Osman I, also known as Osman Gazi, is a pivotal figure in world history as the founder of the Ottoman Empire, one of the longest-lasting empires in history. His life and leadership laid the foundation for an empire that would come to dominate Southeast Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa for over six centuries.

Early Life and Background
Osman I was born around 1258 in the region of Bithynia, in modern-day Turkey. He was the son of Ertuğrul Bey, the leader of a small group of Turkish tribes. This was a period of significant turbulence and change, marked by the decline of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum and the rising threat from the Mongols. As a young leader, Osman inherited not just territory but also the ambitions to expand and unify the Turkish tribes in the region.