Ali Bey Mihaloğlu

Who was Ali Bey Mihaloğlu?

Ali Bey Mihaloğlu or Gazı Alauddin Ali Bey Mihaloğlu, was an Ottoman military commander in 15th century and the first sanjakbey of the Sanjak of Smederevo. He was one of the descendants of Köse Mihal, a Byzantine governor of Chirmenkia and battle companion of Osman Gazi. Some historians believed that the epic figure of Alija Đerđelez was inspired by Ali Bey Mihaloglu.

In 1459 he raided Transylvania, province of Hungary but was beaten by the Transylvanian voivode, uncle of King Matthias and former Regent of Hungary Michael Szilágyi at Futak, and thus was forced to retreat.

In 1460 he was able to capture the small advancing army of Szilágyi at Pojejena. He transferred the prisoner to Constantinople to have him decapitated by the orders of the Sultan.

In 1460 Ali Bey became the subasi of the Güvercinlik. During one of his expeditions to Banat in 1460 he captured Michael Szilágyi. Later that year sultan awarded him for this success and appointed him as the sanjakbey of the Sanjak of Vidin. He was appointed as sanjakbey of the Sanjak of Smederevo in 1462/1463.