<sod>  
 ''' Bayezid I ''' (''ca'' [[1354]]&ndash;[[1403]]; Bayez&#x131;t, nicknamed ''Y&#x131;ld&#x131;r&#x131;m'', the 'Thunderbolt') was the [[sultan]] of the [[Ottoman Empire]] from [[1389]] to [[1402]]. He ascended to the throne following the assassination of his father [[Murad I]] and immediately had his younger brother Yakub strangled to prevent him from staging a coup. 
 
In revenge for the assassination of Murad in the [[Battle of Kosovo]], Bayezid massacred his [[Serb]] prisoners. Nevertheless, he was able to conclude a treaty with the Serb leader, [[Stephen Bulcovic]], and granted [[Serbia]] considerable autonomy. In [[1391]] he laid siege to [[Constantinople]]. On the demand of the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] emperor [[John V Palaeologus]] a new [[crusade]] was organized to defeat Bayezid. In [[1396]], the [[Christianity|Christian]] allies, under the leadership of the [[Hungary|Hungarian]] King and [[Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor|Sigismund]], were defeated in the [[Battle of Nicopolis]]. The siege of [[Constantinople]] lasted until [[1398]] when the [[Byzantines]] paid a considerable tribute to lift the siege. 
 
 In [[1400]], the Central Asian warlord [[Timur Lenk]] had succeeded in rousing the local kingdoms that had been conquered by the Turks to join him in his attack on Bayezid. In the fateful [[Battle of Ankara]], on [[July 20]], [[1402]], Bayezid was captured by Timur.  Some contemporary reports claimed that Timur kept Bayezid chained in a cage as a trophy. Likewise, there are many stories about Bayeazid's captivity, including one that describes how Timur used him as a footstool. However, these accounts are thought to be false, as writers from Timur's court reported that Bayezid was treated well, and that Timur mourned his death.  Likewise, Timur's own history with other rulers demonstrated that he was true to his word when he later claimed to have aimed at re-establishing Bayezid on the Ottoman throne.  One year later, Bayezid died &mdash; some accounts claim that he committed [[suicide]].  
 
 <eod> <sod> 
 ''' Bayezid I ''' (''ca'' [[1354]]&ndash;[[1403]]; Bayez&#x131;t, nicknamed ''Y&#x131;ld&#x131;r&#x131;m'', the 'Thunderbolt') was the [[sultan]] of the [[Ottoman Empire]] from [[1389]] to [[1402]]. He ascended to the throne following the assassination of his father [[Murad I]] and immediately had his younger brother Yakub strangled to prevent him from staging a coup. 
 
In revenge for the assassination of Murad in the [[Battle of Kosovo]], Bayezid massacred his [[Serb]] prisoners. Nevertheless, he was able to conclude a treaty with the Serb leader, [[Stephen Bulcovic]], and granted [[Serbia]] considerable autonomy. In [[1391]] he laid siege to [[Constantinople]]. On the demand of the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] emperor [[John V Palaeologus]] a new [[crusade]] was organized to defeat Bayezid. In [[1396]], the [[Christianity|Christian]] allies, under the leadership of the [[Hungary|Hungarian]] King and [[Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor|Sigismund]], were defeated in the [[Battle of Nicopolis]]. The siege of [[Constantinople]] lasted until [[1401]] . Even emperor has escaped from city but salvation for doomed [[Byzantine empire]] had come from Mongol declaration of war to Bayazid. 
 
 In [[1400]], the Central Asian warlord [[Timur Lenk]] had succeeded in rousing the local kingdoms that had been conquered by the Turks to join him in his attack on Bayezid. In the fateful [[Battle of Ankara]], on [[July 20]], [[1402]], Bayezid was captured by Timur.  Some contemporary reports claimed that Timur kept Bayezid chained in a cage as a trophy. Likewise, there are many stories about Bayeazid's captivity, including one that describes how Timur used him as a footstool. However, these accounts are thought to be false, as writers from Timur's court reported that Bayezid was treated well, and that Timur mourned his death.  Likewise, Timur's own history with other rulers demonstrated that he was true to his word when he later claimed to have aimed at re-establishing Bayezid on the Ottoman throne.  One year later, Bayezid died &mdash; some accounts claim that he committed [[suicide]].  
 
 <eod>