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Söğüt, located in modern-day Turkey, was the origin point of the Ottoman Empire. Osman I, considered the founder of the Ottoman Turkish state, established a principality centered in Söğüt. This principality was part of Anatolia, a region in Turkey. The Ottoman dynasty expanded its territory early on through raids, taking advantage of the weakening Seljuq dynasty. Osman and his warriors, known as Ghazis, engaged in conflict with the Byzantines, gradually expanding their control over former Byzantine fortresses. This expansion laid the groundwork for the future Ottoman Empire.12

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. Ottoman Empire: Top Questions
  2. Osman I

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