Van history

The city of Van, located on the eastern shore of the lake bearing the same name, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Its history spans nearly three thousand years and is closely intertwined with the powerful civilizations of the Ancient East.

Foundation and First Mentions

The history of the city begins in the 9th century BC, when King Sarduri I of the Urartu Kingdom established his capital at this site. Initially, the city was named Tushpa. It was built at the foot of a massive rock upon which an impregnable fortress was erected, known today as the Van Fortress. Cuneiform inscriptions found on the walls of the fortress are among the earliest written records of the city's history.

Key Factors of Formation

The development and prosperity of Tushpa were driven by several important factors:

• Strategic Location: The city controlled the fertile valley near Lake Van and was situated at the intersection of important ancient trade routes.
• Political Center: As the capital of the powerful Kingdom of Urartu, Tushpa was the administrative and military heart of a state that, at the peak of its power, successfully rivaled Assyria.
• Engineering Achievements: The Urartians were skilled builders. To supply the city with fresh water, they constructed a 70-kilometer canal that functions to this day, remaining an outstanding monument of ancient engineering.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

Ancient Tushpa was not only a fortress but also a thriving urban center. Archaeological finds and ancient texts testify to a high level of craftsmanship, particularly in metalworking. Urartian masters were renowned for their bronze artifacts. The city was an important religious center dedicated to Haldi, the chief god of the Urartian pantheon. After the fall of Urartu in the 6th century BC, the city continued to play a significant role in the region's history, passing under the rule of the Medes, Persians, Armenian kingdoms, and other great empires.

History of Van: Chronology of Events

• 9th Century BC — King Sarduri I founds the city of Tushpa, known today as Van, making it the capital of the powerful Urartu state.
• 8th Century BC — By order of King Menua, a grand 70-kilometer canal is built for the city's water supply, parts of which are still functioning today.
• 6th Century BC — After the fall of Urartu, the city comes under the control of the Median Empire and later becomes part of the Achaemenid Empire.
• 908 — The city is proclaimed the capital of the Armenian Kingdom of Vaspurakan, entering an era of cultural and architectural flourishing.
• 921 — Construction of the famous Church of the Holy Cross, adorned with unique bas-reliefs, is completed on Akdamar Island.
• 1071 — Following the Battle of Manzikert, the region falls into the sphere of Seljuk influence, changing the political landscape of Anatolia.
• 1387 — The troops of Tamerlane capture and destroy the city, causing significant damage to its economy and population.
• 1548 — Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent definitively incorporates the city into the Ottoman Empire, strengthening it as a strategic outpost in the east.
• 1915–1918 — During the events of World War I, the historical buildings of the old city at the foot of the fortress were almost completely destroyed.
• 1923 — With the proclamation of the republic, modern Turkey begins the construction of the new city of Van on the plain, away from the ruins of the old capital.
• 1982 — The founding of Yüzüncü Yıl University transforms the city into a key educational and scientific center of Eastern Anatolia.
• 2011 — A devastating earthquake leads to a massive reconstruction program and the renewal of the city's architectural appearance.

Stages of Development: From Ancient Capital to Modern Center

The history of Van is not merely a chronology of events, but a series of profound transformations that turned an ancient fortress into a dynamic modern city. The key milestones of its development reflect the economic, cultural, and urban changes that have defined the Van of today.

• Engineering Heritage of Urartu: The construction of the 70-kilometer Shamiram Canal in the 8th century BC was a fundamental urban planning project. This canal not only provided the capital Tushpa with fresh water but also laid the foundation for agricultural development in the region, remaining a unique monument of ancient engineering thought.
• Cultural Flourishing in the 10th Century: Van's transformation into the capital of the Armenian Kingdom of Vaspurakan was a significant cultural stage. During this period, the city and its surroundings were enriched with numerous monasteries and churches, such as the famous Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island, and Van itself became a center of culture and literacy.
• Administrative Center of the Ottoman Empire: From the 16th century, after becoming part of the Ottoman Empire, Van acquired the status of an important administrative and military center on the state's eastern borders. This strengthened its strategic and economic significance, turning it into a key hub controlling trade routes.
• Complete Rebirth in the 20th Century: Following the destruction during the First World War, the old city was almost entirely lost. Modern Van was rebuilt from scratch several kilometers away from the historical site. This event marked a radical urban transformation, creating a completely new city layout and architectural appearance.
• Establishment of the University: The opening of Yüzüncü Yıl University in 1982 provided a powerful impulse for cultural and social development. The institution turned Van into the main educational and scientific hub of Eastern Anatolia, attracting thousands of students and specialists.
• Modernization after 2011: The destructive earthquake of 2011 led to a large-scale reconstruction and modernization program. New standards of earthquake-resistant construction were introduced, urban infrastructure was updated, and modern residential complexes were built, significantly changing the face of the city.
• Development of the Tourism Cluster: In recent decades, the government and local authorities have been actively developing Van's tourism potential. Projects to restore the historical part of the city and the fortress, as well as promoting Lake Van and its attractions, are turning tourism into one of the key sectors of the local economy.

The architectural appearance of Van is a multi-layered history reflecting great civilizations and dramatic events. Unlike European cities, you will not find Gothic or Renaissance styles here; its urban development followed a unique path shaped by Urartian, Armenian, Seljuk, and Ottoman traditions, as well as modern realities.

The Urartian Period: Power and Engineering

The foundation of Van's architectural heritage was laid in the 9th–7th centuries BC, when the city, then known as Tushpa, was the capital of the Urartu Kingdom. The dominant feature and main symbol of that era is the Van Fortress — a monumental defensive structure erected on a high rock. Urartian architecture is characterized by:

• Cyclopean Masonry: The use of huge, roughly hewn basalt blocks in the foundation of walls, giving them incredible strength.
• Fortification Mastery: The fortress was not just a wall, but a complex system of towers, bastions, and chambers carved into the rock, including the tombs of kings.
• Engineering Solutions: Besides the fortress, the Urartians created the 70-kilometer Shamiram Canal for water supply, which is an outstanding monument of ancient hydraulic engineering.

The Middle Ages: From Churches to Seljuk Mosques

In the 10th century, Van became the center of the Vaspurakan Kingdom, which brought distinctive sacred architecture to the region. Although many monuments were lost, the most striking example of this period is the Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island in Lake Van. Its walls are adorned with unique stone bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the Old Testament. Following the arrival of the Seljuk Turks in the 11th century and later during the Ottoman period, Islamic structures began to appear in the city. In the old city, at the foot of the fortress, one can still see the ruins of buildings such as Ulu Cami (Great Mosque) and Kızıl Minareli Cami (Red Minaret Mosque), which bear the characteristics of Seljuk and early Ottoman architecture.

The Ottoman Period and Urban Discontinuity

In the 16th century, Van became firmly integrated into the Ottoman Empire. During this period, iconic mosques were built, such as the Hüsrev Pasha Mosque and the Kaya Çelebi Mosque, designed, according to some sources, by students of the famous architect Mimar Sinan. However, the tragic events of the early 20th century led to the almost complete destruction of the historical city at the foot of the fortress. This created a unique urban situation: modern Van was rebuilt anew several kilometers south of its original location.

Modern Van: Functionality and Seismic Safety

Today's Van is a city with predominantly modern construction. Its appearance has been largely defined by two factors:

• 20th Century Planning: The new city developed according to a modern plan with wider streets and functional buildings, characteristic of the Turkish Republic. Almost none of the old winding streets remain here.
• Reconstruction after the 2011 Earthquake: The powerful earthquake led to a massive construction program. New buildings and residential neighborhoods are erected taking strict seismic resistance standards into account, making safety and functionality the main priorities of the city's modern architecture.

Distinguished Figures Associated with Van

Throughout its centuries-old history, the city of Van has been the birthplace or place of activity for many prominent figures who have left their mark on history, culture, and politics. Here are some of them:

• Sarduri I (9th century BC) — King of the Urartu Kingdom. He is the founder of the city of Tushpa, the ancient predecessor of Van, and transformed it into the capital of a powerful empire. It was under his rule that the famous Van Fortress was founded.
• Mkrtich I Khrimian (1820–1907) — A prominent religious and public figure and writer. Born in Van, he earned the nickname Hayrik (Father) for his care for the people. He served as the Patriarch of Constantinople and later as the Catholicos of All Armenians.
• Arshile Gorky (Vostanik Adoyan, 1904–1948) — A world-renowned American artist, one of the founders of Abstract Expressionism. He was born in the village of Khorkom, near Lake Van, and his childhood years spent in this region had a profound influence on his art.
• Ferit Melen (1906–1988) — A Turkish politician. A native of Van, he served as Minister of Finance, Minister of National Defense, and was the Prime Minister of Turkey from 1972 to 1973. The airport in the city of Van is named after him.
• Yaşar Kemal (1923–2015) — One of the greatest Turkish writers of the 20th century. He came from a family of refugees from the Van region, and the tragic events experienced by his family during the First World War were reflected in his works.
• Ruhi Su (1912–1985) — A famous Turkish opera singer (bass) and folk song performer. Born in Van, he became an iconic figure in Turkish music, virtuoso on the saz and performing folk songs in his own unique style.