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Erzincan: Echoes of Anatolia's Enduring Legacy

Journey through the ancient and modern history of Erzincan, a city shaped by empires, earthquakes, and the resilient spirit of Eastern Turkey.

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City Overview

A Provincial Capital

Erzincan, historically known as Yerznka, serves as the capital of Erzincan Province in eastern Turkey. Its strategic location places it near significant regional cities such as Erzurum, Sivas, Tunceli, Bingöl, Elazığ, Malatya, Gümüşhane, Bayburt, and Giresun. The city's name is pronounced [æɾˈzindʒan] in Turkish, and it is known as ''Erzîngan'' in Kurdish and ''Yerznka'' in Armenian.[1][2][3]

Population Dynamics

The city of Erzincan has experienced notable population growth over recent decades. In 2007, its population was recorded at 86,779. By 2022, this figure had significantly increased to 150,714, reflecting its ongoing development and role as a regional center.[5]

Cultural Composition

Erzincan is primarily inhabited by a Turkish Sunni majority, alongside a notable Kurdish Alevi minority. This demographic composition contributes to the rich cultural tapestry of the region, reflecting the diverse historical influences that have shaped Eastern Turkey.[4]

Historical Trajectories

Ancient Roots: Acilisene

The ancient region now known as Erzincan was historically called Acilisene. This area was the pivotal site for the Peace of Acilisene in AD 387, an agreement that led to the division of Armenia into two vassal states: one aligned with the Byzantine Empire and a larger one with Persia.[6][7] The Greek geographer Strabo referred to it as ''Akilisēnē'' in his ''Geography''. While its etymological origin is debated, it is widely accepted that the city was once named Erez. For a period, it was also known as Justinianopolis, honoring Emperor Justinian. In more recent Greek, it was called ''Keltzene'' and ''Kelezene''.[8]

The 5th-century Armenian text, ''Life of Mashtots'', referred to the region as ''Yekeghiats''. Prior to Christianization, a significant pre-Christian shrine dedicated to the Armenian goddess Anahit was located in Erez. Historical accounts, such as those by Agathangelos, describe King Trdat of Armenia's visit to Anahit's temple to offer sacrifice. Gregory the Illuminator's refusal to participate, due to his secret Christian faith, led to his capture and torture, ultimately culminating in Trdat's conversion to Christianity. Following this, the temple was destroyed, its lands given to Gregory, and the area later became renowned for its extensive monasteries.[9][10]

Medieval Eras and Shifting Powers

Erzincan's medieval history is marked by a series of transitions and conflicts. In 1071, the city was incorporated into the Mengüçoğlu principality under the Seljuk Sulëiman Kutalmish, following the decisive Battle of Manzikert which significantly weakened Byzantine control.[8] The renowned traveler Marco Polo, during his visit to Erzincan, described its inhabitants as predominantly Armenian and lauded Erzincan as the "noblest of cities," noting its status as an archbishop's see.[13]>

The city faced significant destruction in 1243 during conflicts between the Seljuks under Kaykhusraw II and the invading Mongols. Despite this devastation, Erzincan demonstrated remarkable resilience, with its population recovering sufficiently by 1254, when another earthquake reportedly claimed over 10,000 lives. During this tumultuous period, the city achieved a degree of semi-independence under the governance of Armenian princes.[14]>

Ottoman Rule and Modern Challenges

Erzincan became a pivotal location in Safavid history in 1500, serving as a gathering point for approximately 7,000 Qizilbash forces who supported Ismail I in establishing his dynasty.[15] Following its capture by Ottoman forces in 1514, Erzincan experienced significant physical and demographic growth. Early Ottoman censuses (1516–1518, 1530, 1591) indicate a city with a mix of Muslim and Christian neighborhoods and a steadily increasing population.[16] The 17th-century traveler Evliya Çelebi described a thriving city with numerous houses, mosques, lodges, and hamams.[17]>

The Armenian Genocide

Historical records, including the 1914 Ottoman census (which undercounted minority groups), indicate a significant Armenian population in Erzincan. Research by Miller and Kévorkian suggests the actual Armenian population in the city center was more than double the census figures. Tragically, most of the estimated 37,000 Armenians in Erzincan and its suburbs were killed during the Armenian Genocide.[20][21] Between 1915 and 1916, at least 150,000 Armenian men, women, and children from Erzincan and surrounding areas were transported through the city, where transit camps were established to control their flow to the concentration and killing site at the nearby Kemah gorge.[25][26] Accounts also detail medical experiments conducted by Turkish army physicians on Armenian civilians involving typhus and other lethal infectious agents at the Central Hospital of Erzincan between 1915 and 1917.[27] As of 2019, few traces of Armenian presence or civilization remain in Erzincan.[28][29][30]>

World War I and Aftermath

During the Caucasus Campaign of World War I, Erzincan served as the headquarters for the Turkish Third Army. In July 1916, Russian forces under General Nikolai Yudenich captured the city, seizing substantial supplies. However, further Russian advances were limited.[31] A brief Erzincan Soviet council was established between 1916 and 1918 under Russian occupation, with Bolshevik soldiers controlling the officer corps and inviting local representatives to administer the region.[32]>[33] The city was later recaptured by Ottoman forces under Kâzım Karabekir on February 13, 1918, an event still celebrated annually. This seizure led to a chaotic evacuation of Armenian soldiers and civilians towards Erzurum, often under attack by Kurdish tribes amidst severe snowstorms.[35]>[36]>[37]>[38]>[40]>[41]

The 1939 Erzincan Earthquake

On December 27, 1939, Erzincan was completely devastated by a major earthquake, one of the most powerful ever recorded in Turkey (measuring 7.8 on the moment magnitude scale, tied with the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake). The initial shocks killed approximately 8,000 people, with the death toll rising to 20,000 the following day, and ultimately reaching 32,962 due to subsequent tremors and floods. The destruction was so extensive that the original city site was abandoned, and a new town was established slightly to the north.

Demographic Shifts

Historical Population Overview

Erzincan's demographic landscape has undergone significant transformations throughout its history. In the 13th century, Marco Polo observed that the city's population was predominantly Armenian.[13] By 1830, the Armenian population had grown to 15,000. An 1880 record indicates 6,000 houses, with 4,000 belonging to Muslims and 1,800 to Armenians.[42]

Late 19th to Early 20th Century

Vital Cuinet's research from the 1890s reported 23,000 inhabitants in the center of Erzincan, comprising 15,000 Muslims, 7,500 Armenians, and a smaller number of Greeks and other groups. For the entire sanjak, he noted 171,472 Muslims, 34,588 Armenians (including Catholic and Protestant), and 2,710 Greeks.[19]>[42] On the eve of World War I, data from the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople indicated that out of 24,000 inhabitants, 13,109 (2021 families) were Armenians.[43]>

Post-WWI Changes

During the Armenian Genocide, Armenians were subjected to deportation and massacre by the Special Organization.[42] Additionally, Greeks were deported from Erzincan to Germir in 1919 as part of the Greek Genocide.[42] These events drastically altered the demographic composition of Erzincan, leading to a significant reduction in its historical minority populations.

Climate Profile

Humid Continental Climate

Erzincan experiences a humid continental climate, classified as ''Dsa'' under the Köppen climate classification or ''Dca'' under the Trewartha climate classification. This climate is characterized by cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers. Spring typically brings the wettest conditions, while summer is the driest season.[44]>[45]>[46]

  • Lowest Recorded Temperature: −31.2 °C (−24.2 °F) on 15 January 1950.
  • Highest Recorded Temperature: 40.6 °C (105.1 °F) on 30 July 2000.
  • Highest Recorded Snow Thickness: 74 cm (29.1 inches) in February 1950.

Climate Data (1991–2020)

The following table provides detailed climate data for Erzincan, reflecting average conditions over a 30-year period, along with historical extremes.

Climate data for Erzincan (1991–2020, extremes 1929–2022)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 14.6
(58.3)
17.2
(63.0)
25.2
(77.4)
30.0
(86.0)
33.8
(92.8)
37.0
(98.6)
40.6
(105.1)
40.5
(104.9)
37.2
(99.0)
31.4
(88.5)
24.9
(76.8)
19.0
(66.2)
40.6
(105.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 2.8
(37.0)
4.8
(40.6)
10.9
(51.6)
17.3
(63.1)
22.7
(72.9)
27.9
(82.2)
32.4
(90.3)
33.0
(91.4)
28.1
(82.6)
20.7
(69.3)
12.0
(53.6)
5.1
(41.2)
18.1
(64.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) −1.9
(28.6)
−0.3
(31.5)
5.3
(41.5)
11.0
(51.8)
15.7
(60.3)
20.5
(68.9)
24.3
(75.7)
24.5
(76.1)
19.6
(67.3)
13.2
(55.8)
5.7
(42.3)
0.5
(32.9)
11.5
(52.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −5.7
(21.7)
−4.3
(24.3)
0.5
(32.9)
5.5
(41.9)
9.5
(49.1)
13.4
(56.1)
16.7
(62.1)
16.8
(62.2)
12.0
(53.6)
7.0
(44.6)
0.9
(33.6)
−3.1
(26.4)
5.8
(42.4)
Record low °C (°F) −31.2
(−24.2)
−30.2
(−22.4)
−22.4
(−8.3)
−11.1
(12.0)
−4.2
(24.4)
2.0
(35.6)
5.0
(41.0)
5.9
(42.6)
0.3
(32.5)
−6.8
(19.8)
−15.6
(3.9)
−25.9
(−14.6)
−31.2
(−24.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 26.3
(1.04)
29.7
(1.17)
45.5
(1.79)
54.2
(2.13)
57.2
(2.25)
25.2
(0.99)
14.1
(0.56)
6.6
(0.26)
17.5
(0.69)
41.9
(1.65)
36.2
(1.43)
25.7
(1.01)
380.1
(14.96)
Average precipitation days 8.77 9.17 11.63 13.67 14.77 8.83 3.67 2.93 4.53 8.87 8 9.37 104.2
Average snowy days 8.68 6.36 4.24 0.64 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 1.24 4.88 26.24
Average relative humidity (%) 72 68.9 61.5 57.1 57 50.8 46.3 46 49.2 62 67.8 72.5 59.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 91.6 120.3 145.2 167.9 211.2 263.9 295.2 276.6 231.2 186.6 128.8 82.8 2,196.8
Mean daily sunshine hours 3.0 4.3 4.7 5.6 6.8 8.8 9.5 8.9 7.7 6.1 4.3 2.9 6.1
Source 1: Turkish State Meteorological Service[44]
Source 2: NOAA(humidity, sun 1991-2020), Meteomanz(snowy days 2000-2024)[45][46]

Urban Districts

Neighborhoods of Erzincan

Erzincan is administratively divided into numerous neighborhoods, each contributing to the city's urban fabric and community life. These districts form the residential and commercial areas that make up modern Erzincan.[3]

  • Akşemsettin
  • Aktoprak
  • Akyazı
  • Aslancak
  • Arslanlı
  • Atatürk
  • Aziz Baba
  • Bahçelievler
  • Barbaros
  • Barış
  • Başbağlar
  • Başpınar
  • Bayrak
  • Bozyazı
  • Buğdaylı
  • Bulutlu
  • Büyük Çakırman
  • Cemal Gürsel
  • Cumhuriyet
  • Çarşı
  • Çukurkuyu
  • Davarlı
  • Demetevler
  • Demirkent
  • Dereyurt
  • Ergenekon
  • Ersevenler
  • Ertuğrul Gazi
  • Esentepe
  • Fatih
  • Gazi
  • Gölcük
  • Gülalibey
  • Güllüce
  • H.Ahmet Yesevi
  • Halitpaşa
  • Hamidiye
  • Hancı
  • Hocabey
  • Hürrempalangası
  • Işıkpınar
  • İnönu
  • İzzetpaşa
  • Karaağaç
  • Kavakyolu
  • Kazımkarabekir
  • Keklikkayası
  • Kızılay
  • Kurutilek
  • Menderes
  • Mengüceli
  • Mimarsinan
  • Munzur
  • Mustafa Kemal Paşa
  • Osman Gazi
  • Osmanlı
  • Özgürlük
  • Paşa
  • Sancak
  • Sarıgöl
  • Selçuklu
  • Şehit Cengiz Topel
  • Şehit Serhat
  • Şehit Serhat Yurtbaşı
  • Taksim
  • Terzibaba
  • Ulalar
  • Üçkonak
  • Yalnızbağ
  • Yavuzselim
  • Yeni
  • Yenidoğan
  • Yunusemre

Economic Landscape

Historical Agriculture and Industry

In the early 20th century, Erzincan was notable for its extensive mulberry tree plantations. These plantations were crucial for sericulture, the practice of raising silkworms for silk production, indicating a historical agricultural and textile industry in the region.[47]

Modern Development and Education

While historical economic activities like sericulture have evolved, modern Erzincan continues to develop its economic base. The presence of institutions like Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University plays a significant role in the city's contemporary economy, contributing to education, research, and local employment, fostering intellectual and economic growth in the province.

Civic Leadership

Mayors of Erzincan (1977-Present)

The leadership of Erzincan has been guided by several mayors, representing various political parties, who have overseen the city's development and governance through different periods.

  • 1977–1980 and 1984–1989: Adnan Ercan (MHP, ANAP)
  • 1989–1999: Talip Kaban (MÇP, MHP)
  • 1999–2004: Erkan Karaman (MHP)
  • 2004–2009: Mehmet Buyruk (AK Party)
  • 2009–2014: Yüksel Çakır (AK Party)
  • 2014–2019: Cemalettin Başsoy (AK Party)
  • 2019–Present: Bekir Aksun (MHP)

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References

References

  1.  Michel Lequien, christianus in quatuor Patriarchatus digestus, Paris 1740, Vol. I, coll. 435–436
  2.  Faruk Sümer, Safevi Devletinin Kuruluşu ve Gelişmesinde Anadolu Türklerinin Rolü, Türk Tarih Kurumu Yayınları, Ankara, 1992, p. 15. (in Turkish)
  3.  World War I: A Student Encyclopedia by John S.D. Eisenhower (Foreword), Spencer Tucker, Priscilla Mary Roberts (Ed.s)
  4.  â€œEkim Devrimi Tartışmaları 2009: Ekim Devrimi ve İki Cumhuriyet” panel, Köz Gazetesi, 15 November 2009, Yüz Çiçek Açsın Kültür Merkezi – Okmeydanı, İstanbul.
  5.  (Minassian 2006, p. 60) "La rage au cœur, les fédaïs arméniens..."
  6.  (Minassian 2006, p. 60) "Bousculant les civils, les soldats arméniens cèdent à la peur, s'enfuient par la route d'Erzeroum"
  7.  (Minassian 2006, p. 60) "Les troupes turques de Kazim Karabékir sont devant Erzincan..."
A full list of references for this article are available at the Erzincan Wikipedia page

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