History Antakya

1 history

1.1 antiquity
1.2 rashidun period
1.3 crusader era
1.4 ottoman city
1.5 republic of hatay , modern turkey

history

antiquity

the area of antioch has been occupied humans since calcolithic era (6th millennium bc), revealed archeological excavations of mound of tell-açana, among others.

the king of macedon alexander great, after defeating persians in battle of issus in 333 bc, followed orontes south syria , occupied area. city of antioch founded in 300 bc, after death of alexander, hellenistic seleucid king seleucus nicator. played important role 1 of largest cities in hellenistic seleucid kingdom, in roman empire , in byzantium, , key city during years of christianity, , of syriac orthodox church, antiochian orthodox church, , since 7th c. ad rise of islam, , after 10th c. ad crusades.

rashidun period

recapture of antioch in 969

in 637, during reign of byzantine emperor heraclius, antioch conquered rashidun caliphate during battle of iron bridge. city became known in arabic أنطاكيّة (anṭākiyyah). since umayyad dynasty unable penetrate anatolian plateau, antioch found on frontline of conflicts between 2 hostile empires during next 350 years, city went precipitous decline.

in 969, city reconquered byzantine emperor nikephoros ii phokas michael bourtzes , stratopedarches peter. became seat of dux, commanded forces of local themes , important officer on empire s eastern border, held such men nikephoros ouranos. in 1078, philaretos brachamios, armenian rebel seized power. held city until seljuk turks captured him in 1084. sultanate of rum held fourteen years before crusaders arrived.

crusader era

capture of antioch bohemund of taranto in june 1098.

the crusaders siege of antioch resulted in fall , crusaders caused significant damage during first crusade including 3-day massacre of population both christian , muslim. following defeat of turkish garrison, bohemond became overlord. remained capital of latin principality of antioch 2 centuries.

in 1268 fell egyptian mamluk sultan baibars after siege. baibars proceeded massacre christian population. in addition suffering ravages of war, city lost commercial importance because trade routes far east moved north following 13th-century mongol conquests. antioch never recovered major city, of former role falling port city of alexandretta (İskenderun). account of both cities in 1675 appears in diary of english naval chaplain henry teonge.

ottoman city


densely built antakya in 1912: traditional muslim city shows no trace of hellenistic planning. east, orchards (green) fill plain.

the city center of sanjak of antakya, part of damascus eyalet.

in 1822 (and again in 1872), antakya hit earthquake , damaged. when ottoman general ibrahim pasha established headquarters in city in 1835, had 5,000 inhabitants. supporters hoped city might develop euphrates valley railway, supposed link port of sueida (now samandağı). however, such plans doomed come naught. city suffered repeated outbreaks of cholera due inadequate infrastructure sanitation. later city developed , rapidly resumed of old importance when railway built along lower orontes valley.

republic of hatay , modern turkey

see hatay province history of region during demise of ottoman empire, short-lived republic of hatay (in 1938), , area s incorporation republic of turkey in 1939.