Erzurum

Erzurum is a big city in eastern Turkey.

It sits very high up in the hills. Because it is so high, the air is cold.

Many people visit to play in the snow. The city has places for winter sports.

The city is very old. Long ago, it had a different name. It was once called Theodosiopolis.

You can see old buildings there too. Some buildings have tall towers.

Erzurum is a special place with a long story.

Erzurum is a large city in eastern Turkey.

It sits very high up. The city is 1,900 meters above sea level.

Because it is so high, it is a great place for winter sports. People visit to play in the snow.

The city has hosted big events like the 2011 Winter Universiade.

Erzurum has a very long history. In Roman times, it was called Theodosiopolis. It was an important place for soldiers. Many different groups have lived there over the years. This includes Armenians, Greeks, Arabs, and Turks.

The city's coat-of-arms shows a double-headed eagle. This symbol has been used in the region for a long time.

During the early 1900s, the city saw much hardship. There was a war and many people were hurt or killed. This was a very sad time for the people living there. In 1919, a man named Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was in the city. He helped start the movement to create the modern Turkish Republic.

Erzurum is a large city located in eastern Turkey.

It is the capital of the Erzurum Province. The city sits very high up in the mountains. It is 1,900 meters above sea level.

Because of this height, the city is a popular place for winter sports. People visit to use the ski jumping towers.

It has hosted big events like the 2011 Winter Universiade.

The city has many different names from its long history. Long ago, it was known as Karin in the Armenian language.

During Roman times, it was named Theodosiopolis.

This name honored Emperor Theodosius I. Later, the city was known by the Arabs as Kālīkalā.

It eventually received its current name after the Seljuk Turks arrived. The name might come from a local tribe or a princely family. Many groups have lived here, including Greeks, Armenians, and Arabs.

Many empires have fought to control this important place. Theodosiopolis was a strong military base on the edge of an empire.

Roman leaders built strong walls to protect the city. Later, the Seljuk Turks took control in 1071.

The city saw many changes as different rulers came and went. The Mongols even attacked and looted the city in 1242. Later, the Ottoman Empire ruled the area for a long time.

Erzurum is famous for its beautiful buildings and local culture. The Çifte Minareli Medrese is a very famous symbol of the city.

This building has twin minarets and appears on the city's coat-of-arms.

You can also see the Yakutiye Medresesi in the city center. The city's coat-of-arms uses a double-headed eagle.

Visitors can also find traditional jewelry shops in the Taşhan.

Some people even enjoy eating local food like Cağ kebab.

The early 1900s were a very difficult time for the city. There was a great war and many people were killed. The Armenian population faced terrible hardships during this period. In 1919, a man named Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was in Erzurum.

He helped start the movement for the modern Turkish Republic. The Erzurum Congress was a very important starting point for this new nation. Today, the city is a major part of modern Turkey.

Erzurum is a major city located in eastern Turkey.

It serves as the capital of the Erzurum Province. The city sits at a high altitude of 1,900 meters above sea level.

This elevation makes the region ideal for winter sports. The city features various winter sports facilities. It hosted the 2011 Winter Universiade.

It also hosted the 2023 Winter Deaflympics.

In 2010, the city had a population of 367,250 people.

The name of the city has changed many times. Originally, it was known in Armenian as Karno K'aghak'. This name meant "city of Karin." Some believe the name comes from a local tribe called the Karenitis. Another theory suggests it came from the Kamsarakans, a local princely family. During Roman times, the city was named Theodosiopolis.

This name honored Emperor Theodosius I. After the Arab conquest in the seventh century, Arabs called it Kālīkalā. The city received its current name after the Seljuk Turks arrived in 1071. Some older sources suggest the name comes from the Arabic phrase Arḍu ar-Rūm, meaning "land of the Rûm."

Erzurum has a long history of being a military stronghold. In the Roman era, Theodosiopolis was a vital strategic location. It sat on the eastern border of the empire. This made it a target in wars between the Byzantines and Persians. Emperors Anastasius I and Justinian I both built new defenses there. Later, the city became an important center for different groups. The Umayyad general Abdallah ibn Abd al-Malik conquered it around 700 AD. It then became the capital of the emirate of Kālīkalā. During this time, it served as a base for raids into Byzantine lands.

Many different empires fought to control Erzurum over the centuries. Byzantine forces captured the city in 931 and 949. After these battles, the Arab population was expelled. Greeks and Armenians resettled the city instead. Emperor Basil II rebuilt the defenses in 1018 with local help. In 1071, the Seljuk Turks took the city after the Battle of Manzikert. The Saltukids ruled the area from 1071 to 1202. Later, the Mongols besieged and looted the city in 1242. The city eventually passed through many hands, including the Timurid Empire and Safavid Persia. The Ottomans finally conquered it in 1514 during the Battle of Chaldiran.

The city is famous for its unique architecture and symbols. The Çifte Minareli Medrese is a major symbol of Erzurum.

This building is a twin minaret madrasa, which is a type of Islamic school. It appears on the city's coat-of-arms. The coat-of-arms also uses a double-headed eagle motif. This symbol has been common in Anatolia since the Bronze Age. Visitors can also see the Yakutiye Medresesi in the city center. This building is an important historical site.

Other local landmarks include the Taşhan, which has jewelry shops.

Travelers can also try the local Cağ kebab.

The early 20th century was a period of great conflict for Erzurum. During World War I, the city was a site of major battles. The Ottoman and Russian Empires fought for control of the region. In 1915, the Armenian population faced a genocide. Many people were killed, and their cultural institutions were destroyed. Schools, churches, and clubs were looted or left derelict. When Russian forces occupied the city in 1916, very few Armenians remained. The city changed hands several times during this era of war.

Erzurum played a key role in the birth of modern Turkey. In 1919, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was in the city. He resigned from the Ottoman army while he was there. He was later named an "Honorary Native" of Erzurum. The Erzurum Congress of 1919 was a vital starting point for the Turkish War of Independence. This event helped shape the new Turkish Republic. Today, Erzurum is a significant administrative and cultural center in the region.

It remains a place where history and modern life meet.