Süleyman Pasha

Süleyman Pasha (c. 1306–1357) was Orhan's son and the commander who carried the Ottomans across into Europe, earning the title Ghazi and the name Conqueror of Rumelia. In Anatolia he led the capture of Nicaea in 1331, the Karasid principality in 1335 and Nicomedia in 1337, and became governor of the conquered lands.

The turning point came after the earthquake of 1354 wrecked Gallipoli and he occupied it. In 1355 he crossed the Dardanelles and seized Bolayır, Tekirdağ and other towns, planting settlements that became bases for further conquest in Thrace.

He built mosques, madrasas, caravanserais and schools in his lands. He died in 1357 after falling from his horse while hunting with a falcon, and was buried at Bolayır, though he had already built a mausoleum near Bursa.