in 1261, menteshe bey, founder of the beylik (principality) that carried his name, with its capital in milas and nearby beçin, established his rule over the region of muğla as well. the beys of menteshe held the city until 1390 and this, the first turkish state in the region, achieved a high level of cultural development, its buildings remaining to this day. the province also became a significant naval power, trading with the aegean islands, crete and as far as venice and egypt. turkish settlement during the menteshe period usually took place through migrations along the kütahya-tavas axis.