History Cappadocia

1 history

1.1 kingdom of cappadocia
1.2 roman , byzantine province
1.3 christianian , byzantine periods
1.4 turkish cappadocia

history


16th-century map of anatolia münster s cosmographia showing capadocia

cappadocia known hatti in late bronze age, , homeland of hittite power centred @ hattusa. after fall of hittite empire, decline of syro-cappadocians (mushki) after defeat lydian king croesus in 6th century, cappadocia ruled sort of feudal aristocracy, dwelling in strong castles , keeping peasants in servile condition, later made them apt foreign slavery. included in third persian satrapy in division established darius continued governed rulers of own, none apparently supreme on whole country , more or less tributaries of great king.

kingdom of cappadocia

after ending persian empire, alexander great tried rule area through 1 of military commanders. ariarathes, persian aristocrat, somehow became king of cappadocians. ariarathes (332–322 bc), successful ruler, , extended borders of cappadocian kingdom far black sea. kingdom of cappadocia lived in peace until death of alexander. previous empire divided many parts, , cappadocia fell eumenes. claims made in 322 bc regent perdiccas, crucified ariarathes; in dissensions brought eumenes s death, ariarathes ii, adopted son of ariarathes i, recovered inheritance , left line of successors, bore name of founder of dynasty.

persian colonists in cappadocian kingdom, cut off co-religionists in iran proper, continued practice zoroastrianism. strabo, observing them in first century b.c., records (xv.3.15) these fire kindlers possessed many holy places of persian gods , fire temples. strabo furthermore relates, noteworthy enclosures; , in midst there altar, on there large quantity of ashes , magi keep fire ever burning.

under ariarathes iv, cappadocia came relations rome, first foe espousing cause of antiochus great, ally against perseus of macedon. kings henceforward threw in lot republic against seleucids, whom had been time time tributary. ariarathes v marched roman proconsul publius licinius crassus dives mucianus against aristonicus, claimant throne of pergamon, , forces annihilated (130 bc). imbroglio followed death led interference rising power of pontus , intrigues , wars ended in failure of dynasty.

roman , byzantine province

the cappadocians, supported rome against mithridates vi of pontus, elected native lord, ariobarzanes, succeed (93 bc); in same year armenian troops under tigranes great entered cappadocia, dethroned king ariobarzanes , crowned gordios new client-king of cappadocia, creating buffer zone against encroaching romans. not until rome had deposed pontic , armenian kings rule of ariobarzanes established (63 bc). in civil wars cappadocia first pompey, caesar, antony, , finally, octavian. ariobarzanes dynasty came end, cappadocian nobleman archelaus given throne, favour first of antony , of octavian, , maintained tributary independence until ad 17, when emperor tiberius, had angered, summoned him rome , reduced cappadocia roman province.

cappadocia contains several underground cities (see kaymaklı underground city). underground cities have vast defence networks of traps throughout many levels. these traps creative, including such devices large round stones block doors , holes in ceiling through defenders may drop spears.

early christianian , byzantine periods

the cappadocian fathers of 4th century integral of christian philosophy. produced, among other people, patriarch of constantinople, john of cappadocia, held office 517–520. of byzantine era remained relatively undisturbed conflicts in area sassanid empire, vital frontier zone later against muslim conquests. 7th century, cappadocia divided between anatolic , armeniac themes. in 9th–11th centuries, region comprised themes of charsianon , cappadocia.

cappadocia shared always-changing relationship neighbouring armenia, time region of empire. arab historian abu al faraj asserts following armenian settlers in sivas, during 10th century: sivas, in cappadocia, dominated armenians , numbers became many became vital members of imperial armies. these armenians used watch-posts in strong fortresses, taken arabs. distinguished experienced infantry soldiers in imperial army , fighting outstanding courage , success side of romans in other words byzantine . result of byzantine military campaigns , seljuk invasion of armenia, armenians spread cappadocia , eastward cilicia mountainous areas of northern syria , mesopotamia, , armenian kingdom of cilicia formed. immigration increased further after decline of local imperial power , establishment of crusader states following fourth crusade. crusaders, cappadocia terra hermeniorum, land of armenians, due large number of armenians settled there.

turkish cappadocia

cappadocia famous traditional cave hotels.

following battle of manzikert in 1071, various turkish clans under leadership of seljuks began settling in anatolia. rise of turkish power in anatolia, cappadocia became tributary turkish states established east , west; of population forced converted islam remainder forming cappadocian greek population. end of 12th century, anatolian seljuks had established sole dominance on region. decline , fall of konya-based seljuks in second half of 13th century, gradually replaced karaman-based beylik of karaman, gradually succeeded ottoman empire on course of 15th century. cappadocia remained part of ottoman empire centuries come, , remains part of modern state of turkey. fundamental change occurred in between when new urban center, nevşehir, founded in 18th century grand vizier native of locality (nevşehirli damat İbrahim pasha), serve regional capital, role city continues assume day. in meantime many former cappadocians had shifted turkish dialect (written in greek alphabet, karamanlıca), , greek language maintained (sille, villages near kayseri, pharasa town , other nearby villages), became heavily influenced surrounding turkish. dialect of greek known cappadocian greek. following 1923 population exchange between greece , turkey, language spoken handful of former population s descendants in modern greece.