A city on the Black Sea coast of present-day Turkey, former capital of a Christian empire (12041461), founded by Alexius Comnenus. It was the outpost of Greek culture in Asia Minor until the Greek defeat by the Turks in 1922.
| Trabzon, Turkey | |
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Hagia Sophia in Trabzon |
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Location in Turkey |
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| Overview | |
| Province | Trabzon |
| Total Population | 1.085.901 (2006) |
| Area | 4.685 km² km² |
| Population density | 231.7 inh./km² |
| Elevation | 0 m |
| Coordinates | NA |
| Postal code | 61xxx |
| Area code | (+90) 462 |
| Licence plate code | 61 |
Trabzon, formerly known as Trebizond (Modern Greek: Τραπεζούντα, Trapezoúnta; Ancient Greek: Τραπεζοῦς, Trapezoûs), is a city on the Black Sea coast of northeastern Turkey and the capital of Trabzon Province.
History
Ancient and Medieval
Originally, it was founded as Trapezus (Τραπεζοῦς) by traders from Miletus (traditionally in 756 BCE), the city was one of a number (about ten) of Milesian emporia, or trading colonies along the shores of the Black Sea.
After the Fourth Crusade in 1204, a Byzantine successor state was founded there with support of Queen Tamar of Georgia, the Empire of Trebizond, which ruled part of the Black Sea coast from Trabzon until 1461, when its ruler, David, surrendered to Mehmed II, ruler of the Ottoman Empire.
Modern era
Trabzon was captured during World War I by forces under the command of the Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaevich the younger.
As a result of general development of the country, there appeared vitality in the economic and commercial life of Trabzon and some important steps have been taken.
Trabzon is famous throughout Turkey for its anchovies, which are the main meal in many restaurants in the city.
Trabzon is also famous for its sports club Trabzonspor Kulübü, which includes the only Turkish football club outside of İstanbul to have been champion of the Turkish Super League.
Geography and climate
The city has a total area of 4.685 km² and It is bordered by the cities of Rize, Giresun and Gümüşhane.
Rivers
The Değirmendere (former Piksidis), Yanbolu, Fol, Karadere, Koha, Sürmene (former Manahos), Solaklı, Baltacı and İyidere (former Kalopotamos)
Lakes
Çakırgöl, Uzungöl, Serra Gölü
Climate
Trabzon has a typical Black Sea climate, with rain the year round and temperatures reaching up to around 27°C in the summer.
The Chepnis, an Oghuz tribe that played an important role in the history of the Eastern Black Sea area in the 13th and 14th centuries, live in the Şalpazarı (Ağasar valley) region of the Trabzon Province.
The presence of Armenian Christians in Trabzon has been considerably less significant than that of the Greek Orthodox.
Origin of the Pontic Turks and Greeks
It is most likely that the majority of the population of Trabzon and Rize (and of course other Greek colonies as well) —except up to the time of the Chepni Turk immigration waves—consisted of indigenous Caucasian tribes (probably Colchians) who had been partly Hellenized religiously and linguistically.
Tourist attractions
Trabzon has a number of tourist attractions, some of them dating back to the times of the ancient empires that once existed in the region.
Within the Trabzon Province, the main attractions are the Sumela Monastery (Turkish: Sümela Manastırı) and Uzungöl.
Other important sites of interest are:
Kaymaklı (Amenapırgiç Armenian church) monastery, Kızlar (Panagia Theoskepastos) monastery, Gregorios Peristera (Hızır İlyas) monastery, Kızlar (Panagia Kerameste) monastery, Vazelon monastery,
Hagaios Savas (Maşatlık) Cave Churches, Hagia Anna (Little Ayvasıl), Sotha (St. John), Hagios Theodoros, Hagios Konstantinos, Hagios Khristophoras, Hagios Kiryaki, Santa Maria, Hagios Mikhail
and Panagia Tzita churches, Fatih (Panagia Khrysokephalos Church), Yeni Cuma (Hagios Eugenios), Nakip (Hagios Andreas Church), Hüsnü Köktuğ (Hagios Eleutherios), İskender Pasha, Semerciler and
Çarşı mosques, Gülbahar Hatun Mosque and mausoleum.
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