gentleman here, managed the Kayılar.
The leadership of Ertuğrul Gazi was the first step in the transformation of Kayis into the Ottoman Empire. It is said that he managed an obai of about 400 tents. As an end gentleman affiliated to the Seljuks, he made gazas against Byzantium. The warrior spirit and nomadic endurance of the kayaks came to the fore during this period. With the death of Ertuğrul around 1281, his son Osman Gazi took over the principality.
Osman Gazi and the Rise of Kayılar
Osman Gazi (1258-1326) moved the Kayı Boyu from a principality to the state. Starting from Söğüt, he embarked on conquests against Byzantium. The nomadic obas of Kayılar preserved the Turkmen tradition of Khorasan; they were famous for their mounted archers. Osman brought together the Turkmen alps and the dervishes (Ahis, Bektashis). Dec. by declaring independence in 1299, he transformed the Kayı Boyu into an “Ottoman” identity.
The success of the Kayis was due not only to military strength, but also to unifying leadership. Osman Gazi attracted the neighboring Turkmen tribes (such as Çepni, Bayındır) and local Christians to his side. This allowed the Apricots to transition to a multicultural structure.
Cultural and Social Structure of Apricots
Nomadic Life: Kayılar came to Anatolia from Khorasan with the oba order. They raised livestock with the highland-barracks system. Like the Turkmens in the Taurus Mountains, the Kayaks lived in tents.
Religious Identity: The Kayılar who accepted Islam in Khorasan turned to Sufism in Anatolia. Dervishes of Khorasan origin, such as Sheikh Edebali, became the spiritual guide of the Kayis.
Symbols: The “Two arrows, one bow” symbol of the kayılar left its mark on the Ottoman sanjak and tugras. This reflects the neck combativeness and authority.
Language and Tradition: Kayılar, who spoke Oğuz Turkish, kept oral literature alive, such as Dede Korkut Epics. He carried traditions such as carpet weaving and horse breeding to Anatolia.
The Legacy of the Apricots and the Controversy
The Ottoman chronicles (for example, Aşıkpaşazade, Neşri) glorify the Kayı Boyu and lead the Ottoman Empire back to Oğuz Han. However, some modern historians argue that the Kayi connection may have been a myth that was later strengthened. Nevertheless, archaeological findings (for example, Kayi stamps in Söğüt) and Turkmen migrations support the reality of this origin.
Kayılar not only established the Ottoman Empire in Anatolia; he also left his mark on other principalities. For example, families of Kayi origin can be seen in the Karamanoğulları and Aydın Principality. The oba beys in the Taurus Mountains may have been an extension of the spread of Kayaks to Anatolia, as the Turkmens fleeing from the Mongol oppression had taken refuge in these mountainous regions.
Summarize
Kayı Boyu is one of the leading branches of the Oghuz Turkmens extending from Khorasan to Anatolia. Kayılar, who came to Anatolia with the Seljuks and were deported to the west with the Mongols, founded the Ottoman Empire with Ertuğrul and Osman Gazi. Their nomadic combativeness, religious leadership and unifying structures brought this success. Turkmen from Taurus, such as Mustafa Bey, can be part of the expanding heritage of Kayis. Kayı Boyu is one of the 24 boys of the Oghuz Turks, who constitute the origin of the Ottoman Empire, and has an important place in Turkish history both politically and culturally. The name ”Kayı” carries meanings such as "power, might, order", which symbolizes the neck leadership qualities. Kayılar, which is a part of the Turkmen heritage that the Khorasan Turks carried to Anatolia, especially played a central role in the establishment of the Ottoman Empire. The ancestors of figures such as Mustafa Bey, who made an oba principality in the Taurus Mountains, may be connected with Kayiler or similar Turkmen tribes. Now, let's take a deep look at the history and details of Kayı Boyu:
Oghuz Turks and the Origin of Kayı
Kayı Boyu belongs to the “Bozok” branch of the Oghuz Turks. Oguzlar, in Central Asia 8.-10. it was a powerful confederation for centuries and was referred to as “Turkmen” in the Dede Korkut Epics. Oguzes are divided into 24 sizes; Kayi is one of the most prominent of these sizes. The neck symbol is “Two arrows and a bow”, which represents belligerence and the ability to establish order.
Kayaks existed in Central Asia during the period of the Göktürks and Uyghurs. 10. in the century, they turned to the west with the collapse of the Oghuz Yabgu State. The Oghuz who converted to Islam migrated to Khorasan, where they participated in the rise of the Seljuks. The leaders of the Kayı Boyu continued their nomadic life as oba gentlemen during this period.
Migration from Khorasan to Anatolia
Apricots, 11. he settled in Khorasan with the Seljuks in the century. after the Battle of Dandanakan in 1040, they became part of the Great Seljuk State. There were also Kayis among the Turkmens who crossed to Anatolia with the Seljuk conquests. Dec. After the Manzikert Victory of 1071, some branches of the Kayı Boyu spread to Anatolia. But the real great migration is the 13th. it began with the Mongol invasion in the century.
When the Mongols invaded Khorasan in the 1220s, the Qays moved westward. According to legend, the leader of the Kayis, Suleyman Shah (Gündüz Alp in some sources), drowned while crossing the Euphrates River; this event symbolizes the difficulties in crossing the neck to Anatolia. Suleyman Shah's son Ertuğrul Gazi brought the apricots to Anatolia.
Kayilar and Ertuğrul Gazi in Anatolia
When the Kayılar came to Anatolia, they first settled around Ahlat (Eastern Anatolia). When the Mongol pressure increased, Anadolu Selcuklu Sultan I. Alaeddin Keykubad gave Söğüt and Domanic to Kayaks as dormitories (1230s). This region was a strategic end line on the Byzantine border. Ertuğrul Gazi, as the oba gentleman here, managed the Kayılar.
The leadership of Ertuğrul Gazi was the first step in the transformation of Kayis into the Ottoman Empire. It is said that he managed an obai of about 400 tents. As an end gentleman affiliated to the Seljuks, he made gazas against Byzantium. The warrior spirit and nomadic endurance of the kayaks came to the fore during this period. With the death of Ertuğrul around 1281, his son Osman Gazi took over the principality.
Osman Gazi and the Rise of Kayılar
Osman Gazi (1258-1326) moved the Kayı Boyu from a principality to the state. Starting from Söğüt, he embarked on conquests against Byzantium. The nomadic obas of Kayılar preserved the Turkmen tradition of Khorasan; they were famous for their mounted archers. Osman brought together the Turkmen alps and the dervishes (Ahis, Bektashis). Dec. by declaring independence in 1299, he transformed the Kayı Boyu into an “Ottoman” identity.
The success of the Kayis was due not only to military strength, but also to unifying leadership. Osman Gazi attracted the neighboring Turkmen tribes (such as Çepni, Bayındır) and local Christians to his side. This allowed the Apricots to transition to a multicultural structure.
Cultural and Social Structure of Apricots
Nomadic Life: Kayılar came to Anatolia from Khorasan with the oba order. They raised livestock with the highland-barracks system. Like the Turkmens in the Taurus Mountains, the Kayaks lived in tents.
Religious Identity: The Kayılar who accepted Islam in Khorasan turned to Sufism in Anatolia. Dervishes of Khorasan origin, such as Sheikh Edebali, became the spiritual guide of the Kayis.
Symbols: The “Two arrows, one bow” symbol of the kayılar left its mark on the Ottoman sanjak and tugras. This reflects the neck combativeness and authority.
Language and Tradition: Kayılar, who spoke Oğuz Turkish, kept oral literature alive, such as Dede Korkut Epics. He carried traditions such as carpet weaving and horse breeding to Anatolia.
The Legacy of the Apricots and the Controversy
The Ottoman chronicles (for example, Aşıkpaşazade, Neşri) glorify the Kayı Boyu and lead the Ottoman Empire back to Oğuz Han. However, some modern historians argue that the Kayi connection may have been a myth that was later strengthened. Nevertheless, archaeological findings (for example, Kayi stamps in Söğüt) and Turkmen migrations support the reality of this origin.
Kayılar not only established the Ottoman Empire in Anatolia; he also left his mark on other principalities. For example, families of Kayi origin can be seen in the Karamanoğulları and Aydın Principality. The oba beys in the Taurus Mountains may have been an extension of the spread of Kayaks to Anatolia, as the Turkmens fleeing from the Mongol oppression had taken refuge in these mountainous regions. Kayi symbols detail
The symbols of the Kayı Boyu form an important part of Turkish history and especially the foundation of the Ottoman Empire. Kayılar, one of the 24 tribes of the Oghuz Turks, are known for their unique stamps and markings. These symbols reflect both the nomadic Turkmen culture and the Kayi's understanding of “power and order”. This heritage that the Khorasan Turks have carried to Anatolia bears the traces of a broad tradition that the ancestors of local leaders such as Mustafa Bey, who was an oba beylik in the Taurus Mountains, were also a part of. Now, let's examine the Kayi symbols in detail:
Registration Stamp: "Two Arrows and a Bow”
The most well-known symbol of Kayı Boyu is its stamp consisting of “Two arrows and a bow”. This symbol is an example of the “tamga” tradition used by the Oghuz Turks for all sizes. Tamgas were used to show the identity, ownership and authority of the boys; they were embroidered on tents, carpets, weapons.
Shape: The Decal stamp is usually depicted as two parallel arrows and a horizontal bow above or between them. Visually, it has a form similar to the letters ”OK". This represents a simple but powerful design.
Meaning:
Arrows: Symbolize combativeness, speed and determination to reach the target. The Turkmens were famous for their mounted archers; the Kayis were also the bearers of this tradition.
Sagittarius: Expresses unity, order and authority. The bow represents leadership as the element that unites and directs the arrows.
Connection with the Word ”Kayi“: Considering that ”Kayi“ means ”power, might, order", this symbol emphasizes the identity of the neck warrior and ruler.
This stamp has also left its mark on the banners and tugs of the early Ottoman period. Some historians suggest that the abstract lines on the Ottoman tugra were inspired by the Kayı tamga.
Areas of Use of the Kayi Symbol
War and Management: Kayılar used their stamps on the banners and on the guns. Similar signs have been found on early Ottoman tombstones in Söğüt. This shows their authority during the period of the extreme principality of Apricots.
Nomadic Life: This symbol was embroidered on tents, rugs and livestock (for example, by stamping on sheep). Like the Turkmens in the Taurus Mountains, the Kayiler used these signs as a symbol of ownership in the oba order.
Cultural Heritage: The record stamp was an element that reinforced the neck identity in the oral tradition and epics (such as Dede Korkut). When they came to Anatolia, this symbol gained recognition among the Turkmen obas. Dec.
Historical Sources and Discussions
The Ottoman chronicles (Aşıkpaşazade, Neşri) praise the stamp of Kayı Boyu and say that it is inherited from Oğuz Khan. In the Oguzname, it is told that Oguz Khan gave one tamga to his 24 sons; “Two arrows and a bow” fell to Kayi. But these sources are 15. since it was written in the century, it is argued that the symbol may have been idealized later.
Archaeological findings confirm the Record stamp. Signs similar to “GOOD” are seen on some gravestones in Söğüt and Domanic. In addition, compared to the Turkish tamgas in Central Asia, it is understood that the Kayi symbol corresponds to the Oghuz tradition. Nevertheless, some modern historians argue that the Kayı connection was exaggerated by the Ottomans for legitimacy.
Reflections of the Kayı Symbol in the Ottoman Empire
During the period of Osman Gazi and Orhan Gazi, the registration stamp may have been used directly on the banners. Although simple designs are preferred in early Ottoman coins, traces of Kayı are searched for in tuğra and sanjaks:
Tugra: The three vertical lines on the Ottoman tugra and the bow-like shape on the top are associated with the Kayı stamp. This is seen as a symbolic continuity.
Sanjaks: The red-white colors of the apricots may have been effective in the Ottoman sanjaks. Although the Kayı stamp was replaced by more complex Islamic motifs with the conquests, it is thought that it was included in the flags of the uç bey in the early period.
Kayi Symbol and Other Turkmen Tribes
The symbol of the apricots is different from the tamgas of other Oguz boys. For example:
Kinik Boyu (the origin of the Seljuks): A single bow and arrow.
Avsar Height: A combination of bow and sword.
The “double arrow” of the apricots distinguishes them from other boys and strengthens their claim to leadership. Similar Decals are common among the Turkmens in the Taurus Mountains, which indicates the distribution of Apricots to Anatolia.
Current Perception and Usage
In modern Turkey, the Kayı symbol is popular in nationalist circles. The ”GOOD" sign is used to represent the Kayı Boyu and the Turkish unity. Especially with the nostalgia for the Ottoman Empire, this symbol is often seen on flags, logos and art. However, historically, the symbol's influence in the Ottoman Empire was intense in the early period, while Islamic motifs came to the fore as the empire grew.
The Kayi Symbol and the Mustafa Bey Connection
If oba beys such as Mustafa Bey in the Taurus Mountains are an extension of the Khorasan Turkmens, they may have an indirect connection with the Kayi symbol. When the Kayilar Decayed to Anatolia, there were also Kayi families among the Turkmen obas who reached the Taurus Mountains. It is not known whether such a stamp was used in Mustafa Bey's obas, but “bow and arrow” motifs were common in these communities as a Turkmen tradition.
