Kahramanmaraş is a Turkish city dating back to the Paleolithic era. It formed an important trade center for civilizations since the Assyrian kingdom. It was converted to Islam in 637 AD at the hands of the leader Khaled bin Al-Walid, and it became a base for the Islamic army, and its popular resistance defeated the French army until it gained its independence in 1920. And in appreciation of its honorable position For her struggle, she was awarded the "Medal of Independence" and her name was changed from Marash to "Kahramanmaraş", meaning Marash the heroine.

Location and space

Kahramanmaraş is located in southern Turkey, between latitudes 37 and 38 north, and longitudes 36 and 37 east, between the Mediterranean and eastern Anatolia regions, part of which is located in the Mediterranean region, while the other part is located in eastern Anatolia.

The area of ​​the province is 14,327 square kilometers, and the altitude is 568 meters above sea level.


Geography

The mountains (which are an extension of the Taurus Mountains) form the western and northern parts of the city, and their peaks consist of bare rocks while the lower sections are covered by forests.

One of its most important terrains is the depression area, which includes the plain of Kahramanmaraş, and the Ceyhan River passes through it. Plateaus are scattered in it, and streams and springs are abundant.

The Kahramanmaraş region is under the influence of the East Anatolian Rift and the Dead Sea Rift, where the Dead Sea Rift and the East Anatolia Rift intersect near the Turkoglu and Narli regions, which made it a first-class seismic region.

the climate

The city is located in an intermediate area between the Mediterranean region, eastern Anatolia region, and southeastern Anatolia region, which made it affected by 3 climatic patterns.

The difference in terrain is an important factor in influencing the climate, as its terrain varies between high elevations and low plains, a diversity that allows for a climatic diversity as well, but in general its climate is closer to the Mediterranean climate, slightly tilted towards the continental one, as it is hot and dry in summer and cold and rainy in winter.

The city is located at the intersection of the Dead Sea Rift and the East Anatolia Rift, which makes it a seismic area (Anatolia)

label

Throughout the city's extended history, it was called by several names, it is Markas among the Hittites (Anatolian people), and "Markaji" among the Assyrians, while the Romans called it "Germania" and the Byzantines "Maracion" and it became called "Marash" during the Ottoman era, until it ended up being called Kahramanmaraş in the era of the modern Turkish Republic.

The name of the city "Kahramanmaraş" consists of two words, "Kahraman" and "Maraş". As for the word "Marash", it is believed that it was derived from the Hittite term "Markas", which was called the city at that time. As for the word "Kahraman", it is a Turkish word meaning hero, and it was added to the name of the city in 1973 in appreciation of its honorable position in the war of liberation against French colonialism.

the date

The history of the city and its surroundings dates back to pre-Christian times, and its age is estimated at between 14 to 16 thousand years. Recent discoveries indicate that human settlement began in the region since the Paleolithic era, and the Hittite civilization was the first ancient civilization to settle in the region between 2000 BC. AD and 1200 BC.

With the collapse of the Hittite empire, late Hittite kingdoms were formed, including the Kingdom of "Gurgum", and the region was called "Markas" or "Markasi" between the years 1200 BC and 700 BC, and the city represented the center and capital of the kingdom. .

Then the city was subject to the rule of the Kingdom of Assyria and its name was changed to "Markji" between the years 720 BC and 612 BC, and it became an important commercial center for the Assyrians, as it is located on the trade route linking Anatolia with Mesopotamia.


The Medes seized the entire kingdom of Assyria, and since 612 BC they were able to impose their control over the region of Marash, which remained subject to them until 550 BC, when the Persian Empire expanded in the Anatolia region, occupying the city that was then within the Cappadocia region, and continued under its control throughout 300 years old.

During the conquest of Alexander the Great to the East, the Macedonians entered the city in 333 BC, and it became one of the prominent centers of their state.

Since the middle of the first century AD, the Roman Empire began to control the city, and it became called "Germincia" in honor of Emperor Gaius Caesar Germanico, and the region was a strategic center in that era.

The Roman Empire was divided in 395 AD, and Marash joined the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) until 637, and it was called in the late Byzantine sources "Maracion".

A partially collapsed mosque after the earthquake that struck Kahramanmaraş on February 8, 2023 (Reuters)

Islamic era

With the beginning of the Islamic conquests, the commander Khalid bin Al-Walid conquered the city in 637, and it became a base for the Islamic army. Until the tenth century, Muslims dominated the city despite the continuing violent conflict with the Byzantines, during which the city was subjected to many Byzantine attacks, incidents of arson, looting, vandalism, and the displacement of the population.

The city flourished since the beginning of the Islamic era, the Caliph Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan ordered to rebuild it, and the Muslims rebuilt it after the external military campaigns that were devastating.

During the reign of Caliph Al-Walid bin Abdul-Malik, his son Al-Abbas supervised the restoration and fortification of the city and the building of a large mosque in it, which restored its vitality and increased its population.

After the destruction of the city and the displacement of its inhabitants at the hands of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine V in 747 AD, Caliph Marwan bin Muhammad reopened it and rebuilt it. The city also witnessed fortification and restoration campaigns in the Abbasid era.

In the year 1086 AD, the region was subjected to the Seljuk state, but the conflict between the Seljuks, the Byzantines, the Crusaders, and the Danishmends continued until the end of the 12th century, and the region remained under seizure from one of the constantly conflicting parties.


The Crusader army entered the city of Marash in 1097 AD and used it as a base from which to launch its military operations, and retained the Armenian ruler over the city. In 1114 AD the city witnessed a major earthquake that caused destruction and killed many residents.

After the withdrawal of the Byzantines in 1149 AD, many powers successively ruled the city, such as the Seljuk emirates that were formed after the collapse of the Great Seljuk state, as well as some Armenian, Ayyubid, Mamluk and Mongolian emirates, and the region went through an unstable period filled with conflicts.

Then the city entered under the rule of the Emirate of "Dhul Qadir Oglu" in 1339 AD, which was one of the powerful emirates in Anatolia. Mosque, Khatun Mosque, Madrasa, Stone Mausoleum, Historical Commercial Area and Stone Bridge.

In the year 1522 AD, Sultan Yavuz Selim annexed the city to the Ottoman Empire, and it became an independent state belonging to the Ottomans, and it was one of the important centers in the state. .

The city of Kahramanmaraş witnessed in 2023 a major earthquake that caused massive destruction and killed thousands (Reuters)

War of Liberation

The British occupied the city on February 22, 1919 AD, but soon withdrew from the southern part of Anatolia, including the city of Maraş opposite the city of Mosul, according to an agreement concluded with the French.

On October 30, 1919, the French forces entered Marash, so the people organized an armed resistance against the invading forces and the Armenians collaborating with them, and after a valiant resistance, the French retreated and had to evacuate the city, and Marash gained its independence on February 12, 1920, and it was the first city to be liberated from colonization.

Because of this honorable position of the city in the war of liberation, the Turkish Grand National Assembly awarded it the "Medal of Independence" on April 5, 1925, and its name was changed to "Kahramanmaraş", meaning "Marash the Heroine" on February 7, 1973.

Economy

The economy of Kahramanmaraş relies heavily on agriculture, in which 80% of the population works, as well as on animal husbandry, and half of the city's total income comes from this activity.

Part of the population also works in fishing, handicrafts, trade and industry, especially food industries, or that depend on animal products such as the dairy and textile industries.

The region is rich in minerals, and many mines are spread in it, where chromium, coal, zinc, copper, manganese, agate, lead, graphite and other minerals are extracted, and its soil is very rich in marble deposits.

Damaged and collapsed buildings in the aftermath of the earthquake that occurred in the city of Kahramanmaraş on February 7, 2023 (Reuters)

Landmarks and monuments

Kahramanmaraş is a region with an ancient civilization and is famous for many distinctive monuments such as mosques, castles, markets, bridges, schools, shrines and historical baths, and among its landmarks:

  • Kahramanmaraş Castle: It is located on top of the hill in the city of Kahramanmaraş, and is considered one of its most prominent features. It was built during the era of the late Hittite state in the eighth or ninth century BC.

  • The Compound of the People of the Cave: It contains a cave that is said to be the cave of the Companions of the Cave, whose story is famous during the first spread of Christianity. The surroundings of the cave were converted during the Seljuk state into a complex. A mosque was built on the site of the destroyed church, and a school and a hostel were established. Since that time, the complex has become a religious and cultural center.

  • Kahramanmaraş Mosque or “Ulu Mosque”: It is located in the city square to the south side of the Kahramanmaraş Castle. It is one of the oldest historical buildings in the city. The Mamluk and Seljuk influence can be seen in its design. The mosque is a landmark in the liberation war, as the first spark erupted from it For the popular revolution against French colonialism.

The city is famous for its picturesque nature, highlands, natural reserves, natural caves, dams, streams and lakes.

It is also known for its local cuisine, especially ice cream, which is made in a distinctive way from goat's milk and special ingredients are added to it, such as orchids and dried white orchid tubers, and for this reason it has become a distinctive symbol of the city.