Known history of Düzce dates back to 1390 BC. In this period, region was subjected to the invasions of many tribes and states. For this reason, the region has the marks of Phyrigian, Lydian, Persian, Roman, Byzantian, Seljukian and Ottoman Civilizations .
The domination of Ottoman Empire in the region began in 1323 by Konuralp Bey who was one of the commanders of Orhan Ghazi .
Düzce that experienced 17 August 1999 and 12 November 1999 earth quakes, is registered as province with adding one new and 6 old counties by decree of Board of Ministers dated 09 December 1999.
source: kultur(dot)gov(dot)tr
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
History of Osmaniye
Once upon a time, the adjoining lands of the city were permanent dwelling places of the Lelegs in the Calcolithic and early Bronze Age. This particular region of Turkey was ruled by some of the foremost civilizations like the Great Hittite State, Assyrian Civilization, Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Seljuk and finally the Ottoman Empire.
source: turkeyforyou(dot)com
source: turkeyforyou(dot)com
History of Kilis
With its history dating back to 3000 BC, Kalis has seen many rules. Known as Kalisi in the Assyrian times, Kalis has been part of large and small empires - Hurri-Mitani, Hittites, Persians, Romans, Byzantine and the Ottomans. Seljuks and Mamelukes occupied the region for relatively short periods. The land has been a witness of the Crusade years. With all the occupying and reigning powers having left some relics of their rules throughout the land, the territory wields mysterious enchantment.
In 1921, Kilis was returned to Turkey as per the Ankara Treaty. Recognition as a Turkey province came as late as 1995. Present-day Kalis occupies a significant position in the nation`s economy, contributing through its frontier commerce. A large part of the Kilis populace are Oguz Turks belonging to the Ottoman Empire founding Kayi family tree.
source: turkeyforyou(dot)com
In 1921, Kilis was returned to Turkey as per the Ankara Treaty. Recognition as a Turkey province came as late as 1995. Present-day Kalis occupies a significant position in the nation`s economy, contributing through its frontier commerce. A large part of the Kilis populace are Oguz Turks belonging to the Ottoman Empire founding Kayi family tree.
source: turkeyforyou(dot)com
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
History of Karabük
In the old times Karabük was an important route between Amasra on the coast and central Anatolia. The history of the city goes back to the early years of the Republic, it was a small sub-village formed by 13 houses in the Öğlebeli village of Safranbolu. There was also a small train station on the route of Ankara - Zonguldak. It started to develop with the industrialization of the country. One of the first steel factories of the Republic was built here in 1939 after which it grew rapidly and incorporated Öğlebeli village as a quarter. She had a municipality and became township in Safranbolu district in 1941. She became the district in 1953. She finally became a province center in 1995.
source: wikipedia(dot)org
source: wikipedia(dot)org
History of Yalova
From the early ages to the Ottoman Period
Yalova is a city with a history of thousand years dating back to archaic ages. The western part of Northern Anatolia, which also comprises Yalova, is referred to as Bitinnia. The regional history of Btinnia and that of Yalova just have common characteristics.
The first known inhabitants of Yalova were Hattits, who were related to Hittites. Subsequent to Hattits, Hittites settled down in the region. Being in the centre of territorial and naval routes, Hittites here in this region continually suffered from invasions and migrations. The region saw the subsequent periods of Frig-lerin. Bebriklerin, Mislerin. Tinlerin ve Bitinlerin. While some of these communities managed to set up their own independent states, some others continued to exist only as the satellites of Kimmers. Lydians and Persians. In B.C. 300, the first independent Kingdom of Btinnia was set up by Ziopetes. With its expanding borders and developing civilisation during the period of Nikomedes the 1., the Kingdom of Btinnia subsequently became one of the important states of Asia Minor. With all its grandeur, the Kingdom of Bitinnia continued to exist for more than two centuries. King Nikomedes the 3., who did not have any children of his own, donated his kingdom to the Roman Empire before his death and thereafter started the period of Roman Empire in the region.
Especially the first century of the Roman domination was the time when the natural beauty and thermals springs of Yalova first started to become well known. The emperors and their families chose this region as their summer place and organized it accordingly. Especially during the cherry picking season, Yalova was inundated by scores of people from Istanbul and the neighbouring centres. The great attention Yalova attracted during the cherry picking season also continued during the Ottoman period.
There existed at that lime a small village called Drepanon near Yalova. Emperor Constantin decided to call this village by his mother name for her living memory. What was then called Helenapolis, now called Hersek that was given the status of a city, prospered rapidly thanks to public improvements and housing developments. It became a centre of relaxation and therapy due to inns and baths and churches. The emperors and empresses together with their aides often visited Yalova and the region.
Yalova, that was badly affected by the earthquakes in the years 358, 362 an 368, remained under the protection of Byzantium after the Roman Empire was divided into two parts. It coincided with the period of the Emperor Justi-nianos the first when the region started to be rebuilt and regained its significance. Emperor Justinianos the first managed to provide drinking water for the city by means of vaults. He also got the crumbling or aged baths repaired and also some new baths built. The whole city was festooned by palaces, churches, arched galleries, inns and beautiful official buildings.
Because of the changing of transportation routes, Yalova, for centuries, portrayed an image of a self-sufficient city. The Turks started to capture Anatolia as their homeland from 11. century onwards. With iznik becoming the capital of the State of Selcuklu in 1075, the Turkish population in the region increased rapidly. The inhabitant Turks in the region stopped the Crusaders that found a passage to Yalova via Istanbul. Despite this development, Yalova and its surroundings remained under the dominance of Byzantium for another two centuries.
Yalova during the Ottoman Period
Some of the Ottoman travellers and recorders of historical events such as Evliya Celebi, Hoca Saadettin. Katip Celebi mention about Yalova in their works of arts. They praise the peacefulness and the thermal springs of the region. Evliya Celebi the traveller narrates an anecdote about the name of Yalova. According to the anecdote, The name of Yalova,then referred to as Yalakabad, comes from the name of the commander Karayalovac, who was commissioned to capture the region. The historical documents, however, indicate that the capture of all the fortresses and cities around Yalova were concluded in 1337. The commander, who concluded the capture, was the second chief of commander of the Ottoman State, Emir Kara Ali Bey.
In Ottoman documents, Yalova is mentioned as Yalakabad or Yalakova and as Yalive though only once. It came to be a subdivision of a province related sometimes to the main city of Bursa, sometimes to Kocaeli and sometimes to then-newly independent izmit. With the negative impact of geographical discoveries. Yalova was wrapped around its tranquillity from 17th century onwards. In the 19th century, Yalova started to experience the impact of emigrants. Those who had to leave Kinm started to migrate to Yalova starting from 1856. Additionally, those who had to leave behind all what they had after the 1877-78 war between Ottomans and Russians.
The late Ottoman Sultans of Abdulmecid 1st and Abdulha-mid made some efforts in order to help Yalova to revitalize. The ruler Abdulmecid himself visited the thermal springs here and also had a bath built in memory of his mother Bezm-i Alem Vatide Sultan. For his part, the Sultan Abdul-hamid had the thermal springs and its environs renovated, and also had the ruined and neglected works of art restored. The same period of time also witnessed the start of the regular postal service.
Yalova was made a sub-town of Karamursel town of izmit in the early years of the Republic and was in a sense totally neglected. This continued until Ataturk rediscovered its beauty and promising future and paid a very special attention to it.
source: yalova77(dot)org
Yalova is a city with a history of thousand years dating back to archaic ages. The western part of Northern Anatolia, which also comprises Yalova, is referred to as Bitinnia. The regional history of Btinnia and that of Yalova just have common characteristics.
The first known inhabitants of Yalova were Hattits, who were related to Hittites. Subsequent to Hattits, Hittites settled down in the region. Being in the centre of territorial and naval routes, Hittites here in this region continually suffered from invasions and migrations. The region saw the subsequent periods of Frig-lerin. Bebriklerin, Mislerin. Tinlerin ve Bitinlerin. While some of these communities managed to set up their own independent states, some others continued to exist only as the satellites of Kimmers. Lydians and Persians. In B.C. 300, the first independent Kingdom of Btinnia was set up by Ziopetes. With its expanding borders and developing civilisation during the period of Nikomedes the 1., the Kingdom of Btinnia subsequently became one of the important states of Asia Minor. With all its grandeur, the Kingdom of Bitinnia continued to exist for more than two centuries. King Nikomedes the 3., who did not have any children of his own, donated his kingdom to the Roman Empire before his death and thereafter started the period of Roman Empire in the region.
Especially the first century of the Roman domination was the time when the natural beauty and thermals springs of Yalova first started to become well known. The emperors and their families chose this region as their summer place and organized it accordingly. Especially during the cherry picking season, Yalova was inundated by scores of people from Istanbul and the neighbouring centres. The great attention Yalova attracted during the cherry picking season also continued during the Ottoman period.
There existed at that lime a small village called Drepanon near Yalova. Emperor Constantin decided to call this village by his mother name for her living memory. What was then called Helenapolis, now called Hersek that was given the status of a city, prospered rapidly thanks to public improvements and housing developments. It became a centre of relaxation and therapy due to inns and baths and churches. The emperors and empresses together with their aides often visited Yalova and the region.
Yalova, that was badly affected by the earthquakes in the years 358, 362 an 368, remained under the protection of Byzantium after the Roman Empire was divided into two parts. It coincided with the period of the Emperor Justi-nianos the first when the region started to be rebuilt and regained its significance. Emperor Justinianos the first managed to provide drinking water for the city by means of vaults. He also got the crumbling or aged baths repaired and also some new baths built. The whole city was festooned by palaces, churches, arched galleries, inns and beautiful official buildings.
Because of the changing of transportation routes, Yalova, for centuries, portrayed an image of a self-sufficient city. The Turks started to capture Anatolia as their homeland from 11. century onwards. With iznik becoming the capital of the State of Selcuklu in 1075, the Turkish population in the region increased rapidly. The inhabitant Turks in the region stopped the Crusaders that found a passage to Yalova via Istanbul. Despite this development, Yalova and its surroundings remained under the dominance of Byzantium for another two centuries.
Yalova during the Ottoman Period
Some of the Ottoman travellers and recorders of historical events such as Evliya Celebi, Hoca Saadettin. Katip Celebi mention about Yalova in their works of arts. They praise the peacefulness and the thermal springs of the region. Evliya Celebi the traveller narrates an anecdote about the name of Yalova. According to the anecdote, The name of Yalova,then referred to as Yalakabad, comes from the name of the commander Karayalovac, who was commissioned to capture the region. The historical documents, however, indicate that the capture of all the fortresses and cities around Yalova were concluded in 1337. The commander, who concluded the capture, was the second chief of commander of the Ottoman State, Emir Kara Ali Bey.
In Ottoman documents, Yalova is mentioned as Yalakabad or Yalakova and as Yalive though only once. It came to be a subdivision of a province related sometimes to the main city of Bursa, sometimes to Kocaeli and sometimes to then-newly independent izmit. With the negative impact of geographical discoveries. Yalova was wrapped around its tranquillity from 17th century onwards. In the 19th century, Yalova started to experience the impact of emigrants. Those who had to leave Kinm started to migrate to Yalova starting from 1856. Additionally, those who had to leave behind all what they had after the 1877-78 war between Ottomans and Russians.
The late Ottoman Sultans of Abdulmecid 1st and Abdulha-mid made some efforts in order to help Yalova to revitalize. The ruler Abdulmecid himself visited the thermal springs here and also had a bath built in memory of his mother Bezm-i Alem Vatide Sultan. For his part, the Sultan Abdul-hamid had the thermal springs and its environs renovated, and also had the ruined and neglected works of art restored. The same period of time also witnessed the start of the regular postal service.
Yalova was made a sub-town of Karamursel town of izmit in the early years of the Republic and was in a sense totally neglected. This continued until Ataturk rediscovered its beauty and promising future and paid a very special attention to it.
source: yalova77(dot)org
History of Iğdır
Archaeological research has uncovered Hurrian settlements in the Iğdır region going back to 4000 BC. The area was part of the Urartu kingdom circa 800 BC. There is a Urartu statuary in the area. It remained under Urartian control until its transition to the Orontid Dynasty of the Kingdom of Armenia. Seleucid, Parthian, Roman, Sassanid and Byzantine forces were prominent from the 4th century BC, followed by the Arab armies of Islam in 646. Turks and Mongols fought through here for 400 years from 1064 onwards until the area was settled by Kara Koyunlu and then Ak Koyunlu Turkish tribes in the early 15th century.
A warfare ensued between Ottoman Empire and the Persian Empire from 1534 until 1746. In 1746, most of the land within the province of Iğdır today was ceded to Persia and became part of the Erivan khanate, a Muslim principality in Persia. The northern part of the province remained in Persian hands until after the Russo-Persian War, 1826-1828 when it became part of the Russian Empire under the Treaty of Turkmenchay. Under Russian administration, the area became the Surmalu uyezd (with its capital at the city of Iğdır) of the Armenian Oblast and later the Erivan Governorate. The southern half of the province remained in Ottoman hands through most of the 19th century but was also brought within the Russian Empire by Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78.
By the end of World War I, the whole area was under Russian control and Iğdır came under the administration of the Democratic Republic of Armenia as part of the Ararat province but upon the arrival of the newly founded Turkish army, Iğdır was ceded to Turkey by the Soviet Union in the Treaty of Kars. A substantial Armenian population remained in the area throughout this history of struggle between great powers. Armenians formed the ethnic majority in the city of Iğdır itself until 1919-1920 when most either died or fled due to starvation and ethnic cleansing.
source: wikipedia(dot)org
A warfare ensued between Ottoman Empire and the Persian Empire from 1534 until 1746. In 1746, most of the land within the province of Iğdır today was ceded to Persia and became part of the Erivan khanate, a Muslim principality in Persia. The northern part of the province remained in Persian hands until after the Russo-Persian War, 1826-1828 when it became part of the Russian Empire under the Treaty of Turkmenchay. Under Russian administration, the area became the Surmalu uyezd (with its capital at the city of Iğdır) of the Armenian Oblast and later the Erivan Governorate. The southern half of the province remained in Ottoman hands through most of the 19th century but was also brought within the Russian Empire by Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78.
By the end of World War I, the whole area was under Russian control and Iğdır came under the administration of the Democratic Republic of Armenia as part of the Ararat province but upon the arrival of the newly founded Turkish army, Iğdır was ceded to Turkey by the Soviet Union in the Treaty of Kars. A substantial Armenian population remained in the area throughout this history of struggle between great powers. Armenians formed the ethnic majority in the city of Iğdır itself until 1919-1920 when most either died or fled due to starvation and ethnic cleansing.
source: wikipedia(dot)org
History of Ardahan
The history of Ardahan can be traced back to centuries before the birth of Christ to 8th century BC. A group of settlers known as the Cimmerians settled in the region around the Cildir Lake in Ardahan. The events of the years immediately following this period are relatively unknown until about the year 1069 AD when the Seljuk Turks annexed the ancient town headed by Sultan Alpaslan. The Ottoman Empire strengthened its foothold on the town in only about 1551.
However, recent scientific discoveries indicate an earlier date of settlement dating back to the Ancient Age and even to the First Bronze Age (3500-2000 BC). It was ruled by the Med`s, which was followed by a Persian rule and a simultaneous Roman and Byzantine rule as well, the Seljuklians followed them.
The name Ardahan echoes of lost romance waiting to be discovered, of mysteries lurking within its confines and of surprises thousands of years old. Moreover, it is quite off the beaten track and is relatively unknown to most tourists; hence, you can enjoy a nice time away from the crowd that is the bane in so most tourist spots.
source: turkeyforyou(dot)com
However, recent scientific discoveries indicate an earlier date of settlement dating back to the Ancient Age and even to the First Bronze Age (3500-2000 BC). It was ruled by the Med`s, which was followed by a Persian rule and a simultaneous Roman and Byzantine rule as well, the Seljuklians followed them.
The name Ardahan echoes of lost romance waiting to be discovered, of mysteries lurking within its confines and of surprises thousands of years old. Moreover, it is quite off the beaten track and is relatively unknown to most tourists; hence, you can enjoy a nice time away from the crowd that is the bane in so most tourist spots.
source: turkeyforyou(dot)com
History of Bartın
It is thought that Achaeans, before building the Mycenaean Civilization in Eagen Region, invaded the Western Anatolian Coasts (including Samsun, Sinop and Amasra) and introduced the Copper Age Civilization to the local people. Meanwhile, Kaskians and Hittites were the dominant force in the inner regions and they were also living the Copper Age Civilization.
Bartin and its surrounding as accepted to have been possessed by the Kaskians in the 14th century B.C. and by the Hittites in the 13th Century B.C. was dominated by Bithynians and Paphlagonians in the end of the 13th Century B.C. Then Phyrigians (12th Century B.C.), Cimmerians (7th Century B.C.), Lydians (6th Century B.C), Persians (in 547 B.C.), Macedonians (334 B.C.) and Pontians (279 B.C.) settled respectively to Bartin.
In 70 B.C. Romans ended the domination of Pontus Kingdom and invaded the region after entering Anatolia. The Bithynian and Pontian part in Paphlagonia began to be governed by Bithynian Pontian State through satrapial system. Amasra became the capital of the Pontian part of the State.
Bartin was in control of Roman Empire until 395 A.D. and after the Roman Empire was divided into two as Roman and Byzantine Empires, it remained within the borders of Byzantine Empire.
Bartin and its surrounding was attacked by Caspians, Pechenegs and Cumans in 390 B.C., by muslim Arabs in 798 A.D. by Seljuqs in 800 and by Russians in 865.
In 1084 Emir Karatigin, one of the commanders of Kutalmisoglu Suleyman Bey invaded Sinop, Cankiri, Kastamonu and Zonguldak and built a Turkish Emirate covering Bartin, Ulus, Eflani, Safranbolu and Devrek in the region. In 1326, Candaroglu Principality dominated the region after the Seljuq sovereignty of 200 years and the region became dominated by Ottoman Empire in 1392.
When Bartin history is examined together with the histories of Kastamonu, Sinop and Bolu, it can be seen that Bartin and Ulus, during the years between the 4th crusade and 1460, were in the period of empires and emirates which were frequently changed because of the great power conflicts in Anatolia. Amasra was under the sovereignty of Roman and Byzantine Empires from 70 B.C to 1261 A.D, and then remained as a Genoese Colony under the domination of Byzantines.
In 1460, although Bartın and its surrounding was within the borders of Ottoman Empire, Amasra was still a Genoese Colony. Mehmed II aimed to conquer Amasra, Kastamonu and Sinop in order to keep the Turkish unity, create a single political entity in Anatolia and take the control of the Black Sea Region commercial roads. In 1460 he came to Bartin and had the encampment built on where today's Orduyeri takes place. When he was informed that the navy had been seen, the Conquerer advanced towards Amasra with his army and conquered it without killing any people and ended the Genoese domination.
Between 1460 and 1692, Bartin was within the borders of Bolu Sanjak of Anatolian Beylerbeylik. After the Bolu Sanjak had been abolished, it was governed by voivodeships between 1692 and 1811. In 1811 it was adhered to the Bolu Sanjak which was established again under the control of Kastamonu Province.
Having a great commercial potential, Bartin became a county in 1867 and in 1876 its municipal organization was formed.
Where does the name "Bartin" come from?
It can be understood from the writings that the city built near the Parthenios, the name for the Bartin River in ancient times, was Parthenia which was then named Bartin. In Greek Mythology, Parthenios is the "God of Waters", one of the children of Okenaus, the Father of Gods. It also means the "gloriously flowing water". Another meaning is "young virgin or chorus songs for young girls". "Young Virgin" is an epithet used for the Goddess Athena.
Famous poet Homer tells in Iliada that some bravemen coming from the country where the river Parthenios flowed through joined to the heroes from Anatolia to defend the city, Troy.
HISTORY OF AMASRA
It takes its name from the Queen Amastris. It is located on a peninsula and two islands on the north of Bartin. Its surface area is about 120 square kilometers.
In the end of the 12th century B.C. Phyrigians settled in Bartin in the Bythinia Region and Phoenicians settled in Amasra in Paphlagonia Region. The Phoenicians formed their first Sidon colonies in Amasra (Sesomos), Eregli (Heraklia), Sinop (Sinope) and Tekkeonu (Kromna). In the 9th century B.C. as the balance of power failed, the Phoenicians and Carians left Amasra and Kromna.
After a century, Megaran immigrants having the same roots with the ionians settled in the region in the beginning of the 7th century. Amasra and Kromna with other Black Sea Region cities joined to the Ionian (miletus) colony.
Although the region was dominated by Cimmerians in the end of the 7th century B.C., by the Lydians in the 6th century B.C. and by the Persians in 547 B.C., the black sea region colonies kept their status for a long time.
Having ended the Persian domination in the region, the Macedonian King, Alexander the Great, granted Bartin and Ulus to the General Eumenes and Amasra and Tekkeonu to Phyrigian Satrap (Governor). The city which had been callled Sesamos since the 12th century B.C. was governed by the Queen Amastris between 302 and 286 B.C. and then was named after her.
Queen Amastris who was the niece of the persian King Dareios III and the sister in law of the Macedonian King Alexander the Great, married one of the commanders of Alexander and moved to Macedonia. She then married the Heraklia Tyrant, Dionysios in 322 B.C. and Thrazien King, Lysimachos in 302 B.C.
After those short marriages she then moved to Amasra and governed it on behalf of her sons. One day the ship she got on was sunk and she was killed by her sons in 286 B.C.
Queen Amastris, during her 16 year rule between 302 and 286 B.C., formed a city state (Symoikismos Union of Cites) in Amasra consisting of Tium (Filyos - Hisaronu), Kromna (Tekkeonu - Hisar), and Kytoros (Gideros). In 295 B.C. she declared independence, had coins minted in her name and adorned the city with artistic buildings.
In 279 B.C. the Pontus Kingdom became the dominant force in Amasra and its surrounding. In 70 B.C. Romans ended the domination of Pontus Kingdom and governed the city until 395 A.D. After the Roman Empire had been divided into two, Amasra remained under the control of Byzantines. The Bithynian and Pontian part in Paphlagonia Region began to be governed by Bithynian Pontian State through satrapial system and Amasra became the capital of the Pontian part of the State.
The Turkish Emirates established in 1084 under the domination of Seljuqs had serious troubles after the death of Suleyman Bey in 1086 and the First Crusade which was started in 1096. With the agreement made between the Crusade allies and the Byzantines, the Black Sea Coast line from Istanbul to Samsun including Amasra, Sinop and Eregli was again controlled by Byzantines.
In 1261, the Byzantine Empirer M. Paleologos called for help from Genoans to overcome the difficulties he was suffering from. Then Genoans were in return permitted to establish an installation and they took the control of Amasra and several harbours in the Black Sea Region by the Nymphaion Agreement in 1261. This changed the destiny of Amasra and it became an advanced Genoese colony. Genoans were the dominant force in Amasra until 1460 for 200 years.
Amasra has been an important place for military installation and a significant harbour city for trade.
Amasra for which the Great Sultan Mehmed II said "This must be the pupil of the earth" is likened to a "sleeping beauty".
Amasra is also known as the first tourism spot in the country as it was the first place with lodging and tent camping facilities in 1940s.
source: bartinkultur(dot)com
Bartin and its surrounding as accepted to have been possessed by the Kaskians in the 14th century B.C. and by the Hittites in the 13th Century B.C. was dominated by Bithynians and Paphlagonians in the end of the 13th Century B.C. Then Phyrigians (12th Century B.C.), Cimmerians (7th Century B.C.), Lydians (6th Century B.C), Persians (in 547 B.C.), Macedonians (334 B.C.) and Pontians (279 B.C.) settled respectively to Bartin.
In 70 B.C. Romans ended the domination of Pontus Kingdom and invaded the region after entering Anatolia. The Bithynian and Pontian part in Paphlagonia began to be governed by Bithynian Pontian State through satrapial system. Amasra became the capital of the Pontian part of the State.
Bartin was in control of Roman Empire until 395 A.D. and after the Roman Empire was divided into two as Roman and Byzantine Empires, it remained within the borders of Byzantine Empire.
Bartin and its surrounding was attacked by Caspians, Pechenegs and Cumans in 390 B.C., by muslim Arabs in 798 A.D. by Seljuqs in 800 and by Russians in 865.
In 1084 Emir Karatigin, one of the commanders of Kutalmisoglu Suleyman Bey invaded Sinop, Cankiri, Kastamonu and Zonguldak and built a Turkish Emirate covering Bartin, Ulus, Eflani, Safranbolu and Devrek in the region. In 1326, Candaroglu Principality dominated the region after the Seljuq sovereignty of 200 years and the region became dominated by Ottoman Empire in 1392.
When Bartin history is examined together with the histories of Kastamonu, Sinop and Bolu, it can be seen that Bartin and Ulus, during the years between the 4th crusade and 1460, were in the period of empires and emirates which were frequently changed because of the great power conflicts in Anatolia. Amasra was under the sovereignty of Roman and Byzantine Empires from 70 B.C to 1261 A.D, and then remained as a Genoese Colony under the domination of Byzantines.
In 1460, although Bartın and its surrounding was within the borders of Ottoman Empire, Amasra was still a Genoese Colony. Mehmed II aimed to conquer Amasra, Kastamonu and Sinop in order to keep the Turkish unity, create a single political entity in Anatolia and take the control of the Black Sea Region commercial roads. In 1460 he came to Bartin and had the encampment built on where today's Orduyeri takes place. When he was informed that the navy had been seen, the Conquerer advanced towards Amasra with his army and conquered it without killing any people and ended the Genoese domination.
Between 1460 and 1692, Bartin was within the borders of Bolu Sanjak of Anatolian Beylerbeylik. After the Bolu Sanjak had been abolished, it was governed by voivodeships between 1692 and 1811. In 1811 it was adhered to the Bolu Sanjak which was established again under the control of Kastamonu Province.
Having a great commercial potential, Bartin became a county in 1867 and in 1876 its municipal organization was formed.
Where does the name "Bartin" come from?
It can be understood from the writings that the city built near the Parthenios, the name for the Bartin River in ancient times, was Parthenia which was then named Bartin. In Greek Mythology, Parthenios is the "God of Waters", one of the children of Okenaus, the Father of Gods. It also means the "gloriously flowing water". Another meaning is "young virgin or chorus songs for young girls". "Young Virgin" is an epithet used for the Goddess Athena.
Famous poet Homer tells in Iliada that some bravemen coming from the country where the river Parthenios flowed through joined to the heroes from Anatolia to defend the city, Troy.
HISTORY OF AMASRA
It takes its name from the Queen Amastris. It is located on a peninsula and two islands on the north of Bartin. Its surface area is about 120 square kilometers.
In the end of the 12th century B.C. Phyrigians settled in Bartin in the Bythinia Region and Phoenicians settled in Amasra in Paphlagonia Region. The Phoenicians formed their first Sidon colonies in Amasra (Sesomos), Eregli (Heraklia), Sinop (Sinope) and Tekkeonu (Kromna). In the 9th century B.C. as the balance of power failed, the Phoenicians and Carians left Amasra and Kromna.
After a century, Megaran immigrants having the same roots with the ionians settled in the region in the beginning of the 7th century. Amasra and Kromna with other Black Sea Region cities joined to the Ionian (miletus) colony.
Although the region was dominated by Cimmerians in the end of the 7th century B.C., by the Lydians in the 6th century B.C. and by the Persians in 547 B.C., the black sea region colonies kept their status for a long time.
Having ended the Persian domination in the region, the Macedonian King, Alexander the Great, granted Bartin and Ulus to the General Eumenes and Amasra and Tekkeonu to Phyrigian Satrap (Governor). The city which had been callled Sesamos since the 12th century B.C. was governed by the Queen Amastris between 302 and 286 B.C. and then was named after her.
Queen Amastris who was the niece of the persian King Dareios III and the sister in law of the Macedonian King Alexander the Great, married one of the commanders of Alexander and moved to Macedonia. She then married the Heraklia Tyrant, Dionysios in 322 B.C. and Thrazien King, Lysimachos in 302 B.C.
After those short marriages she then moved to Amasra and governed it on behalf of her sons. One day the ship she got on was sunk and she was killed by her sons in 286 B.C.
Queen Amastris, during her 16 year rule between 302 and 286 B.C., formed a city state (Symoikismos Union of Cites) in Amasra consisting of Tium (Filyos - Hisaronu), Kromna (Tekkeonu - Hisar), and Kytoros (Gideros). In 295 B.C. she declared independence, had coins minted in her name and adorned the city with artistic buildings.
In 279 B.C. the Pontus Kingdom became the dominant force in Amasra and its surrounding. In 70 B.C. Romans ended the domination of Pontus Kingdom and governed the city until 395 A.D. After the Roman Empire had been divided into two, Amasra remained under the control of Byzantines. The Bithynian and Pontian part in Paphlagonia Region began to be governed by Bithynian Pontian State through satrapial system and Amasra became the capital of the Pontian part of the State.
The Turkish Emirates established in 1084 under the domination of Seljuqs had serious troubles after the death of Suleyman Bey in 1086 and the First Crusade which was started in 1096. With the agreement made between the Crusade allies and the Byzantines, the Black Sea Coast line from Istanbul to Samsun including Amasra, Sinop and Eregli was again controlled by Byzantines.
In 1261, the Byzantine Empirer M. Paleologos called for help from Genoans to overcome the difficulties he was suffering from. Then Genoans were in return permitted to establish an installation and they took the control of Amasra and several harbours in the Black Sea Region by the Nymphaion Agreement in 1261. This changed the destiny of Amasra and it became an advanced Genoese colony. Genoans were the dominant force in Amasra until 1460 for 200 years.
Amasra has been an important place for military installation and a significant harbour city for trade.
Amasra for which the Great Sultan Mehmed II said "This must be the pupil of the earth" is likened to a "sleeping beauty".
Amasra is also known as the first tourism spot in the country as it was the first place with lodging and tent camping facilities in 1940s.
source: bartinkultur(dot)com
History of Batman
One of the southeastern Anatolian cities, Batman is a little province which takes its name from the river flowing on its west. The Batman river, spanned by the old Malabadi Bridge, draws the province's border with Diyarbakir, and then joins Tigris (Dicle) River passing through the land. The southeastern extensions of the Taurus Mountains on the other hand, stand on the eastern side of the region, together with the 1288 m high Raman Mountain. Here is one of the main crude oil production centers of Turkey, and the refinery at Batman was the first founded one in the country.
The history of the province reaches back to antiquity, and the land saw numerous dynasties throughout its long history. Experiencing Arab invasion around 700 AD, Batman was later dominated by Seljuks first and then by the Mongolians. It was annexed by the Ottoman Empire in 1514 after being under the influence of the Akkoyunlu and the Safevid throughout the 15th century.
In the early years of the Republic, Batman was attached to the province of Siirt and known as "Iluh". It first became a district in 1957, changing its name to Batman, and then a province centre in 1990. Once a part of the province of Siirt, the district was especially eminent during the time of Abbasid Caliphate.
Oil extraction and processing characterize the industry of the province. It has a provincial territory of 4,649 square kilometers and a population of 400,380 according to the 1997 Census. Its administrative districts are Besiri, Gercus, Hasankeyf, Kozluk and Sason.
Batman enjoyed a rapid development thanks to its oil reserves. The modern refinery was established in 1955 to process oil extracted from Raman and Garzan areas. The most important development which took place later was the completion of the 494 kilometers long pipeline between Batman and Iskenderun.
The railway which connects the town of Kurtalan near Batman to Istanbul was important in terms of transportation for a time. However, highways gained weight after 1950.
Upon the completion of GAP Project, services and commercial sectors will get stronger to accompany crude oil refinery. There will also be export oriented copper mining.
source: allaboutturkey(dot)com
The history of the province reaches back to antiquity, and the land saw numerous dynasties throughout its long history. Experiencing Arab invasion around 700 AD, Batman was later dominated by Seljuks first and then by the Mongolians. It was annexed by the Ottoman Empire in 1514 after being under the influence of the Akkoyunlu and the Safevid throughout the 15th century.
In the early years of the Republic, Batman was attached to the province of Siirt and known as "Iluh". It first became a district in 1957, changing its name to Batman, and then a province centre in 1990. Once a part of the province of Siirt, the district was especially eminent during the time of Abbasid Caliphate.
Oil extraction and processing characterize the industry of the province. It has a provincial territory of 4,649 square kilometers and a population of 400,380 according to the 1997 Census. Its administrative districts are Besiri, Gercus, Hasankeyf, Kozluk and Sason.
Batman enjoyed a rapid development thanks to its oil reserves. The modern refinery was established in 1955 to process oil extracted from Raman and Garzan areas. The most important development which took place later was the completion of the 494 kilometers long pipeline between Batman and Iskenderun.
The railway which connects the town of Kurtalan near Batman to Istanbul was important in terms of transportation for a time. However, highways gained weight after 1950.
Upon the completion of GAP Project, services and commercial sectors will get stronger to accompany crude oil refinery. There will also be export oriented copper mining.
source: allaboutturkey(dot)com
History of Karaman
In ancient times Karaman was known as Laranda. It was destroyed by Perdiccas in about 322 BC and later became a seat of Isaurian pirates. It belonged to the Roman and later Byzantine Empire until it was captured by the Seljuks in the early 12th century. Karaman was occupied by Frederick Barbarossa in 1190. It was subsequently an important military site as part of the Cilician Armenian Kingdom, until they lost it. In 1256, the town was taken by the Turkish warlord Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey and was renamed Karaman in his honour. From 1275, Karaman was the capital of the emirate (and later Ottoman province) of Karamanid. In 1468 Karamanid was conquered by the Ottomans and in 1483 the capital of the province was moved to Konya. Karaman has retained ruins of a Karamanid castle and some walls, two mosques and a Koran school (madrasah) from that age. An exquisite mihrab from a mosque from Karaman can now be found in the Çinili Pavilion near today's Archeology Museum in Istanbul. Many Armenians and Greeks who originated from this area still maintain the name Karaman within their surnames. Ex. In Greek 'Karamanis or Karamanlis'. In Armenian 'Karamanian or Karamanoukian'. The surname of the current Prime Minister of Greece is also Karamanlis.
Its former Christian status is reflected by the fact that there was a Roman Catholic titular see for the city.
Yunus Emre (c. 1238-1320), the poet resided in Karaman and is believed to be buried beside the Yunus Emre Mosque. A small adjacent park is adorned with quotations from his verse, many of them unfortunately graffiti-splattered. In 1222, the Sufi preacher Bahaeddin Veled arrived in town with his family, and the Karamanoğlu emir built a medrese to accommodate them. Veled's son was the famous Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi, who married his wife, Gevher Hatun, while his family was living in Karaman. It was here, too, that Rumi's mother died in 1224. Today she is buried, along with other family members, in the Aktekke Mosque (also known as the Mader-i Mevlana Cami), which Alaeddin Ali Bey had built to replace the original medrese in 1370.
source: wikipedia(dot)org
Its former Christian status is reflected by the fact that there was a Roman Catholic titular see for the city.
Yunus Emre (c. 1238-1320), the poet resided in Karaman and is believed to be buried beside the Yunus Emre Mosque. A small adjacent park is adorned with quotations from his verse, many of them unfortunately graffiti-splattered. In 1222, the Sufi preacher Bahaeddin Veled arrived in town with his family, and the Karamanoğlu emir built a medrese to accommodate them. Veled's son was the famous Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi, who married his wife, Gevher Hatun, while his family was living in Karaman. It was here, too, that Rumi's mother died in 1224. Today she is buried, along with other family members, in the Aktekke Mosque (also known as the Mader-i Mevlana Cami), which Alaeddin Ali Bey had built to replace the original medrese in 1370.
source: wikipedia(dot)org
History of Bayburt
If you want to go to Trabzon from Erzurum by road; you will first reach to Bayburt after you crest the Kop Mountains. Established near the Çoruh river, this pleasant city is the gateway of Eastern Anatolia to the North with its castle witnessing 3000 years of the history, with its toga and Kete.
The story of the name of the city and its establishment date are not known precisely. What is known for today is its name was recorded as Payberd in Armenian resources, as Payper, Baberd and Paypert in Byzantium resources. Passing from that region in the 8th Century, Marko Polo wrote the name of the city his travel book as Paipurth, Baiburt. On the other hand, in the literature telling the history of Akkoyunlu, the last syllable of the word, that is Berd means "high castle" but the first syllable of the word does not have a meaning. Visiting the city in 1647, Evliya Çelebi defined the meaning of Bayburt as the first syllable Bay meant “wealthy” and the second syllable burt meant "land". In the records of Ottoman period, the name of the city was recorded as Bayburt in line with today's pronunciation.
In his “Anabasis”, Xenophanes mentioned Bayburt as a big, crowded and wealthy city. Bayburt was an Iskit city. Iskits were the Turks which we have known as Scyths.
Bayburt has been a Turk city for approximately 5000 years.
According to the current resources, the history of Bayburt dates back to the 3000s B.C. City was established by Azizis. Bayburt was raided by Kimmers and Iskits between 770 and 665 B.C. Than the region was dominated by Haldis. After a short time the region was occupied by Meds and than was reoccupied by Persians. Bayburt was bound to the Kingdom of Pontus in the 2nd Century B.C. and it was seized by the Roman Empire. Occupied by Emevis in 705 B.C. Bayburt was reoccupied by Byzantium in 711. Bayburt was conquered by Seljuks. Bayburt where was the establishment and rising land of the Akkoyunlu State was bound to Ottomans in 1514. It was occupied by Russians in 1828 and the city was captured by Russians and Armenians before and during the 1st World War. People of Bayburt were forced to migrate at that time. Saved from the enemy occupation on February 21st 1918, Bayburt was a county of Erzurum province until 1927 and of Gümüşhane until 1989. By the law numbered 3578, Bayburt gained its provincial status from 21.06.1989.
source: bayburttso(dot)org
The story of the name of the city and its establishment date are not known precisely. What is known for today is its name was recorded as Payberd in Armenian resources, as Payper, Baberd and Paypert in Byzantium resources. Passing from that region in the 8th Century, Marko Polo wrote the name of the city his travel book as Paipurth, Baiburt. On the other hand, in the literature telling the history of Akkoyunlu, the last syllable of the word, that is Berd means "high castle" but the first syllable of the word does not have a meaning. Visiting the city in 1647, Evliya Çelebi defined the meaning of Bayburt as the first syllable Bay meant “wealthy” and the second syllable burt meant "land". In the records of Ottoman period, the name of the city was recorded as Bayburt in line with today's pronunciation.
In his “Anabasis”, Xenophanes mentioned Bayburt as a big, crowded and wealthy city. Bayburt was an Iskit city. Iskits were the Turks which we have known as Scyths.
Bayburt has been a Turk city for approximately 5000 years.
According to the current resources, the history of Bayburt dates back to the 3000s B.C. City was established by Azizis. Bayburt was raided by Kimmers and Iskits between 770 and 665 B.C. Than the region was dominated by Haldis. After a short time the region was occupied by Meds and than was reoccupied by Persians. Bayburt was bound to the Kingdom of Pontus in the 2nd Century B.C. and it was seized by the Roman Empire. Occupied by Emevis in 705 B.C. Bayburt was reoccupied by Byzantium in 711. Bayburt was conquered by Seljuks. Bayburt where was the establishment and rising land of the Akkoyunlu State was bound to Ottomans in 1514. It was occupied by Russians in 1828 and the city was captured by Russians and Armenians before and during the 1st World War. People of Bayburt were forced to migrate at that time. Saved from the enemy occupation on February 21st 1918, Bayburt was a county of Erzurum province until 1927 and of Gümüşhane until 1989. By the law numbered 3578, Bayburt gained its provincial status from 21.06.1989.
source: bayburttso(dot)org
History of Aksaray
Aksaray is in the Capadocia region, where human habitation can be traced back to 8th century BC. The first settlements were from the Neolithic period, evidence of which can be found from the remains of Asikli Tumulus. Between 2000-3000 BC, it became an important trade center. Various civilizations have since left their mark on Aksaray, which subsequently came under the Hittite, Roman, Byzantine, Selcuklu and Ottoman influences. From the 1st century AD, Christianity began to spread in the Anatolian region with the coming of St. Paul and his disciples.
source: turkeyforyou(dot)com
source: turkeyforyou(dot)com
History of Yozgat
After the old administrative center of the region, Tavium (Büyüknefes), became ruined, a new centre was created by Çapanoğlu, the founder of a powerful derebey family and called Bozok. The Ottoman Empire annexed Yozgat in 1398. At around 1911, it was the chief town of a sanjak of the same name in the Ankara Province, of the Ottoman Empire. There was a trade in yellow madder (Stil de grain yellow) and mohair. The sanjak was very fertile, and contained good breeding-grounds in which cattle, horses and even camels were reared for the local agriculture and foreign trade.
source: wikipedia(dot)org
source: wikipedia(dot)org
History of Tunceli
The history of the province stretches back to antiquity. It has been mentioned as 'Daranalis' by Ptolemy, and seemingly, it was referred to as 'Daranis' before him. One theory as to the origin of the name associates with the Persian Emperor Darius.
The area that would become Tunceli province formed part of Urartu, Media, the Achaemenid Empire, and the Greater Armenian region of Sophene. Sophene was later contested by the Roman and Parthian Empires and by their respective successors, the Byzantine and Sassanid Empires. Arabs invaded in the 7th century, and Seljuq Turks in the 11th.
As of the end of the 19th century, the region (called "Tunceli") was included in the Ottoman sancak (subprovince) of Hozat, depending the city and the province of Mamuret-ül Aziz (Elazığ today), with the exception of the actual district of Pülümür, which depended on the neighboring sancak of Erzincan, then a part of the Erzurum Province. This status continued through the first years of the Republic of Turkey, until 1936 when the name of the province ("Tunceli") was changed to Tunceli, literally 'the land of bronze' in Turkish (tunç meaning 'bronze' and el (in this context) meaning 'land') after the Dersim Rebellion. The center of the province has been fixed in the town of Kalan and the district of Pülümür has been added within the boundaries of the new province.
source: wikipedia(dot)org
The area that would become Tunceli province formed part of Urartu, Media, the Achaemenid Empire, and the Greater Armenian region of Sophene. Sophene was later contested by the Roman and Parthian Empires and by their respective successors, the Byzantine and Sassanid Empires. Arabs invaded in the 7th century, and Seljuq Turks in the 11th.
As of the end of the 19th century, the region (called "Tunceli") was included in the Ottoman sancak (subprovince) of Hozat, depending the city and the province of Mamuret-ül Aziz (Elazığ today), with the exception of the actual district of Pülümür, which depended on the neighboring sancak of Erzincan, then a part of the Erzurum Province. This status continued through the first years of the Republic of Turkey, until 1936 when the name of the province ("Tunceli") was changed to Tunceli, literally 'the land of bronze' in Turkish (tunç meaning 'bronze' and el (in this context) meaning 'land') after the Dersim Rebellion. The center of the province has been fixed in the town of Kalan and the district of Pülümür has been added within the boundaries of the new province.
source: wikipedia(dot)org
History of Trabzon
When the Roman Empire was divided into two at the end of the 4th century, Trabzon remained under the sovereignty of the Eastern Roman Empire which later on was called as Byzantine Empire. When relations and wars between the Byzantines and the Arabs started, the Arabs called the people under the Roman Sovereignty as Rum, and the areas under the Roman sovereignty as Diyar-i Rum or Memleket-ul Rum (land of Rums).
Anatolia, as it was under the Roman sovereignty at that time, was mentioned as Diyar-i Rum. Later, since the Turks also accepted to use the word Rum, the Province of Anatolia was called Eyalet-i Rum, the Anatolia Sultan, Sultan-i Rum, and Mevlana of Anatolia as Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi.
The Byzantines gave special importance to Trabzon from the military point of view. During the reign of Emperor Justinian in the 6th century the city walls were thoroughly repaired and enlarged. A road from Trabzon to Persia was opened. Huts for defense were built at bends and effort was given to establish Christianity so that the tribe Can, the dwellers along the road would be obedient. Aqueducts of Saint Eugenius were built.
In the 8th century the Moslem Arab armies entered Anatolia and came down to Trabzon, invading the area around the citadel. They saw hazel nuts for the first time.
In the 9th century the Moslem Turkish armies started coming to the Trabzon area and outer part of the citadel went under the sovereignty of the Moslem Turks. Inside the citadel there were still the Greek colonists. It is in this period that construction of the Saint Ann Church in the Ayvasil district completed.
In the 10th century Islamism outside the citadel speeded up and the Turks around became Moslems. Two of the four routes of the Seljuk raids which began in the 11th century passed through the Eastern Black Sea region and Trabzon was then the native country Moslem Turks. Canik was one of the eight provinces of the country conquered by the Moslem Turks in Anatolia and the name Turkey was given for the first time in 1081. Its principal city was Trabzon (the name Canik derived from the word Canika, the place where the Can Tribe lived near Macka area in the south of Trabzon) and moved to the west, and the name Samsun as time passed by derived from it. In the second half of the 11th century there were two Trabzon's: The outer part of the citadel was under the sovereignty of the Danismeds; The inner part of the citadel was under the sovereignty of the Byzantines.
After the fights over the throne started in Byzantium (Istanbul) in the 12th century, the Commenos family was dethroned, young Alexis Commenos escaped to Georgia. He declared his Kingdom in Georgia in 1204 and came to Trabzon by the help of the Christian Georgians. He took the citadel from the Byzantian governor who was at his side and made Trabzon the capital of his Kingdom; the state of Trabzon emerged. As the King was a Christian Anatolian, the state was also called as the Trabzon Rum State. But the people with the intention to capture Anatolia and the ignorant who were deceived by them used the name, Rum Pontus state.
In the 13th century when the Trabzon state was founded, the Seljuk Turks besieged Trabzon twice and bound them to tax. The King of Trabzon, Alexis Commenos, fortified the citadel and ditches were dug around it. The outer part of the citadel became a large commercial city and was mentioned as "The pupil of whole Asia". The palace of the King and official buildings were placed on the high plains of the inner fortress. The commercial life of the country that extended from Batum to Kerempe including Crimea which was in the hands of the Genoese and the Venetians. On the coast of the city there were castles and warehouses.
In the mid-13th century the Trabzon state, being rather small, began to be surrounded by the Cepnis. The Cepnis under the sovereignty of the Sungurlu tribe, from the Ucok subdivision of the Oguz division, who was the son of Kara Han and the grandchild of Turk Han, settled down on the borders of the Trabzon state. While there were Christian Kings in the inner citadel Islam was spreading quickly in the outer citadel. Ahi Evren Dede, an Islamic missionary, was buried in Boztepe after his death in the 14th century.
Meanwhile Trabzon became the center of Europe-Asia trade. But Moslem pirates, coming particularly from Sinop, were raiding the coasts and plundering the city. The King of Trabzon, Alexis Commenos II (1297-1333) who had the Giresun castle built, had constructed walls against the sea which is supposed to be the Moloz District now.
In the beginning of the 15th century Tamerlane invaded Anatolia and captured Trabzon too. But he did not add it to his Empire, he taxed it under the administration of his son Halil Mirza.
In 1411 the Saint Savas Church built in the Boztepe slope was decorated; according to the people the construction of the bell tower and belfry of the Saint Sophia Church was completed in 1427 and the drawing of the pictures on the arches of the entrance door of the Church was terminated in 1444.
A very bad struggle for the throne had started in Trabzon, it was evident that the last years of the Trabzon State had come. As a matter of fact the ruler of the Ottoman Empire Sultan Murat II had attacked Trabzon in 1442 from the sea and returned home taking slaves and taxes. The ambassador of Trabzon was also among those who congratulated Sultan Mehmet (The Conqueror) when he was enthroned in Edirne in 1451. During the preparation of the conquest of Istanbul in 1452, first the Bogazkesen Castle (Rumeli Hisari) was built in order to put an end to bonds between Trabzon and Istanbul; And after he conquered Istanbul in 1453, he also bound Trabzon to tax for 2000 duke golden coins. When it was not paid he sent Hizir Bey, the tutor of his son Sehzade Beyazid who was the governor in Amasya, over Trabzon in 1456.
Hizir Bey surrendered Trabzon and established his headquarters in the eastern section (now the Municipal building). But since the King of Trabzon declared that he would pay the tax required, he returned. The tax was sent to Istanbul in 1457 and was accepted only if the amount was increased to 3000 duke golden coins.
The King of Trabzon Commenos IV began to search remedies to be saved from this pressure of the Ottomans and tried to bring together all the governments and nations from Caucasia and the coasts of Euphrates (Firat) River to France and Vatican in opposition to the Ottoman State. At the end, by applying the old tradition, he engaged his beautiful girl to Uzun Hasan Bey, the ruler of Akkoyunlu, provided that he should defend Trabzon against the Ottomans. The last King David Commenos who took his place in 1458, first sent his niece to Uzun Hasan Bey so that she could be his wife and requested not to be taxed. Uzun Hasan Bey in return to Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror, asked him not to tax Trabzon, and also that he wanted back the debt that remained from his ancestors. The Conqueror by sending back the envoys told that he would personally come and pay his debt. In 1461, he set off to Trabzon.
Uzun Hasan Bey was afraid and begged pardon by sending his mother Sara Hatun to Ercincan, Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror said that he would forgive in case no help was rendered to Trabzon, but continued his voyage to Trabzon taking Sara Hatun with him. The army was divided into two in Bayburt. One part went on taking a separate route under the command of the Grand Vizier Mahmut Pasha. The route which the Conqueror followed was very difficult, particularly while crossing the Bulgar mountain. Sara Hatun wanted to take an advantage of this and tried to persuade the Conqueror to give up the voyage. But he did not take her words into consideration and Trabzon was surrounded from land and sea. The King of Trabzon David Commenos who learned that the Sultan and the Grand Vizier were coming at the head of the army, forgot about Trabzon which in fact was not of his own. He notified that he would give back the citadel if another suitable piece equal to the income of Trabzon was given. He assigned Amirutzes, his chief private secretary, as a representative and the Conqueror made the Grand Vizier Mahmut Pasha his representative. Amirutzes and Mahmut Pasha were cousins. Therefore discussions of surrender concluded immediately and Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror entered the citadel of Trabzon on Monday, the 26th of October 1461, he closed the phase of the Trabzon State that lasted 250 years in history. The Commander of the Fleet and the Governor of Gelibolu Kazim Bey took over the administration of the city.
Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror first of all changed the Panaghia Krys Krysokephalos church into a mosque and prayed in it. It was called the Ortahisar Mosque; now it is called Fatih Mosque. Later he turned Saint Eugenes church into a mosque and the first Friday Prayer was performed; it was called the Yenicuma Mosque. Since the community of a church in front of Mumhane became Moslems, this church was also turned into a mosque and was called Karabas Mosque. But it was destroyed in 1788.
Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror gave the jewels left over from the Trabzon State to Uzun Hasan Bey's mother Sara Hatun and sent her to her son. The son of Commenos, the ex-king of Trabzon, settled in the region named Pera in Istanbul and accepted Islam. The people of Istanbul called that place Beyoglu meaning the place where the son of the Trabzon Bey stayed.
The Christian families were taken out of the castle of Trabzon. The riches were sent to Istanbul. Others were settled in the neighboring called Meydani Sarki (Dogu meydani - Belediye meydani), Arafilboyu and Yenicuma. Suleyman the Magnificent came back to Istanbul, and Trabzon became a "Sancak" (outpost) which was later bounded to the Anatolian state.
In 1489 the son of Sultan Beyazid, Sultan Selim Yavuz, became the governor of Trabzon and came to Trabzon with his mother Gulbahar Hatun (Ayse). He himself gathered the intellectuals in Trabzon for his first born child Suleyman the Magnificent in 1494. Then due to the threat of the Shiis developing in Persia, he had city-walls constructed around Trabzon. But he could not convince the political danger of the Persian ruler who was pretending to be a religious ruler to his father and elder brother, the governor of Amasya. In the end he pressed of Shah Ismail's forces with his troops formed by the citizens of Trabzon. In 1508 he overcame Shah's big army corps and drove them out of his borders. He was going to go further but returned on demand of the Sultan.
Yavuz Sultan Selim was acting as a monarch and using the emperors rights. He himself attacked Georgia and owing to his heroic acts and successes he was named "Yavuz" (brave). Meanwhile his son Suleyman (Kanuni) was at the age of 15 and took over the governance of Kefe. Yavuz Sultan Selim went to Kefe by the sea with his army formed by the citizens of Trabzon and attacked Caucasia without permission; and not obeying the orders, he wanted to have a governor's post in Rumeli in order to be near Istanbul. As he couldn't get what he wanted, he attacked Edirne via Rumeli and was defeated by his father's (Sultan Beyazid) army and escaped to Crimea. In 1512 Sehzade Ahmet, during his father's lifetime, was called to Istanbul to become the ruler. But this time janissaries rebelled and he went back. Upon this, Yavuz Sultan Selim was called and became the ruler. Yavuz was interested in sports and science. During his governance he used the area called "Atapark" as a play ground; he shot arrows and organized competitions of bowshots for young Trabzon citizens.
A beautiful mausoleum was built over his mother Ayse (Gulbahar), the daughter of Dulkavidli ruler Aleaddevler, who died in 1505. Haci Kasim Fountain dating 1409 and Seydi Haci Mehmet fountain dating 1500 on Kavak Meydan street survived from the time of Yavuz Sultan Selim's governance. Hatuniye Mosque which was built for his mother, was completed in 1514. It is one of the greatest master pieces of the Ottomans in Trabzon.
After Yavuz Sultan Selim left in 1522, Iskender Pasha became the governor of Trabzon. In 1514 Erzincan became a state and Trabzon was bounded to it. Iskender pasha became the governor of Trabzon for four times. During his governance he built Iskender Pasha fountain at Belediye Square in 1519, another fountain at Hoca Halil Mahalle, Asagi Hisar in 1523 and a mosque at Belediye Square and a medrese (which isn't there anymore) in his name in 1529. Iskender Pasha, died in 1533, was buried within the mosque built by him. His tomb can be seen there.
During Kanuni Sultan Suleyman's reign (1520-1566) the Anatolian state was divided into two; Rumeli (Thrace) and Anatolia. The capital of the new Anatolian state was Trabzon and the subdivisions called Kemah, Bayburt, Malatya, Kahta, Divrigi and Darende were joined to Trabzon. But in 1534 the administrative system changed again; Erzurum became the capital and Trabzon was joined to Erzurum. In 1514 the city-walls of Trabzon were restored by Sirvanzade Mirza Mehmet Bey.
In the middle of the 16th century it is known that the Islamic religion hasn't penetrated into some regions of Trabzon. A man named Sheik Osman Efendi from Maras, who came by way of Bayburt, reinforced the Islamic religion. His tomb is in Caykara now.
In 1563 Governor of Trabzon Kasim bey (Kasim Celebi) built Pazarkapi Mosque. In 1564 Batum was captured. In 1566 Suleyman the Magnificent died. It was seen that the suit array which was taken off his back was even from a material woven in Trabzon. Suleyman the Magnificent used to wear clothes from Trabzon linen and also made the royals and janissaries wear it.
In 1578 Erdogdu Bey, governor of Trabzon, changed the small mosque by adding a minaret to it at Tekfur Cayi region. Therefore the mosque and the neighboring were named Erdogdu. In 1582 the Trabzon - Batum state, whose capital was Trabzon, was established; and St. Sophia church was changed into a mosque without laying a hand on any of its frescoes.
In the 17th century the Russian Don Cossacks began to plunder the coasts of Black sea. Omer Pasha, the governor of Trabzon then, organized a fleet of boats named 'menkisle' with 5 crew each and stopped these attacks.
Meanwhile riots in Anatolia had begun. One of the notables of Celali and Akkoyunlu Turkmenians, Ali Pasha from Murathan, became the governor of Trabzon. In 1608 while Celalis were being despoiled, Murat Pasha was called to Bayburt and killed there.
In 1732, a famous traveler and writer Katip Celebi (Haci Halife)'s book titled "Cihannuma" was published. There is some information about Trabzon in this book. In 1640 Evliya Celebi came to Trabzon and gave a great deal of information about the city in his book titled "Seyahatname". He describes the citizens of Trabzon as cleanly dressed, educated people fond of good talkers, fond of reading and writing poems. He divides the people into seven classes as: Notables and Nobles with Sableskin coats, scholars in special array, Merchants wearing Ferace made of broadcloth, Kontos and Dolman, Craftsmen who can mint and can masterly make all kinds of gold and silverware and weapons, Sea conveyors and Merchants with Shalwvar and Dolman made of broadcloth, i.e. the sailors, gardeners and fishermen.
Vizier Arnavut Mehmet Pasha who came to Trabzon as a governor in 1644 was dismissed from his position after a short time and went to Kopru district, the home-town of his wife, and settled there. Therefore he was called Koprulu Mehmet Pasha. He became the first member of Koprulu Family, and the name of Kopru was changed to Vezir Kopru.
In the middle of the 17th century the raids of Kazak pirates to Trabzon shore turned into Russian attacks. That's why the Trabzon governors were generally in charge of guarding the castles on the border as an additional duty. Trabzon was often left without a governor and was governed by Aghas instead of governors. Public order began to deteriorate and governors became unable to render good service in the city.
During the period of Biyikli Mustafa Pasha, governor of Trabzon in 1727, the conditions improved a little and Zeytinlik medrese which was the third great foundation of education of Trabzon was built. But public order in the city deteriorated again because in 1828 war with Iran broke out and this time the governors, in order to participate in the Iranian war, were handing Trabzon over to their assistants called Mutessellim. By then public order had deteriorated entirely, Laz and Cepni Aghas were attacking each other. In 1741 Omer Pasha established peace again and had the Trabzon and Gorele castles repaired, opened the Harsit road and built a nice palace in Guzelhisar for himself. He was confronted with the wrath of the Sultan and his palace was burned and he was executed.
Hekimoglu Ali Pasha, one of the famous grand Viziers and the governor of Trabzon in 1749, improved the public order by his skillful administration. He repaired the Karabas Mosque. In 1754 he was appointed as the Grand Vizier for the second time and was taken from Trabzon. In 1762 Mustafa Efendi, from Saraczade Family, founded the Saraczade Library. During that time Trabzon was progressing in commerce and hazel-nut was being exported from Trabzon to Russia. But public order was deteriorating terribly. Canikli Haci Ali Pasha who was sent to Trabzon as a governor in 1772 improved the public order, but this time governorship inherited by this family from then on. The candidate governors began struggling for seat. Then Sari Abdullah Pasha, who was brought up as the slave of Canikli Family, was sent to Trabzon as a governor. In 1788 the misleading trends in the administration of Trabzon had become worse. The task of killing Sari Abdullah Pasha was given to Kuguzade Suleyman Pasha, the new governor of Trabzon in 1791. He immediately carried out his duty, trapped and killed him and buried him in the cemetery near the Tavanli Mosque.
At the beginning of the 19th century the Russian attacks to Trabzon shores strengthened. The Russians captured the Azak, Anapa and Fas Castles on the border and in 1810 they landed on the Sargana shores of Akcaabat. Sakaoglu Mahmut Agha, the chief of Akçaabat, taking men along with him, and his wife Uluvve Hatun taking women as followers, opposed the enemy. By the participation of the people who came from the surroundings and the Trabzon governor Carhaci Ali Pasha himself, fierce battles started. They drove the enemy to the sea.
Meanwhile public order was in a disorderly state in Trabzon Region. The Aghas and the notables didn't take the government into consideration. As Haznedarzade Suleyman Pasha who was appointed to Trabzon as a governor, with a rank of Vizier, to improve the public order, was in a disagreement with Hopali Tuzcuoglu Memis Agha, the chief of Rize. Tuzcuoglu Memis Agha attacked Trabzon with all the notables and Aghas of the region and drove his head officer Cecenzade Hasan Agha out of the city. He dominated the Trabzon Castle and he acted as the head of the state for exactly four months. When the State forces came, he escaped and went to Of. He was captured and decapitated in 1817. But the social tension caused by the Aghas went on.
While Hazinedarzade Osman Pasha, who was sent to Trabzon as a governor in 1827, was taking protective precautions in his region against the Russian attacks, he was also trying to prevent the frequent revolts of the Aghas. In 1834 he completely stopped the revolts and improved the public order. He made the notables of Tuzcuoglu Family migrate to Ruscuk and Varna regions.
As a result of the improving public order, the commercial life and public works became active. Charles Texier who came to Trabzon in 1832, gave many information about Trabzon in his famous book named Asia Minor and mentioned Trabzon as the transit center of the East. As steam ships began their tours on the Black Sea in 1836, the commercial transportation in the Mediterranean directed to the Black Sea. In 1837 the Fatih mosque in Ortahisar was repaired and one of its rooms was constructed as a Sadirvan (fountain for the ablutions before prayers). The Çarsi Mosque was built in 1841. In 1842 the Fetvahane Library was constructed. Abdullah Pasha became the governor in place of his brother Hazinedarzade Osman Pasha who died in 1842, and contributed a lot to the public works of Trabzon.
The Hatuniye and Fatih Libraries were constructed in 1844, Kalcioglu Memis Agha Fountain was built in 1845. In 1848 Ismail Pasha, the Minister of public works, came to Trabzon with a group of specialists to examine the project about Trabzon - Baghdad Road in 1849. The Abdullah Pasha Fountain was put into service. In 1850 the Saraczade, in 1851 the Pazarkapi Medreses were founded, the Imaret Library was widened. Trabzon became the center of an intensive transit transportation in the middle of the 19th century; The trade in Trabzon Harbor started to expand continuously. Trabzon was the center of one of the 39 provinces of the Ottoman Empire. Sebinkarahisar, Samsun, Batum and Maradit were counties under the rule of Trabzon.
There was a regular sea transportation between Trabzon and Istanbul every fifteen days and it was necessary to have a well constructed highway to go to the East. For this reason, Ismail Pasa, Minister of Public works, came to Trabzon in 1850 and the construction of Erzurum - Trabzon highway began.
Primary and secondary Schools teaching with new methods were put into service in 1852. The marsh of Batum was dried, clean water was brought, and the Aziziye Mosque was built in 1862. Trabzon became a civilized and well-constructed city. In 1863 the St. Sophia (Ayasofya) Mosque was restored, the pictures in the mosque were covered with plaster; stairs were built for the bell-tower which was used as a minaret.
The provinces were abolished and the big cities were organized in the second half of the 19th century. Trabzon became a big city too, and also three provinces were added to Trabzon: 1) Central province of Trabzon (Giresun, Bulancak, Tirebolu, Of, Rize). 2) Province of Canik (Samsun, Unye, Bafra). 3) Province of Lazistan (Batum, Arhavi). 4) Province of Gumushane (Torul, Kelkit).
Trabzon was a lively and prosperous city. An American school was put into service in 1865 and an official printing office was established in 1866. Samsun, which was a subdivision of Trabzon, was completely burnt down and rebuilt on a modern new plan designed by the local government in Trabzon. In 1870 a formal newspaper named Trabzon and the first year book of Trabzon were printed.
The sea transportation in Trabzon increased considerably in those days and four ship companies arranged tours to Istanbul once a week. Two foreigners ran a beautiful hotel in the city. The shopping district was very rich and lively, goods from all over the world were sold there. The square called "Gavur Meydani" (The Municipal square) used to be a place where people took walks. This centre reminded people of Champs Elysses in Paris. The Kavak Square was the centre of sports and people on horses used to play jereed (Javelin) there. The population of the city was about forty thousand. There were some beautiful houses in the city and there was a road to the west across the city. While some changes in the administrative body were taking place in 1870, the Sebin Karahisar subdivision was separated from Trabzon and became a separate province, and Giresun became a county of this province. On the other hand in 1872, the towns of Surmene, Vakfikebir, Gorele and Aybasti were joined together as county of Trabzon.
Trabzon was developing day after day. In 1875 a French school was put into service in the city. There appeared a great progress in the commercial life and hazelnuts were exported to Belgium as well. When the Russian - Turkish war started in 1876, Trabzon was used as a supply centre of the army.
In 1883 a Persian school was put into service. Akcaabat which was known for its tobacco, Yomra famous for its fruit and therapeutically waters, Macka as the centre of making quilts, covering copper goods with tin and carving stones, were towns under the rule of central Trabzon. From the big harbor called Vakfikebir, butter, corn and beans were exported. Surmene was a natural harbor and the people living there were mostly fishermen. There lived a lot of scientists and artists in Of. In those days there was a constitutional government ruling the Ottoman Empire. When the first elections took place, Trabzon sent three deputies to the legislature. In accordance with the Ayastefanos agreement, Batum remained under the Russian rule and Rize became the capital of Lazistan in 1877. Mehmet Ziver Efendi, who wrote many poems about the fish (hamsi, like sardines) died in 1880. Leyla Hanim, whose poems were widespread among women, was the wife of Sirri Pasha, the governor of Trabzon then. Hamamizade Ihsan, an inhabitant of Trabzon, who has acquired a very distinctive place in the Turkish literature, was born in 1884.
Meanwhile Trabzon's nearest county Akcaabat has become a sub-district in 1887. Of, Surmene, Akcaabat, Vakfikebir, Gorele, Tirebolu, Giresun, Ordu, Yomra, Macka, Sarli and Tonya were sub-districts of Trabzon by the end of the 19th century. Trabzon continued to be the starting point of international road to Iran and an important seaport town of Eastern Anatolia. There were eight ship agencies, one of which was local. There were nine consulates in Trabzon. In brief, it was a big and rich city. The Armenians in Trabzon started a riot but it was soon overcome in 1895.
When the Second Constitutional Regime was declared in 1908, seven deputies were elected from Trabzon for the parliament. In the 1912 elections seven parliamenters were elected again. During that period the administration of the Ottoman State had become weaker because of the struggle of rivalry of political parties. Italians took advantage of this instability and occupied the twelve islands in the Aegean and also landed at Tripoli (Trablusgarb) which was under the sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire. The Balkan war broke out; the government declared a state of emergency and wanted the aid of all provinces. People of Trabzon and its districts tried very hard to procure money for the government.
The Ottoman Government frequently changed hands and the power of the state weakened because of the struggle and rivalry of political parties. Bekir Sami Bey, who was a governor in Trabzon twice in 1911 and 1912, was also the foreign Minister of the Ankara Government during the years of the Turkish National War of Liberation. The governorship of Suleyman Nazif Bey, who was a famous Turkish poet, didn't even last a year. The governorship of Professor Mehmet Ali Avni, who was famous with his scientific and artistic works, lasted shorter than Suleyman Nazif's. Samih Rifats's governance lasted only a month. In 1913, as the activities of Armenian Committees and the Second Balkan War started, Cemal Azmi Bey became the governor of Trabzon.
When World War I broke out in 1914, the Istanbul Government couldn't keep its impartiality and was obliged to enter the war on the side of Germany. Disastrous days for Trabzon began. The city was bombed by 23 Russian warship on 1st November 1914. Bomb-shells followed one another, and a large group of young people from Trabzon died in the battle of Sarikamis in the east of Turkey. As the bombardments were continuing, Russian land troops passed the shore border on 24th February 1916 and occupied Rize and came to the border of Of. The people of Of and its sub-districts joined the 2500 soldiers under the command of Gurcu Avni Pasa, the commander of that region. They stopped the Russian Army on the border of Trabzon, in spite of the good state of the Russian army. But the Russians occupied Of on 5th March 1916 and Trabzon on 18th April 1916 anyway. Trabzon was saved from the enemy invasion on 24th February 1918 and was joined to the Motherland.
Some people say that the name of the city comes from the Greek "Trapezous"; "trapezion" is the table, and the ending "-ous" means the place which possesses/has something (eg. Kerasous; the place that has cherries, todays Giresun). Trapezous indicates the flat hilltop in the old city, which is surrounded by the medieval wall.
source: allaboutturkey(dot)com
Anatolia, as it was under the Roman sovereignty at that time, was mentioned as Diyar-i Rum. Later, since the Turks also accepted to use the word Rum, the Province of Anatolia was called Eyalet-i Rum, the Anatolia Sultan, Sultan-i Rum, and Mevlana of Anatolia as Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi.
The Byzantines gave special importance to Trabzon from the military point of view. During the reign of Emperor Justinian in the 6th century the city walls were thoroughly repaired and enlarged. A road from Trabzon to Persia was opened. Huts for defense were built at bends and effort was given to establish Christianity so that the tribe Can, the dwellers along the road would be obedient. Aqueducts of Saint Eugenius were built.
In the 8th century the Moslem Arab armies entered Anatolia and came down to Trabzon, invading the area around the citadel. They saw hazel nuts for the first time.
In the 9th century the Moslem Turkish armies started coming to the Trabzon area and outer part of the citadel went under the sovereignty of the Moslem Turks. Inside the citadel there were still the Greek colonists. It is in this period that construction of the Saint Ann Church in the Ayvasil district completed.
In the 10th century Islamism outside the citadel speeded up and the Turks around became Moslems. Two of the four routes of the Seljuk raids which began in the 11th century passed through the Eastern Black Sea region and Trabzon was then the native country Moslem Turks. Canik was one of the eight provinces of the country conquered by the Moslem Turks in Anatolia and the name Turkey was given for the first time in 1081. Its principal city was Trabzon (the name Canik derived from the word Canika, the place where the Can Tribe lived near Macka area in the south of Trabzon) and moved to the west, and the name Samsun as time passed by derived from it. In the second half of the 11th century there were two Trabzon's: The outer part of the citadel was under the sovereignty of the Danismeds; The inner part of the citadel was under the sovereignty of the Byzantines.
After the fights over the throne started in Byzantium (Istanbul) in the 12th century, the Commenos family was dethroned, young Alexis Commenos escaped to Georgia. He declared his Kingdom in Georgia in 1204 and came to Trabzon by the help of the Christian Georgians. He took the citadel from the Byzantian governor who was at his side and made Trabzon the capital of his Kingdom; the state of Trabzon emerged. As the King was a Christian Anatolian, the state was also called as the Trabzon Rum State. But the people with the intention to capture Anatolia and the ignorant who were deceived by them used the name, Rum Pontus state.
In the 13th century when the Trabzon state was founded, the Seljuk Turks besieged Trabzon twice and bound them to tax. The King of Trabzon, Alexis Commenos, fortified the citadel and ditches were dug around it. The outer part of the citadel became a large commercial city and was mentioned as "The pupil of whole Asia". The palace of the King and official buildings were placed on the high plains of the inner fortress. The commercial life of the country that extended from Batum to Kerempe including Crimea which was in the hands of the Genoese and the Venetians. On the coast of the city there were castles and warehouses.
In the mid-13th century the Trabzon state, being rather small, began to be surrounded by the Cepnis. The Cepnis under the sovereignty of the Sungurlu tribe, from the Ucok subdivision of the Oguz division, who was the son of Kara Han and the grandchild of Turk Han, settled down on the borders of the Trabzon state. While there were Christian Kings in the inner citadel Islam was spreading quickly in the outer citadel. Ahi Evren Dede, an Islamic missionary, was buried in Boztepe after his death in the 14th century.
Meanwhile Trabzon became the center of Europe-Asia trade. But Moslem pirates, coming particularly from Sinop, were raiding the coasts and plundering the city. The King of Trabzon, Alexis Commenos II (1297-1333) who had the Giresun castle built, had constructed walls against the sea which is supposed to be the Moloz District now.
In the beginning of the 15th century Tamerlane invaded Anatolia and captured Trabzon too. But he did not add it to his Empire, he taxed it under the administration of his son Halil Mirza.
In 1411 the Saint Savas Church built in the Boztepe slope was decorated; according to the people the construction of the bell tower and belfry of the Saint Sophia Church was completed in 1427 and the drawing of the pictures on the arches of the entrance door of the Church was terminated in 1444.
A very bad struggle for the throne had started in Trabzon, it was evident that the last years of the Trabzon State had come. As a matter of fact the ruler of the Ottoman Empire Sultan Murat II had attacked Trabzon in 1442 from the sea and returned home taking slaves and taxes. The ambassador of Trabzon was also among those who congratulated Sultan Mehmet (The Conqueror) when he was enthroned in Edirne in 1451. During the preparation of the conquest of Istanbul in 1452, first the Bogazkesen Castle (Rumeli Hisari) was built in order to put an end to bonds between Trabzon and Istanbul; And after he conquered Istanbul in 1453, he also bound Trabzon to tax for 2000 duke golden coins. When it was not paid he sent Hizir Bey, the tutor of his son Sehzade Beyazid who was the governor in Amasya, over Trabzon in 1456.
Hizir Bey surrendered Trabzon and established his headquarters in the eastern section (now the Municipal building). But since the King of Trabzon declared that he would pay the tax required, he returned. The tax was sent to Istanbul in 1457 and was accepted only if the amount was increased to 3000 duke golden coins.
The King of Trabzon Commenos IV began to search remedies to be saved from this pressure of the Ottomans and tried to bring together all the governments and nations from Caucasia and the coasts of Euphrates (Firat) River to France and Vatican in opposition to the Ottoman State. At the end, by applying the old tradition, he engaged his beautiful girl to Uzun Hasan Bey, the ruler of Akkoyunlu, provided that he should defend Trabzon against the Ottomans. The last King David Commenos who took his place in 1458, first sent his niece to Uzun Hasan Bey so that she could be his wife and requested not to be taxed. Uzun Hasan Bey in return to Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror, asked him not to tax Trabzon, and also that he wanted back the debt that remained from his ancestors. The Conqueror by sending back the envoys told that he would personally come and pay his debt. In 1461, he set off to Trabzon.
Uzun Hasan Bey was afraid and begged pardon by sending his mother Sara Hatun to Ercincan, Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror said that he would forgive in case no help was rendered to Trabzon, but continued his voyage to Trabzon taking Sara Hatun with him. The army was divided into two in Bayburt. One part went on taking a separate route under the command of the Grand Vizier Mahmut Pasha. The route which the Conqueror followed was very difficult, particularly while crossing the Bulgar mountain. Sara Hatun wanted to take an advantage of this and tried to persuade the Conqueror to give up the voyage. But he did not take her words into consideration and Trabzon was surrounded from land and sea. The King of Trabzon David Commenos who learned that the Sultan and the Grand Vizier were coming at the head of the army, forgot about Trabzon which in fact was not of his own. He notified that he would give back the citadel if another suitable piece equal to the income of Trabzon was given. He assigned Amirutzes, his chief private secretary, as a representative and the Conqueror made the Grand Vizier Mahmut Pasha his representative. Amirutzes and Mahmut Pasha were cousins. Therefore discussions of surrender concluded immediately and Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror entered the citadel of Trabzon on Monday, the 26th of October 1461, he closed the phase of the Trabzon State that lasted 250 years in history. The Commander of the Fleet and the Governor of Gelibolu Kazim Bey took over the administration of the city.
Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror first of all changed the Panaghia Krys Krysokephalos church into a mosque and prayed in it. It was called the Ortahisar Mosque; now it is called Fatih Mosque. Later he turned Saint Eugenes church into a mosque and the first Friday Prayer was performed; it was called the Yenicuma Mosque. Since the community of a church in front of Mumhane became Moslems, this church was also turned into a mosque and was called Karabas Mosque. But it was destroyed in 1788.
Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror gave the jewels left over from the Trabzon State to Uzun Hasan Bey's mother Sara Hatun and sent her to her son. The son of Commenos, the ex-king of Trabzon, settled in the region named Pera in Istanbul and accepted Islam. The people of Istanbul called that place Beyoglu meaning the place where the son of the Trabzon Bey stayed.
The Christian families were taken out of the castle of Trabzon. The riches were sent to Istanbul. Others were settled in the neighboring called Meydani Sarki (Dogu meydani - Belediye meydani), Arafilboyu and Yenicuma. Suleyman the Magnificent came back to Istanbul, and Trabzon became a "Sancak" (outpost) which was later bounded to the Anatolian state.
In 1489 the son of Sultan Beyazid, Sultan Selim Yavuz, became the governor of Trabzon and came to Trabzon with his mother Gulbahar Hatun (Ayse). He himself gathered the intellectuals in Trabzon for his first born child Suleyman the Magnificent in 1494. Then due to the threat of the Shiis developing in Persia, he had city-walls constructed around Trabzon. But he could not convince the political danger of the Persian ruler who was pretending to be a religious ruler to his father and elder brother, the governor of Amasya. In the end he pressed of Shah Ismail's forces with his troops formed by the citizens of Trabzon. In 1508 he overcame Shah's big army corps and drove them out of his borders. He was going to go further but returned on demand of the Sultan.
Yavuz Sultan Selim was acting as a monarch and using the emperors rights. He himself attacked Georgia and owing to his heroic acts and successes he was named "Yavuz" (brave). Meanwhile his son Suleyman (Kanuni) was at the age of 15 and took over the governance of Kefe. Yavuz Sultan Selim went to Kefe by the sea with his army formed by the citizens of Trabzon and attacked Caucasia without permission; and not obeying the orders, he wanted to have a governor's post in Rumeli in order to be near Istanbul. As he couldn't get what he wanted, he attacked Edirne via Rumeli and was defeated by his father's (Sultan Beyazid) army and escaped to Crimea. In 1512 Sehzade Ahmet, during his father's lifetime, was called to Istanbul to become the ruler. But this time janissaries rebelled and he went back. Upon this, Yavuz Sultan Selim was called and became the ruler. Yavuz was interested in sports and science. During his governance he used the area called "Atapark" as a play ground; he shot arrows and organized competitions of bowshots for young Trabzon citizens.
A beautiful mausoleum was built over his mother Ayse (Gulbahar), the daughter of Dulkavidli ruler Aleaddevler, who died in 1505. Haci Kasim Fountain dating 1409 and Seydi Haci Mehmet fountain dating 1500 on Kavak Meydan street survived from the time of Yavuz Sultan Selim's governance. Hatuniye Mosque which was built for his mother, was completed in 1514. It is one of the greatest master pieces of the Ottomans in Trabzon.
After Yavuz Sultan Selim left in 1522, Iskender Pasha became the governor of Trabzon. In 1514 Erzincan became a state and Trabzon was bounded to it. Iskender pasha became the governor of Trabzon for four times. During his governance he built Iskender Pasha fountain at Belediye Square in 1519, another fountain at Hoca Halil Mahalle, Asagi Hisar in 1523 and a mosque at Belediye Square and a medrese (which isn't there anymore) in his name in 1529. Iskender Pasha, died in 1533, was buried within the mosque built by him. His tomb can be seen there.
During Kanuni Sultan Suleyman's reign (1520-1566) the Anatolian state was divided into two; Rumeli (Thrace) and Anatolia. The capital of the new Anatolian state was Trabzon and the subdivisions called Kemah, Bayburt, Malatya, Kahta, Divrigi and Darende were joined to Trabzon. But in 1534 the administrative system changed again; Erzurum became the capital and Trabzon was joined to Erzurum. In 1514 the city-walls of Trabzon were restored by Sirvanzade Mirza Mehmet Bey.
In the middle of the 16th century it is known that the Islamic religion hasn't penetrated into some regions of Trabzon. A man named Sheik Osman Efendi from Maras, who came by way of Bayburt, reinforced the Islamic religion. His tomb is in Caykara now.
In 1563 Governor of Trabzon Kasim bey (Kasim Celebi) built Pazarkapi Mosque. In 1564 Batum was captured. In 1566 Suleyman the Magnificent died. It was seen that the suit array which was taken off his back was even from a material woven in Trabzon. Suleyman the Magnificent used to wear clothes from Trabzon linen and also made the royals and janissaries wear it.
In 1578 Erdogdu Bey, governor of Trabzon, changed the small mosque by adding a minaret to it at Tekfur Cayi region. Therefore the mosque and the neighboring were named Erdogdu. In 1582 the Trabzon - Batum state, whose capital was Trabzon, was established; and St. Sophia church was changed into a mosque without laying a hand on any of its frescoes.
In the 17th century the Russian Don Cossacks began to plunder the coasts of Black sea. Omer Pasha, the governor of Trabzon then, organized a fleet of boats named 'menkisle' with 5 crew each and stopped these attacks.
Meanwhile riots in Anatolia had begun. One of the notables of Celali and Akkoyunlu Turkmenians, Ali Pasha from Murathan, became the governor of Trabzon. In 1608 while Celalis were being despoiled, Murat Pasha was called to Bayburt and killed there.
In 1732, a famous traveler and writer Katip Celebi (Haci Halife)'s book titled "Cihannuma" was published. There is some information about Trabzon in this book. In 1640 Evliya Celebi came to Trabzon and gave a great deal of information about the city in his book titled "Seyahatname". He describes the citizens of Trabzon as cleanly dressed, educated people fond of good talkers, fond of reading and writing poems. He divides the people into seven classes as: Notables and Nobles with Sableskin coats, scholars in special array, Merchants wearing Ferace made of broadcloth, Kontos and Dolman, Craftsmen who can mint and can masterly make all kinds of gold and silverware and weapons, Sea conveyors and Merchants with Shalwvar and Dolman made of broadcloth, i.e. the sailors, gardeners and fishermen.
Vizier Arnavut Mehmet Pasha who came to Trabzon as a governor in 1644 was dismissed from his position after a short time and went to Kopru district, the home-town of his wife, and settled there. Therefore he was called Koprulu Mehmet Pasha. He became the first member of Koprulu Family, and the name of Kopru was changed to Vezir Kopru.
In the middle of the 17th century the raids of Kazak pirates to Trabzon shore turned into Russian attacks. That's why the Trabzon governors were generally in charge of guarding the castles on the border as an additional duty. Trabzon was often left without a governor and was governed by Aghas instead of governors. Public order began to deteriorate and governors became unable to render good service in the city.
During the period of Biyikli Mustafa Pasha, governor of Trabzon in 1727, the conditions improved a little and Zeytinlik medrese which was the third great foundation of education of Trabzon was built. But public order in the city deteriorated again because in 1828 war with Iran broke out and this time the governors, in order to participate in the Iranian war, were handing Trabzon over to their assistants called Mutessellim. By then public order had deteriorated entirely, Laz and Cepni Aghas were attacking each other. In 1741 Omer Pasha established peace again and had the Trabzon and Gorele castles repaired, opened the Harsit road and built a nice palace in Guzelhisar for himself. He was confronted with the wrath of the Sultan and his palace was burned and he was executed.
Hekimoglu Ali Pasha, one of the famous grand Viziers and the governor of Trabzon in 1749, improved the public order by his skillful administration. He repaired the Karabas Mosque. In 1754 he was appointed as the Grand Vizier for the second time and was taken from Trabzon. In 1762 Mustafa Efendi, from Saraczade Family, founded the Saraczade Library. During that time Trabzon was progressing in commerce and hazel-nut was being exported from Trabzon to Russia. But public order was deteriorating terribly. Canikli Haci Ali Pasha who was sent to Trabzon as a governor in 1772 improved the public order, but this time governorship inherited by this family from then on. The candidate governors began struggling for seat. Then Sari Abdullah Pasha, who was brought up as the slave of Canikli Family, was sent to Trabzon as a governor. In 1788 the misleading trends in the administration of Trabzon had become worse. The task of killing Sari Abdullah Pasha was given to Kuguzade Suleyman Pasha, the new governor of Trabzon in 1791. He immediately carried out his duty, trapped and killed him and buried him in the cemetery near the Tavanli Mosque.
At the beginning of the 19th century the Russian attacks to Trabzon shores strengthened. The Russians captured the Azak, Anapa and Fas Castles on the border and in 1810 they landed on the Sargana shores of Akcaabat. Sakaoglu Mahmut Agha, the chief of Akçaabat, taking men along with him, and his wife Uluvve Hatun taking women as followers, opposed the enemy. By the participation of the people who came from the surroundings and the Trabzon governor Carhaci Ali Pasha himself, fierce battles started. They drove the enemy to the sea.
Meanwhile public order was in a disorderly state in Trabzon Region. The Aghas and the notables didn't take the government into consideration. As Haznedarzade Suleyman Pasha who was appointed to Trabzon as a governor, with a rank of Vizier, to improve the public order, was in a disagreement with Hopali Tuzcuoglu Memis Agha, the chief of Rize. Tuzcuoglu Memis Agha attacked Trabzon with all the notables and Aghas of the region and drove his head officer Cecenzade Hasan Agha out of the city. He dominated the Trabzon Castle and he acted as the head of the state for exactly four months. When the State forces came, he escaped and went to Of. He was captured and decapitated in 1817. But the social tension caused by the Aghas went on.
While Hazinedarzade Osman Pasha, who was sent to Trabzon as a governor in 1827, was taking protective precautions in his region against the Russian attacks, he was also trying to prevent the frequent revolts of the Aghas. In 1834 he completely stopped the revolts and improved the public order. He made the notables of Tuzcuoglu Family migrate to Ruscuk and Varna regions.
As a result of the improving public order, the commercial life and public works became active. Charles Texier who came to Trabzon in 1832, gave many information about Trabzon in his famous book named Asia Minor and mentioned Trabzon as the transit center of the East. As steam ships began their tours on the Black Sea in 1836, the commercial transportation in the Mediterranean directed to the Black Sea. In 1837 the Fatih mosque in Ortahisar was repaired and one of its rooms was constructed as a Sadirvan (fountain for the ablutions before prayers). The Çarsi Mosque was built in 1841. In 1842 the Fetvahane Library was constructed. Abdullah Pasha became the governor in place of his brother Hazinedarzade Osman Pasha who died in 1842, and contributed a lot to the public works of Trabzon.
The Hatuniye and Fatih Libraries were constructed in 1844, Kalcioglu Memis Agha Fountain was built in 1845. In 1848 Ismail Pasha, the Minister of public works, came to Trabzon with a group of specialists to examine the project about Trabzon - Baghdad Road in 1849. The Abdullah Pasha Fountain was put into service. In 1850 the Saraczade, in 1851 the Pazarkapi Medreses were founded, the Imaret Library was widened. Trabzon became the center of an intensive transit transportation in the middle of the 19th century; The trade in Trabzon Harbor started to expand continuously. Trabzon was the center of one of the 39 provinces of the Ottoman Empire. Sebinkarahisar, Samsun, Batum and Maradit were counties under the rule of Trabzon.
There was a regular sea transportation between Trabzon and Istanbul every fifteen days and it was necessary to have a well constructed highway to go to the East. For this reason, Ismail Pasa, Minister of Public works, came to Trabzon in 1850 and the construction of Erzurum - Trabzon highway began.
Primary and secondary Schools teaching with new methods were put into service in 1852. The marsh of Batum was dried, clean water was brought, and the Aziziye Mosque was built in 1862. Trabzon became a civilized and well-constructed city. In 1863 the St. Sophia (Ayasofya) Mosque was restored, the pictures in the mosque were covered with plaster; stairs were built for the bell-tower which was used as a minaret.
The provinces were abolished and the big cities were organized in the second half of the 19th century. Trabzon became a big city too, and also three provinces were added to Trabzon: 1) Central province of Trabzon (Giresun, Bulancak, Tirebolu, Of, Rize). 2) Province of Canik (Samsun, Unye, Bafra). 3) Province of Lazistan (Batum, Arhavi). 4) Province of Gumushane (Torul, Kelkit).
Trabzon was a lively and prosperous city. An American school was put into service in 1865 and an official printing office was established in 1866. Samsun, which was a subdivision of Trabzon, was completely burnt down and rebuilt on a modern new plan designed by the local government in Trabzon. In 1870 a formal newspaper named Trabzon and the first year book of Trabzon were printed.
The sea transportation in Trabzon increased considerably in those days and four ship companies arranged tours to Istanbul once a week. Two foreigners ran a beautiful hotel in the city. The shopping district was very rich and lively, goods from all over the world were sold there. The square called "Gavur Meydani" (The Municipal square) used to be a place where people took walks. This centre reminded people of Champs Elysses in Paris. The Kavak Square was the centre of sports and people on horses used to play jereed (Javelin) there. The population of the city was about forty thousand. There were some beautiful houses in the city and there was a road to the west across the city. While some changes in the administrative body were taking place in 1870, the Sebin Karahisar subdivision was separated from Trabzon and became a separate province, and Giresun became a county of this province. On the other hand in 1872, the towns of Surmene, Vakfikebir, Gorele and Aybasti were joined together as county of Trabzon.
Trabzon was developing day after day. In 1875 a French school was put into service in the city. There appeared a great progress in the commercial life and hazelnuts were exported to Belgium as well. When the Russian - Turkish war started in 1876, Trabzon was used as a supply centre of the army.
In 1883 a Persian school was put into service. Akcaabat which was known for its tobacco, Yomra famous for its fruit and therapeutically waters, Macka as the centre of making quilts, covering copper goods with tin and carving stones, were towns under the rule of central Trabzon. From the big harbor called Vakfikebir, butter, corn and beans were exported. Surmene was a natural harbor and the people living there were mostly fishermen. There lived a lot of scientists and artists in Of. In those days there was a constitutional government ruling the Ottoman Empire. When the first elections took place, Trabzon sent three deputies to the legislature. In accordance with the Ayastefanos agreement, Batum remained under the Russian rule and Rize became the capital of Lazistan in 1877. Mehmet Ziver Efendi, who wrote many poems about the fish (hamsi, like sardines) died in 1880. Leyla Hanim, whose poems were widespread among women, was the wife of Sirri Pasha, the governor of Trabzon then. Hamamizade Ihsan, an inhabitant of Trabzon, who has acquired a very distinctive place in the Turkish literature, was born in 1884.
Meanwhile Trabzon's nearest county Akcaabat has become a sub-district in 1887. Of, Surmene, Akcaabat, Vakfikebir, Gorele, Tirebolu, Giresun, Ordu, Yomra, Macka, Sarli and Tonya were sub-districts of Trabzon by the end of the 19th century. Trabzon continued to be the starting point of international road to Iran and an important seaport town of Eastern Anatolia. There were eight ship agencies, one of which was local. There were nine consulates in Trabzon. In brief, it was a big and rich city. The Armenians in Trabzon started a riot but it was soon overcome in 1895.
When the Second Constitutional Regime was declared in 1908, seven deputies were elected from Trabzon for the parliament. In the 1912 elections seven parliamenters were elected again. During that period the administration of the Ottoman State had become weaker because of the struggle of rivalry of political parties. Italians took advantage of this instability and occupied the twelve islands in the Aegean and also landed at Tripoli (Trablusgarb) which was under the sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire. The Balkan war broke out; the government declared a state of emergency and wanted the aid of all provinces. People of Trabzon and its districts tried very hard to procure money for the government.
The Ottoman Government frequently changed hands and the power of the state weakened because of the struggle and rivalry of political parties. Bekir Sami Bey, who was a governor in Trabzon twice in 1911 and 1912, was also the foreign Minister of the Ankara Government during the years of the Turkish National War of Liberation. The governorship of Suleyman Nazif Bey, who was a famous Turkish poet, didn't even last a year. The governorship of Professor Mehmet Ali Avni, who was famous with his scientific and artistic works, lasted shorter than Suleyman Nazif's. Samih Rifats's governance lasted only a month. In 1913, as the activities of Armenian Committees and the Second Balkan War started, Cemal Azmi Bey became the governor of Trabzon.
When World War I broke out in 1914, the Istanbul Government couldn't keep its impartiality and was obliged to enter the war on the side of Germany. Disastrous days for Trabzon began. The city was bombed by 23 Russian warship on 1st November 1914. Bomb-shells followed one another, and a large group of young people from Trabzon died in the battle of Sarikamis in the east of Turkey. As the bombardments were continuing, Russian land troops passed the shore border on 24th February 1916 and occupied Rize and came to the border of Of. The people of Of and its sub-districts joined the 2500 soldiers under the command of Gurcu Avni Pasa, the commander of that region. They stopped the Russian Army on the border of Trabzon, in spite of the good state of the Russian army. But the Russians occupied Of on 5th March 1916 and Trabzon on 18th April 1916 anyway. Trabzon was saved from the enemy invasion on 24th February 1918 and was joined to the Motherland.
Some people say that the name of the city comes from the Greek "Trapezous"; "trapezion" is the table, and the ending "-ous" means the place which possesses/has something (eg. Kerasous; the place that has cherries, todays Giresun). Trapezous indicates the flat hilltop in the old city, which is surrounded by the medieval wall.
source: allaboutturkey(dot)com
History of Tokat
Tokat is the site of the important ancient Roman city of Comana of Pontus, which was destroyed in 47 BCE by the Romans. In 1071 CE, it became a part of the Danismend Turkmen principality, and one of its principal cities. The region prospered from the trade between Anatolia and Persia.
In the 13th century, it came under the Seljuks and in1392 became part of the Ottoman Empire by popular request of the inhabitants who were suffering because of the Mongols. Under the Ottomans, Tokat enjoyed security and prosperity, but due to loss of the Persian trade route, suffered a decline in its fortunes.
source: turkeyforyou(dot)com
In the 13th century, it came under the Seljuks and in1392 became part of the Ottoman Empire by popular request of the inhabitants who were suffering because of the Mongols. Under the Ottomans, Tokat enjoyed security and prosperity, but due to loss of the Persian trade route, suffered a decline in its fortunes.
source: turkeyforyou(dot)com
Monday, May 3, 2010
History of Sivas
Situated at an altitude of 1275 m, Sivas is the highest city of the Central Anatolian Region, and the most mountainous one with the numerous peaks. This uneven land has been the shelter of many tribes, from the earliest ages to more recent periods from which remain many notable monuments.
Sivas being at the junction point of the Persia and Baghdad caravan routes, was once a busy commercial center. During the interval between 1142 and 1171, it was the capital of the Turkish Danismend Emirs. Later, under the rule of the Seljuks, it became a cultural center, with importance given to learning and scholarship; and many related buildings were constructed by the remains of some, can still be seen today.
One of the outstanding numerous Seljuk works of art and architecture is Izzeddin Keykavus Sifahanesi, which was "a house of recovery" in those times; in other words "a hospital". It was built in 1217 by the order of the Seljuk Sultan, and its decoration with painted tiles is beautiful.
Gok Medrese (theological school) and Buruciye Medrese, both built in 1271, constitute the best examples of wonderful Seljuk artistic works, while the Ulu Mosque of the Danismend Emirate is another fine historical monument, reflecting a different style. The Cifte Minareli Medrese of the same year, is also noteworthy with its twin minarets rising elegantly on both sides of its ornate portal.
Throughout the long history of the city, the role played by Sivas, during the War of Independence is important in that the National Congress took the decision to fight for the liberalization of Turkey, here, in 1919. The school building used then; is now the Ataturk and Congress Museum; and here, the relevant documents of the congress and war, are on display, together with ethnographical finds and local handicrafts.
165 km southeast of Sivas, is Divrigi, an ancient town, which was once a Byzantine site. By the 12th and 13th centuries, it was the capital of Turkish Mengucek Emirs, and the remains of Ulu Mosque of 1229 and a citadel remain from the period. The Baroque style portal of this magnificent mosque is a real masterpiece of stonework, and this monumental building has been declared by UNESCO to be one of the eminent cultural heritages of the world.
Besides its historical treasures, the city possesses several other specialties, one of which is Balikli Kaplica, an interesting spa of the town Kangal. It is a thermal spring, filled with tiny fish living in the hot waters, which provides a different type of cure for skin complaints. It is the only cure center in the world for "Sedef Hastaligi" (psoriasis). Soguk Cermik is another spa center. Hafik, Todurge (Zara), and Gokpinar (Gurun) Lakes are some of the interesting places for picnicking, boating and fishing.
Another special characteristic of this town, 68 km south of Sivas, are the world famous Kangal dogs. These sheep dogs have proven their loyalty and success even in the harshest climates such as in this city, and are confidently used in the area of police and military work.
Sivas is also known for its fine carpets of numerous designs and colors. These locally produced weavings offer a wide variety of choice, and the inherent high quality is not subject to variation.
On March 29, 2006, Total Solar Eclipse was seen from Sivas at 14:06pm local time.
source: allaboutturkey(dot)com
Sivas being at the junction point of the Persia and Baghdad caravan routes, was once a busy commercial center. During the interval between 1142 and 1171, it was the capital of the Turkish Danismend Emirs. Later, under the rule of the Seljuks, it became a cultural center, with importance given to learning and scholarship; and many related buildings were constructed by the remains of some, can still be seen today.
One of the outstanding numerous Seljuk works of art and architecture is Izzeddin Keykavus Sifahanesi, which was "a house of recovery" in those times; in other words "a hospital". It was built in 1217 by the order of the Seljuk Sultan, and its decoration with painted tiles is beautiful.
Gok Medrese (theological school) and Buruciye Medrese, both built in 1271, constitute the best examples of wonderful Seljuk artistic works, while the Ulu Mosque of the Danismend Emirate is another fine historical monument, reflecting a different style. The Cifte Minareli Medrese of the same year, is also noteworthy with its twin minarets rising elegantly on both sides of its ornate portal.
Throughout the long history of the city, the role played by Sivas, during the War of Independence is important in that the National Congress took the decision to fight for the liberalization of Turkey, here, in 1919. The school building used then; is now the Ataturk and Congress Museum; and here, the relevant documents of the congress and war, are on display, together with ethnographical finds and local handicrafts.
165 km southeast of Sivas, is Divrigi, an ancient town, which was once a Byzantine site. By the 12th and 13th centuries, it was the capital of Turkish Mengucek Emirs, and the remains of Ulu Mosque of 1229 and a citadel remain from the period. The Baroque style portal of this magnificent mosque is a real masterpiece of stonework, and this monumental building has been declared by UNESCO to be one of the eminent cultural heritages of the world.
Besides its historical treasures, the city possesses several other specialties, one of which is Balikli Kaplica, an interesting spa of the town Kangal. It is a thermal spring, filled with tiny fish living in the hot waters, which provides a different type of cure for skin complaints. It is the only cure center in the world for "Sedef Hastaligi" (psoriasis). Soguk Cermik is another spa center. Hafik, Todurge (Zara), and Gokpinar (Gurun) Lakes are some of the interesting places for picnicking, boating and fishing.
Another special characteristic of this town, 68 km south of Sivas, are the world famous Kangal dogs. These sheep dogs have proven their loyalty and success even in the harshest climates such as in this city, and are confidently used in the area of police and military work.
Sivas is also known for its fine carpets of numerous designs and colors. These locally produced weavings offer a wide variety of choice, and the inherent high quality is not subject to variation.
On March 29, 2006, Total Solar Eclipse was seen from Sivas at 14:06pm local time.
source: allaboutturkey(dot)com
History of Sinop
Sinop was founded with the construction of a fortress near Boztepe Burnu, a headland attached from the east to another headland, Ince Burun, which is Anatolia’s northernmost point. The navigators who settled here used the area around the fortress as a small harbour. In time the outer harbour filled up with sand and became useless. When the Seljuks, who were expert navigators, realized that the outer harbour was no longer of use, they closed off the canal that connected it with the inner harbour. And the inner harbour, now Sinop’s one and only, became one of the Black Sea’s most important with its shelter from the sharp north winds and its ever calm waters.
Sinop was incorporated to the Ottoman Empire in 1458. In 1853, shortly after the outbreak of the Crimean War, the Russian navy dramatically attacked Sinop, destroying the Ottoman fleet and reducing large parts of the city to ashes.
source: virtualtourist(dot)com
Sinop was incorporated to the Ottoman Empire in 1458. In 1853, shortly after the outbreak of the Crimean War, the Russian navy dramatically attacked Sinop, destroying the Ottoman fleet and reducing large parts of the city to ashes.
source: virtualtourist(dot)com
History of Siirt
Known history of Siirt can be traced to 200BC, built on a place that Mesopotamia and Anatolian civilizations are intersects. Babylon, Hurri's, Mitanni's, Urartu, Persian, the Great Alexander, Romans, Byzantine, Omayyad, Abbasid, Seljuklian, Ilkhanid, Karakoyunlu, Akkoyunlu, Safevi and Ottoman's dominate Siirt they mention by order of domination.
source: kultur(dot)gov(dot)tr
source: kultur(dot)gov(dot)tr
History of Sakarya
Sakarya dates back to 378 BC. Ancient settlers included Phrygians, Bithynians, Cimmerians, Lydians and Persians, but Sakarya got its identity from the Romans and Byzantine rulers. One of the most important remains of historical significance is the Justinianus Bridge (Turkish: Beş Köprü) built by Byzantine Emperor Justinian in 533 CE.
source: wikipedia(dot)org
source: wikipedia(dot)org
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