Osman I (1258-1326) عُثمَان ʿUthmān) was the founder of the Ottoman Empire. He was born in 1258 and inherited the title bey (chief) from his father, Ertugrul, as the ruler of the village of Sögüt in 1281. The birth of the empire originated with the conquest of the Turkish tribe of Eskenderum and the city of Eskisehir (Turkish for 'Old Town') in 1301, although Osman had already in 1299 declared the independence from the Sejuik Sultanate of his own small kingdom, the Ottoman Principality. Osman I died in 1326. He was after his death given the title of ghazi (warrior of the faith) by his successors. Whenever a new Sultan ascended the throne, the people would cry out "May he be as great as Osman".He is marked as one of the greatest Muslim leaders of all time. Back to the The Andean Wars