Zizim

Zizim (Turkish: Cem, marked Djem), born the December 22nd 1459 and deceased the February 25th 1495, is the son of the Othoman Sultan Mehmed II.

Zizim was the youngest brother of the Sultan Bayezid II. With died of Mehmed II, their father, Bayezid was governor of the provinces of Sivas, Tokat and Amasya, whereas Zizim reigned on the provinces of Karaman and Konya.

Large the Vizier Karamani Mehmet Pasha sent two messengers to the two brothers right after the death of the Sultan Mehmed II. But the messenger sent to Zizim was captured on the way by the deputy of Anatolia Sinan Pasha, and Zizim learned death from his/her father only four days after his older brother. For dubious reasons, the Janissaires of Constantinople revolted the May 4th 1481 and killed Karamani Mehmet Pasha. In the absence of Bayezid, his/her son, prince Korkud, took the throne as regent.

Prince Bayezid arrived at Constantinople the May 21st and was declared there Sultan. Only six days later, Zizim took the control of the town of Inegöl with an army of 4000 men. Bayezid sent its army under the command of the vizier Ayas Pasha to kill his/her brother. The May 28th, Zizim had overcome the army of his/her brother and declared itself Sultan Anatolia and made Bursa its capital. He then proposed with his brother to share the empire with him, leaving only Europe to Bayezid. Bayezid, furious, disallowed the proposal and got under way towards Bursa. The decisive battle between the two brothers took place close to the town of Yenişehir. Zizim lost and fled towards Cairo.

In Cairo, Zizim received a letter of his/her brother offering 1 to him million akçes (the Othoman currency) to dissuade it to claim with the throne. Zizim rejected the offer and launched a campaign in Anatolia the following year. The May 27th 1482, it besieged Konya but was quickly forced to withdraw itself towards Ankara. It planned all then to give up and return to Cairo, But all the roads towards the Egypt were under the control of Bayezid.

During this time, Pierre d' Aubusson, a knight of the Ordre of Malta invited Zizim with Rhodos. The June 29th it went there like guest, but its knights trahissèrent it and it was made prisoner. After that, Zizim was sent in France. The Sultan Bayezid sent a messenger in France and ordered that Zizim is kept in captivity over there. It agreed to pay 40,000 akçe annual in Or to meet the needs for his brother.

The Pape Innocent VIII undertook throw a new crusade by using Zizim but this idea was rejected by the European monarchs. The Pape also proposed in Zizim to convert with the Christianisme, but he refused. Zizim was nevertheless useful because when Bayezid undertook to launch a campaign against the Christian nations of the Balkans, the Pape threatened to release the applicant with the throne.

In France, Zizim remained in particular in captivity approximately a year with the castle of Rochechinard, in the Dauphiné starting from 1483, then with the castle of Bourganeuf between 1486 and 1488, in the tower built with its intention.

Zizim died in Capoue the February 25th 1495. The Bayezid sultan declared a mourning national three days. He also required to have the body of Zizim for Moslem funeral, but the body of this last was repatriated on its Othoman grounds only four years after its death. Zizim was entéré with Bursa.

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