Address
Karagozler, Fevzi Çakmak Cd. No:49, 48300 Fethiye/Muğla, Türkiye
Office Hour
- Everyday: 8:30 - 20:00
- Emergency : 7/24
Karagozler, Fevzi Çakmak Cd. No:49, 48300 Fethiye/Muğla, Türkiye
Erzurum is a major city in eastern Turkey, sharing its name with the province it leads. As the largest city in the region and the capital of Erzurum Province, it sits at an elevation of 1,757 meters, offering breathtaking views of the rugged eastern Anatolian landscape. Thanks to its altitude and northern climate, Erzurum is one of Turkey’s premier winter sports destinations, having hosted the 2011 Winter Universiade.
Early Foundations:
Erzurum’s earliest known name was “Karin”, from the Armenian era, when it served as the capital of the Province of Karin. After the division of the Armenian Kingdom by the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire and the Persians, the city fell under Roman control and was renamed Theodosiopolis, in honor of Emperor Theodosius.
Strategic Battleground:
Due to its position on the eastern frontier of the Byzantine Empire, Erzurum became a heavily contested and fortified city. It witnessed repeated sieges and changes in power as empires rose and fell.
Arab and Armenian Alliance:
In 700/701, an Umayyad general captured the city, using it as a base for raids into Byzantine territory. Despite being surrounded, the Arab forces received assistance from local Armenian leaders, who preferred Arab control over Byzantine rule. The Byzantines recaptured Erzurum in 931, but later cooperated with Armenians to rebuild the city in 1018.
Seljuk and Mongol Periods:
The city resisted multiple invasions until 1201, when it fell to Sultan Suleymanshah II of the Seljuks. In 1242, it suffered devastating Mongol raids, leading to mass looting. Erzurum then became part of the Ilkhanate, a Mongol successor state. Over the following centuries, it changed hands between the Empire of Trebizond, various Turkmen rulers, the Safavid Persians, and finally the Ottoman Empire.
19th Century Conflicts:
In 1821, Erzurum witnessed a major defeat of the Ottomans, and the Russian Empire captured the city in 1829. However, the Treaty of Adrianople forced Russia to return it that same year. Russia continued to apply military pressure in the region, prompting further Ottoman concessions — although Erzurum was never permanently occupied.
Erzurum holds a special place in modern Turkish history. It was in this city that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Turkey, received the very first national citizenship registration and certificate — a symbolic step in the building of a modern, secular state.
Modern Erzurum balances its deep-rooted history with a growing reputation as a center for winter tourism, education, and Eastern Anatolian culture. With its high altitude, strong sense of identity, and historic architecture, Erzurum remains one of Turkey’s most unique and strategically important cities.
