Oltu
Encyclopedia
Oltu is a town and district of Erzurum Province
in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey
. The mayor is İbrahim Ziyrek (AKP
). The population is 19,969 (as of 2010).
nakharar
s and later passed into the hands of the Bagratuni
s. Administratively, it was found within the borders of the region of Vok'aghe in the province of Tayk
(known to the Georgians as Tao
). Until 1000, it was a part of the domains of David Kuropalates
, when in that year it shifted to Byzantine
control. In the following centuries, Olti successively passed into the control of the Seljuk Turks, the Mongols
and Turkmen
tribes, all the while retaining its Armenian identity. The Ottomans conquered Olti from the Georgians in the sixteenth century.
In the summer of 1829, the Russians took control of the region but relinquished it to the Ottomans. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78, the town was incorporated into the Russian Empire
and made a part of Kars Oblast
. Prior to the out break of the First World War Olti had 1,090 households, 1000 of which were Armenian. In 1919, Olti was annexed by the Republic of Armenia
. The following year, the armies of the Turkish Nationalists
led by Mustafa Kemal Pasha invaded Armenia and occupied Olti, a territorial gain which was confirmed in subsequent treaties signed between the Turks and the Soviets.
, in the northeastern part of Turkey
. Outside the valley the topography is mountainous, with ample mountain forests. The highest hills are Akdağ of 3,030m and Kırdağ of 2,000m. Annual average temperature is 10.2°C.
Oltu is famous for its Oltu stone
or Oltu Gemstone, known as Black Amber with dull-bright black color and carved to produce jewelry, rosary beads, key-chains, pipes and boxes.
Erzurum Province
Erzurum Province is a Province of Turkey, in the Eastern Anatolia Region of the country. It is bordered by the provinces of Kars and Ağrı to the east, Muş and Bingöl to the south, Erzincan and Bayburt to the west, Rize and Artvin to the north and Ardahan to the northeast. The provincial capital is...
in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. The mayor is İbrahim Ziyrek (AKP
Justice and Development Party (Turkey)
The Justice and Development Party , abbreviated JDP in English and AK PARTİ or AKP in Turkish, is a centre-right political party in Turkey. The party is the largest in Turkey, with 327 members of parliament...
). The population is 19,969 (as of 2010).
History
Olti is mentioned for the first time in sources dating to the tenth and eleventh centuries AD, although it is known that it had been established much earlier. The city-fortress had once belonged to the MamikonianMamikonian
Mamikonian, Mamikoneans, or Mamigonian was a noble family which dominated Armenian politics between the 4th and 8th century. They ruled the Armenian regions of Taron, Sasun, Bagrevand and others...
nakharar
Nakharar
Nakharar was a hereditary title of the highest order given to houses of the ancient and medieval Armenian nobility.-Nakharar system:Medieval Armenia was divided into large estates, which were the property of an enlarged noble family and were ruled by a member of it, to whom the title of Nahapet...
s and later passed into the hands of the Bagratuni
Bagratuni Dynasty
The Bagratuni, Bagratid or alternatively Pakradouni royal dynasty of Armenia was a royal family whose branches formerly ruled many regional polities, including the Armenian lands of Sper|presently Ispir in Tayk Province of the Armenian Kingdom, Bagrevand in Ayrarat Province of the Armenian...
s. Administratively, it was found within the borders of the region of Vok'aghe in the province of Tayk
Tayk
Tayk was a historical province of the Greater Armenia, one of its 15 ashkars . Tayk consisted of 8 cantons:* Kogh* Berdats por* Partizats por* Tchakatk* Bokha* Vokaghe* Azordats por* Arsiats por....
(known to the Georgians as Tao
Tao (historical region)
Tao is a historical region in the territory of modern Turkey roughly corresponding to the Taochi of Greeks and Tayk of Armenians. It was a province within various Georgian Bagratid states from the 8th to the 16th century, when the region was conquered by the Ottoman Empire.-External references:*...
). Until 1000, it was a part of the domains of David Kuropalates
David III of Tao
David III Kuropalates or David III the Great , also known as David II, was a Georgian prince of the Bagratid family of Tao/Tayk, a historic region in the Georgian–Armenian marchlands, from 966 until his murder in 1000...
, when in that year it shifted to Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
control. In the following centuries, Olti successively passed into the control of the Seljuk Turks, the Mongols
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
and Turkmen
Turkmen people
The Turkmen are a Turkic people located primarily in the Central Asian states of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and northeastern Iran. They speak the Turkmen language, which is classified as a part of the Western Oghuz branch of the Turkic languages family together with Turkish, Azerbaijani, Qashqai,...
tribes, all the while retaining its Armenian identity. The Ottomans conquered Olti from the Georgians in the sixteenth century.
In the summer of 1829, the Russians took control of the region but relinquished it to the Ottomans. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78, the town was incorporated into the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
and made a part of Kars Oblast
Kars Oblast
Kars Oblast was one of Transcaucasian governorates of Russian Empire between 1878 and 1917. Its capital was in the city of Kars, presently in the Republic of Turkey. The governorate bordered with the Ottoman Empire, Batum Oblast, Tiflis Governorate, Erivan Governorate, and from 1883 to 1903 with...
. Prior to the out break of the First World War Olti had 1,090 households, 1000 of which were Armenian. In 1919, Olti was annexed by the Republic of Armenia
Democratic Republic of Armenia
The Democratic Republic of Armenia was the first modern establishment of an Armenian state...
. The following year, the armies of the Turkish Nationalists
Turkish National Movement
The Turkish National Movement encompasses the political and military activities of the Turkish revolutionaries which resulted in the creation and shaping of the Republic of Turkey, as a consequence of the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I....
led by Mustafa Kemal Pasha invaded Armenia and occupied Olti, a territorial gain which was confirmed in subsequent treaties signed between the Turks and the Soviets.
Geography
Oltu is situated in the Oltu Brook Valley, a tributary of the Çoruh RiverÇoruh River
The Çoruh River or Ch'orokhi River rises in the Mescit Mountains in north-eastern Turkey, flows through the cities of Bayburt, Ispir, Yusufeli, and Artvin, along the Kelkit-Çoruh Fault, before flowing into Georgia, where it reaches the Black Sea just south of Batumi and a few kilometers north of...
, in the northeastern part of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Outside the valley the topography is mountainous, with ample mountain forests. The highest hills are Akdağ of 3,030m and Kırdağ of 2,000m. Annual average temperature is 10.2°C.
Oltu is famous for its Oltu stone
Oltu stone
Oltu stone , aka black amber, is a kind of jet found in the region around Oltu town within Erzurum Province, eastern Turkey. The organic substance is used as semi-precious gemstone in manufacturing jewellery.-Location and extraction:...
or Oltu Gemstone, known as Black Amber with dull-bright black color and carved to produce jewelry, rosary beads, key-chains, pipes and boxes.