Karesi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Anatolian Turkish Beylik of Karesi with its capital in Balıkesir was one of the frontier principalities established by Oghuz Turkish clans after the decline of Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate.
They were the first beylik to be taken over by the neighboring Osmanoglu dynasty, who were to found the Ottoman Empire later. The acquisition of the Beylik of Karesi allowed the Ottomans to initiatite the conquest of European lands in Rumeli through the Çanakkale Strait.
The actual Turkish province (sanjak, later vilayet) of Balıkesir was called the sub-province (sanjak, later vilayet) of Karesi till the early years of the Republic of Turkey, after which it was re-named after its central town.
