Erzurum

Erzurum: The Largest City in Eastern Turkey

🏔️ Erzurum, the capital of Erzurum Province, is the largest city in Eastern Turkey, standing at an elevation of 1,757 meters above sea level. With stunning landscapes, a rich history, and a reputation as Turkey’s winter sports capital, Erzurum is both a historic and modern marvel.

🎿 A Winter Sports Hub – Thanks to its high altitude and northern location, Erzurum is famous for world-class winter sports facilities and was the proud host of the 2011 Winter Universiade.

A City Steeped in History

📜 Early History & The Armenian Era

• Originally known as “Karin”, Erzurum was once the capital of the Armenian province of Karin.
• Following the separation of the Armenian Kingdom, the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantines) and the Persians fought over the region.
• The Byzantines gained control and renamed it Theodosiopolis, after Emperor Theodosius.

⚔️ A Battleground Between Empires

• Due to its strategic location on the eastern border of the Roman Empire, Erzurum became heavily fortified and was a frequent site of conflict.
• In 700/701, the city was conquered by an Umayyad general, who used it as a base for raids into Byzantine territory.
• In 931, the Byzantines retook Erzurum, expelling the Arabs and rebuilding the city in collaboration with Armenian leaders in 1018.
• The city repelled Georgian and Seljuk attacks until 1201, when Sultan Suleyman Shah II captured it.
• In 1242, Mongol forces raided and looted the city, incorporating it into the Ilkhanate Mongol Empire.
• Over the following centuries, Erzurum passed through the hands of the Trebizond Empire, Turkmen rulers, and the Safavid Persians, before finally becoming part of the Ottoman Empire.

Russian Occupation & Ottoman Resistance

⚔️ Erzurum & The Russian Empire

• In 1821, the Ottomans suffered defeat at Erzurum, leading to the city’s capture by the Russian Empire in 1829.
• However, later that year, a treaty forced the Russians to return the city to the Ottoman Empire.
• In subsequent wars, Russia continued to threaten Erzurum, attacking weaker Ottoman defenses elsewhere and forcing the Ottomans to cede Erzurum without resistance.
• Again, treaties forced the Russians to return the city, preventing them from maintaining control.

Erzurum & The Birth of the Turkish Republic

🏛️ One of Erzurum’s most defining moments in modern history came when Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, received the first official citizenship registration and certificate here. This laid the foundation for Turkey’s national identity system, which is now used across the country.

Why Visit Erzurum?

🌆 Today, Erzurum is a vibrant city where history and modernity blend seamlessly. Whether exploring its ancient fortresses, Ottoman mosques, Armenian heritage sites, or world-class ski resorts, Erzurum offers an unparalleled journey through time and culture.

✨ For history lovers, adventure seekers, and winter sports enthusiasts, Erzurum is a must-visit destination in Eastern Turkey.