Çapanoğlu dynasty
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The Çapanoğlu dynasty, also Cebbarzâdeler, Çaparzâdeler and Çaparoğulları,[1][2] is Turkish dynasty that originates in the 17th-century Ottoman Empire and was once one of the most prominent Ottoman families. They became one of the most powerful dynasties in the empire in the 18th century.[3][4]
The family was founded by the Turkoman Ömer Ağa, who had a son, Ahmed Ağa, credited as the founder of Yozgat,[5][6] who rose to prominence in the region of Bozok. In the time of Süleyman Bey, Capanoğlu Ahmed Pasha's son, the family thrived in Bozok, and expanded to Ankara, Aleppo, Çankırı, Çorum, Amasya, Şarkikarahisar, Sivas, Kayseri, Kırşehir, Nevşehir, Konya Ereğli, Niğde, Tarsus, Adana, Rakka, and Gaziantep. Çapanoğlu Ahmed Ağa built a mosque in Saray village in 1749, and madrasah in Yozgat in 1753. His son Hacı Mustafa Bey built the baroque and domed Çapanoğlu Mosque. At the same time, Yozgat grew through the 80 shops and the inn he allocated. The family reached its peak with Süleyman Bey, who held political, military, and economic dominance in the region, and influence in the empire. He also managed well the feud with the rival Canikli family. Süleyman Bey also expanded the Çapanoğlu Mosque, built a school, a Turkish bath and his famous mansion, and expanded the city with sixty shops and a Turkish bath.
Members of the family, such as Abdülfettah Efendi, were part of the ilmiye, while, in the modern period, others became prominent journalists and authors. The family contributed with provisions and soldiers to both the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774 and the Russo-Turkish War of 1787–1792. In the latter conflict, Süleyman Bey himself led 4000 of his soldiers to the front.