Erzincan

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Erzincan (Zazaish; Kurdish: Erzingan, Armenian Երզնկա Erznka, ancient Erez) is the capital of Erzincan Province in the eastern Anatolian region of Turkey. Nearby cities include Erzurum, Sivas, Tunceli, Bingöl, Elazığ, Malatya, Gumushane, Bayburt, and Giresun. The city is located at 39° 45' 12" North and 39° 20' 28" East, with an altitude of 1185 meters. The population is 107,175 (2000 census). Its climate produces snowy winters and cool summers.

The city is notable for a special cheese called "Tulum Peyniri" in Turkish. It is a significant road and rail junction and was once noted for its silverware. Current industries include sugar refining and textile industries.

[edit] History

The Erzincan valley was the location of the most important pre-Christian shrine in Armenia, dedicated to the goddess Anahit. The temple, whose site has not yet been identified, was in a settlement called Erez. The text of Agathangelos records that during the first year of his reign, King Trdat went to Erez and visited Anahit's temple to offer sacrifice. The king ordered Gregory the Illuminator, who was secretly a Christian, to make an offering at its altar. When Gregory refused he was taken captive and tortured, starting the events that would end with Trdat's conversion to Christianity some 14 years later. ^[1] After that conversion, during the forced Christianisation of Armenia, the temple at Erez was destroyed and its property and lands given to Gregory.

In 1071 Erzincan was absorbed into the Mengüçoglu under the Seljuk Sulëiman Kutalmish. In 1243 it was destroyed in fighting between the Seljuks under Kaykhusraw II and the Mongols.

[edit] Battle of Erzincan

Main article: Battle of Erzinjan

The Battle of Erzincan took place during the Caucasus Campaign of the First World War

Caucasus Campaign of 1915 - 1916

In 1916 Erzincan was the headquarters for the Turkish Third Army commanded by Kerim Pasha. The Russian General Nikolai Yudenich led the Russian Caucasus Army who captured Marna Khatun on 12 July 1916. They then gained the heights of Naglika and took a Turkish position on the banks of the Durum Durasi river, with their cavalry breaking through the Boz-Tapa-Meretkli line. They then advanced on Erzincan arriving by 25 June and taking the city in two days. The city was relatively untouched by battle and Yudenich seized large quantities of supplies and discovered evidence of Turkish execution of Armenians. The Turkish forces retreated to south east to Mosul and Sivas. Despite the strategic advantages gained from this victory, Yudenich made no more significant advances and had his forces reduced due to Russian reverses further north.^[2]

[edit] The Erzincan Armistice and the foundation of Turkish Armenia

The Erzincan Armistice was negotiated on 17 and 18 December 1917 by General Przevalsky and Lieutenant Kahraman. On 11 January 1918 (29 December 1917), Lenin, Stalin, Mikhail Bonch-Bruevich and Nikolai Gorbunov signed the Turkish Armenia Decree, which was made public right after the Erzincan Armistice. It opens with these words:

The People's Commissars declare to the Armenian people that the Russian Workers and Peasants Government supports the right of the Armenians in Turkish Armenia which is under Russian occupation to determine their own fate freely, even to the extent of achieving full independence.

The decree gave provision for:

an Armenian People's Militia to be established immediately
return of Armenian emigrants from various countries
return of Armenians forcibly removed by the Turkish authorities during the war should be free to return to 'Turkish Armenia'
inclusion of the previous point in peace negotiations with the Turkish authorities
Armenian Soviet of People's Representatives should be set up in 'Turkish Armenia'.

Colonel Kâzim Karabekir was appointed commander of the First Caucasian Army Corps. Aware of the weaknesses of the Russian Army, they marched against the Russians, retaking Erzincan in February 1918. He reported evidence of the massacre of Turkish people by Armenians.^[3]

[edit] Earthquakes

Erzincan is located on the North Anatolian Fault, a very seismically active fault zone, and has been struck by several severe earthquakes:

1471
1667
1782 which killed more than 10,000 inhabitants
1939 which killed approximately 39,000 people (1939 Erzincan earthquake).

The last major earthquake took place in March 13, 1992.

[edit] Famous inhabitants

Varaztad Kazanjian, Armenian-American dentist who was one of the pioneers of plastic surgery

[edit] References

^ Vreg Nersessian, "Treasures From the Ark", 2001, p114-115
^ World War I: A Student Encyclopedia by John S.D. Eisenhower (Foreword), Spencer Tucker, Priscilla Mary Roberts (Ed.s)
^ Massacres of the Turks and Mass Graves by Enver Konukçu accessed 2 November 2008