Upon his father's death in 1345, İlyas was enthroned as the second bey of the beylik.
In 1358 İlyas Bey was involved in an event known as Kidnapping of Şehzade Halil.
Phocaea was a part of Byzantine Empire, but the commander of the fort Leo Kalontheros refused to obey emperor Andronikos IV Palaiologos‘s command to liberate Şehzade Halil of the Ottomans who was previously kidnapped.
The emperor laid a siege to Phocaea and asked for İlyas Bey's support.
İlyas's wife had to pay ransom to liberate her husband.