Tokat
Encyclopedia
Tokat is the capital city of Tokat Province
of Turkey
, at the mid Black Sea
region of Anatolia
. According to the 2009 census, the city of Tokat has a population of 129,879.
era.
During the time of king Mithradates VI of Pontus, it was one of his many strongholds in Asia Minor
.
The name from which the modern town derives, Ευδοκία, implies an ecclesiastical foundation during the Byzantine
era.
After the Battle of Manzikert
the town, like most of Asia Minor, came under the control of the Seljuq Turks. However, after the death of Sultan Suleiman ibn Qutulmish in 1086 the Emir Danishmend Gazi
took control of the area, operating from his power base in the town of Sivas.
It would be many decades before the Seljuks took control of that region, in the reign of Kilij Arslan II
.
After the battle of Battle of Köse Dağ
the Seljuqs hold over the region was lost, and local Emirs such as the Eretna took power until the rise of the Ottomans.
The most important landmark is the Ottoman Citadel, with 28 towers, founded on a rocky hill overlooking the town. Other sights include the Garipler Mosque dating to the 12th century and the Ali Paşa Mosque (16th century) and the Gök Medrese (Pervane Bey Darussifasi), which was constructed in 1270. It was founded as a school of theology
, and is now converted into a museum, housing archaeological finds from the area.
The Latifoglu Konak, a late 18th century Ottoman residence, is an example Baroque architecture
. The two-story building has been restored and converted into a small museum. Much of the furniture in the kitchen, study, visitors' rooms with bath and toilet, bedroom, master's room and harem
is original.
The city is also home to Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesi
, founded in 1992 and named after the local hero, Gazi Osman Paşa.
Tokat Province
Tokat Province is a province in northern Turkey. Its adjacent provinces are Amasya to the northwest, Yozgat to the southwest, Sivas to the southeast, and Ordu to the northeast...
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...
, at the mid Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
region of Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
. According to the 2009 census, the city of Tokat has a population of 129,879.
History
Tokat (Greek Ευδοκία) was established in the HittiteHittites
The Hittites were a Bronze Age people of Anatolia.They established a kingdom centered at Hattusa in north-central Anatolia c. the 18th century BC. The Hittite empire reached its height c...
era.
During the time of king Mithradates VI of Pontus, it was one of his many strongholds in Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
.
The name from which the modern town derives, Ευδοκία, implies an ecclesiastical foundation during the Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
era.
After the Battle of Manzikert
Battle of Manzikert
The Battle of Manzikert , was fought between the Byzantine Empire and Seljuq Turks led by Alp Arslan on August 26, 1071 near Manzikert...
the town, like most of Asia Minor, came under the control of the Seljuq Turks. However, after the death of Sultan Suleiman ibn Qutulmish in 1086 the Emir Danishmend Gazi
Danishmend Gazi
Danishmend Gazi, full name Gümüştekin Danishmend Ahmed Gazi or Danishmend Taylu , was the founder of the Beylik of Danishmends...
took control of the area, operating from his power base in the town of Sivas.
It would be many decades before the Seljuks took control of that region, in the reign of Kilij Arslan II
Kilij Arslan II
Kilij Arslan II was a Seljuk Sultan of Rûm from 1156 until his death in 1192.As Arnold of Lübeck reports in his Chronica Slavorum, he was present at the meeting of Henry the Lion with Kilij-Arslan during the former's pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1172...
.
After the battle of Battle of Köse Dağ
Battle of Köse Dag
The Battle of Köse Dağ was fought between the Seljuk Turks of Anatolia and the Mongols on June 26, 1243 at the defile of Köse Dağ, a location between Erzincan and Gümüşhane in northeast Anatolia, modern Turkey, and ended in a decisive Mongol victory....
the Seljuqs hold over the region was lost, and local Emirs such as the Eretna took power until the rise of the Ottomans.
Main sights
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, and is now converted into a museum, housing archaeological finds from the area.
The Latifoglu Konak, a late 18th century Ottoman residence, is an example Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
. The two-story building has been restored and converted into a small museum. Much of the furniture in the kitchen, study, visitors' rooms with bath and toilet, bedroom, master's room and harem
Harem
Harem refers to the sphere of women in what is usually a polygynous household and their enclosed quarters which are forbidden to men...
is original.
The city is also home to Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesi
Gaziosmanpasha University
Gaziosmanpasha University is a public university established in 1992 and primarily located in Tokat, Turkey...
, founded in 1992 and named after the local hero, Gazi Osman Paşa.
People
- Gazi Osman Paşa (1832-1897) Ottoman commander
- İbn-i Kemal (Kemalpaşazâde), Ahmet Semseddin, historian, Muslim judge and administrator.
- Mehmet Emin TokadiMehmet Emin TokadiMehmet Emin Tokadis full name is Mehmed Emin bin Hasan bin Omar Nakkash Tokadi, . He was the son of one of Aziz Mahmud Amawi's derwishes. Born at Tokat, during Ottoman times, he died in Istanbul....
Hazretleri (1664-1745), sufi saint of Istanbul. - Krikor BalakianKrikor BalakianKrikor Balakian 1875 – 8 October 1934), was an Armenian bishop, an eyewitness to the Armenian Genocide and a witness at the trial in Berlin against Soghomon Tehlirian, the murderer of Talât Pasha...
(1875-1934), Armenian bishop. - Cahit KülebiCahit KülebiCahit Külebi was a leading Turkish poet and author. He has an important place in contemporary Turkish poetry due to his attachment to folk poetry traditions. His poetry is enriched with simple yet ironic language, embellished with original descriptions.-Biography:Külebi was born in Çeltek village...
(1917–1997), Turkish poet. - Engin GünaydınEngin Günaydın-Biography:Günaydın started studying at Hacettepe University Conservatory, but in his second year he switched to Mimar Sinan University from where he graduated in theatre....
(1972-....) Turkish actor and comedian. - Hüseyin Akbaş (1933-1989) Turkish World and Olympic Champion in weightlifting.
- Kıvırcık Ali (1968-2011) Turkish folk singer.
- Seda SayanSeda SayanSeda Sayan is a Turkish pop folk singer, actress and TV variety-show hostess. She performed in the comedy "Hababam Sınıfı 3,5" in 2006. She now hosts a very popular talk show on channel D in Turkey, which is called "Sabahların Sultanı". The last part of this talk show had been shown under the...
(1964-....) Turkish pop folk singer, actress and TV variety-show hostess