Amasya history

The History of the Emergence of Amasya

Amasya is a city with deep historical roots, boasting a past that spans thousands of years. Located in the picturesque gorge of the Yeşilırmak River, it has served for centuries as a cradle for various civilizations, from the Hittites to the Ottomans, maintaining its strategic and cultural significance throughout the ages.

Foundation and First Mentions

The exact date of the settlement's foundation is lost in the depths of time; however, archaeological evidence indicates that people inhabited this area as early as the Neolithic era. In early historical chronicles, the territory is mentioned in connection with the Hittite Kingdom, and later with the Phrygians, Lydians, and Persians.

As a fully-fledged and powerful city, Amasya (ancient Amasia) made its mark during the Hellenistic period. In 302 BC, it became the first capital of the Kingdom of Pontus. It was during this period that active urban planning began, and the famous tombs of the Pontic kings were carved into the cliffs, becoming the symbol of the city.

Key Factors of Development

Several key factors contributed to Amasya's transformation into an important regional center:

• Unique Geography: The city is situated in a narrow valley surrounded by high, sheer cliffs. This created a natural fortress that was extremely difficult to capture, ensuring safety for rulers and residents alike.
• The Yeşilırmak River: The ancient Iris River (now Yeşilırmak) not only served as a water source but also made the surrounding lands fertile, which was vital for providing the city with food.
• Trade Routes: Amasya was located at the intersection of important routes connecting the Black Sea coast with inner Anatolia, which stimulated trade and the exchange of goods.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

Since ancient times, Amasya has been renowned as a center of enlightenment and culture. The most famous native of the city from the ancient era was the celebrated geographer and historian Strabo, who left detailed descriptions of his homeland. The city harmoniously combined Hellenistic culture with local Anatolian traditions.

The economy of early Amasya relied on agriculture and craftsmanship. Thanks to the mild microclimate of the valley, horticulture flourished here, while the presence of rich mineral deposits in the region contributed to the development of metal and stone processing.

Key Dates in the History of Amasya

The history of Amasya is saturated with events that determined the fate not only of the region but of entire empires. Below is a chronology of the most important milestones in the life of the city.

• 302 BC — Mithridates I Ctistes proclaims Amasya the capital of the Kingdom of Pontus, beginning the era of Hellenistic cultural flourishing in the region.
• 70 BC — The city passes under the control of the Roman Republic following its conquest by the general Lucullus.
• Circa 64 BC — Strabo, the famous ancient geographer and historian who glorified his hometown in his works, is born in Amasya.
• 395 AD — After the division of the Roman Empire, Amasya becomes part of Byzantium, strengthening its position as an important religious and military center.
• 1075 — The Turkic Danishmend dynasty conquers the city, making it their capital and a center of Islamic education.
• 1174 — Seljuk Sultan Kilij Arslan II annexes Amasya to the Sultanate of Rum, uniting the Anatolian lands.
• 1392 — Sultan Bayezid I definitively incorporates the city into the Ottoman Empire.
• 1402–1413 — During the Ottoman Interregnum, Amasya serves as a stronghold for the future Sultan Mehmed I Çelebi, who restored the unity of the state.
• 1555 — The Peace of Amasya is signed in the city between Suleiman the Magnificent and the Safavid Empire, ending the long Ottoman-Persian war.
• June 12, 1919 — Mustafa Kemal Atatürk arrives in Amasya to begin organizing the national liberation movement.
• June 22, 1919 — The "Amasya Circular" (Amasya Genelgesi) is issued, becoming the first official document proclaiming the start of the Turkish War of Independence.

Stages of the City's Formation and Development

Amasya has come a long way from being the impregnable fortress of ancient kings to a modern tourist center. Each era left its mark on the architecture, economy, and way of life. Here are the key milestones that formed the unique appearance of the city:

• Capital of the Kingdom of Pontus. The urban planning foundation of Amasya was laid during the Hellenistic period. It was then that the unique landscape was formed, with fortifications on Mount Harşena and monumental tombs carved into the rocks, which define the city's panorama to this day.
• Architectural Flourishing under the Seljuks and Danishmends. In the 11th–13th centuries, the city transformed into an important Islamic center. The active construction of mosques, madrasahs, and monumental structures (such as the Gökmedrese) enriched the urban environment, making Amasya a hub of religious education and trade on the Silk Road.
• "City of Şehzades" (Ottoman Period). The city's special status, where the sons of sultans were sent to learn the art of state governance, led to a significant cultural rise. The presence of the court attracted the intellectual elite, poets, and calligraphers, giving the provincial city a metropolitan polish and a high standard of living.
• Scientific Breakthrough and Medicine. The construction of the Darüşşifa (Bimarhane) hospital in the 14th century cemented the city's status as an advanced scientific center. Unique treatment methods for that time were developed here, including surgery and music therapy, attracting patients and scholars from all over Anatolia.
• Formation of the Yalıboyu Ensemble. In the 19th century, characteristic wooden mansions (Konaks) were erected along the Yeşilırmak River. This urban planning decision created a recognizable architectural facade, which today is the city's main aesthetic asset and the foundation of its historical charm.
• Political Center of 1919. The adoption of the "Amasya Circular" marked the transition from an imperial past to a new political reality. The city became the starting point for the creation of the modern Republic of Turkey, forever cementing its status as a symbol of independence.
• Modern Tourism Revitalization. In recent decades, the city has undergone a massive restoration of the historic center and the embankment. The city's economy has reoriented towards cultural tourism, and the preservation of heritage has allowed Amasya to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Planning

Amasya's urban structure is dictated by its unique natural landscape. The city developed linearly along the bed of the Yeşilırmak River, sandwiched between high cliffs and the water. This geographical feature created a multi-level architectural composition: from ancient tombs on the cliff peaks to Ottoman mansions at the water's edge.

Hellenism and Rome: Art in Rock

The oldest layer of Amasya's architecture is represented by monumental structures literally carved into natural stone. This is the legacy of the Kingdom of Pontus, where architecture was sculptural rather than constructional in nature.

The dominant feature of this period comprises the Tombs of the Pontic Kings. They represent the facades of Hellenistic temples carved directly into the limestone rock of Mount Harşena. Strict symmetry, columns, and imposing dimensions testify to the influence of Greek classics adapted to local conditions. The Roman period supplemented the city with engineering structures: aqueducts (Ferhat channels) and the strengthening of the fortress walls.

Seljuk Architecture: Stone Carving and Portals

With the arrival of the Seljuk Turks and the Danishmend dynasty, the city was enriched with masterpieces of Islamic architecture. This period is characterized by strict geometric forms, the use of hewn stone, and virtuoso carving on entrance portals.

A striking example is the Gökmedrese (Blue Madrasah), built in the 13th century. The building is distinguished by a unique portal and the use of turquoise tiles, which gave the structure its name. Another iconic monument is the Burmalı Minare Mosque, known for its spiral stone minaret, which demonstrates the high skill of Seljuk masons.

Ottoman Style: Imperial Scope and Vernacular Architecture

The Ottoman era brought two distinct directions to Amasya's appearance. The first is the classical imperial architecture of religious complexes (Külliye). The second is civil residential development, which formed the cozy look of the embankment.

• Religious Complexes: The Sultan Bayezid II Complex (15th century) is a benchmark of the early Ottoman style. Here, one can trace the transition to large domed spaces, harmonious proportions, and the presence of many social buildings around the mosque (madrasah, library, imaret/soup kitchen).
• Traditional Houses (Konaks): The famous Yalıboyu Houses line the Yeşilırmak River. These are examples of late Ottoman residential architecture (19th century), built using the "hımış" technique (wooden frame with infill). Characteristic features include bay windows (cumba) overhanging the water, tiled roofs, and white facades, creating a picturesque rhythm along the embankment.

Correlation of Styles and Historical Eras

The architectural fabric of Amasya serves as a visual guide to the history of the region, where each style corresponds to a specific period of rule:

• Hellenistic Style (3rd–1st centuries BC): Rock architecture, monumentalism.
  Examples: Royal Rock Tombs.
• Roman and Byzantine Engineering (1st century BC – 11th century AD): Fortification, hydraulic structures.
  Examples: Walls of Harşena Fortress, water channels.
• Seljuk Style (11th–13th centuries): Stone masonry, conical domes, carved portals, geometric ornamentation.
  Examples: Gökmedrese, Burmalı Minare Mosque, Hospital (Bimarhane).
• Classical Ottoman Style (15th–17th centuries): Lead domes, slender minarets, arched galleries, "Külliye" complexes.
  Examples: Sultan Bayezid II Mosque and Complex, Mehmed Pasha Mosque.
• Vernacular (Folk) Architecture (19th century): Timber-frame construction, bay windows (cumba), organic connection with the river.
  Examples: Historical mansions of the Yalıboyu district (Yalıboyu Evleri).

Notable Figures of Amasya

Amasya, known as the "City of Princes" and a cradle of civilizations, became the birthplace and home to numerous historical figures who left their mark on world science, art, and politics.

• Strabo (c. 64 BC — c. 24 AD)
  Ancient Geographer and Historian
  The most famous native of the city from the ancient era. Author of the fundamental 17-volume work "Geography," which serves as a primary source of knowledge about the ancient world. Strabo left a detailed description of the Amasya of that time, calling it his homeland.
• Mithridates I Ctistes (died 266 BC)
  Founder of the Kingdom of Pontus
  The King who proclaimed Amasya the first capital of the Pontic State. It was under his dynasty that the creation of the famous rock tombs, which form the recognizable appearance of the city, began.
• Sabuncuoğlu Şerefeddin (1385–1468)
  Physician, Surgeon, and Pharmacologist
  An outstanding medic who worked at the Amasya hospital (Darüşşifa). He wrote "Cerrahiyyetü'l-Haniyye" (Imperial Surgery) — the first illustrated surgical atlas in the Islamic world, which was ahead of its time in treatment methods.
• Mehmed I Çelebi (1381–1421)
  Ottoman Sultan
  The ruler often called the "second founder" of the Ottoman Empire. During the period of turmoil and interregnum, he made Amasya his base, from where he led the struggle for the reunification of the state, eventually restoring its integrity.
• Selim I the Grim (Yavuz) (1470–1520)
  9th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire
  Born in Amasya into the family of the future Sultan Bayezid II. He became one of the most powerful rulers in Turkish history, significantly expanding the borders of the empire and assuming the title of Caliph.
• Sheikh Hamdullah (1436–1520)
  Master Calligrapher
  A native of Amasya, revered as the "Qibla of Scribes." He reformed Arabic script and became the founder of the classical Ottoman school of calligraphy, whose standards were used for centuries.
• Mihri Hatun (died 1506)
  Poetess
  One of the most famous female poets of Divan literature. She lived and created in Amasya at the court of Şehzade Ahmed. She was renowned for her talent, wit, and boldness, engaging in literary competitions with male poets.