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'''Merzifon''' ({{lang-hy|Մարզուան|Marzvan}}, ]: {{transl|peo|''Merzban''}}; {{lang-grc|Μερσυφὼν|Mersyphòn}}, {{lang-el|Μερζιφούντα|Merzifounta}}) is a town and district in ] in the central ] region of ]. It covers an area of {{convert|970|km2|mi2}}, and the population (2020) is 73,849 of which 57,900 live in the town of Merzifon, the remainder spread throughout the surrounding countryside. The mayor is Alp Kargı (]). '''Merzifon''' ({{lang-hy|Մարզուան|Marzvan}}, ]: {{transl|peo|''Merzban''}}; {{lang-grc|Μερσυφὼν|Mersyphòn}}, {{lang-el|Μερζιφούντα|Merzifounta}}) is a town and district in ] in the central ] region of ]. It covers an area of {{convert|970|km2|mi2}}, and the population (2020) is 73,849 of which 57,900 live in the town of Merzifon, the remainder spread throughout the surrounding countryside. The mayor is Alp Kargı (]).

Modern Merzifon is a typical large but quiet Anatolian town with schools, hospitals, courts and other important infrastructure but few cultural amenities. There is a large airbase nearby.

⚫ Merzifon is twinned with the city of ].


==Etymology== ==Etymology==
Former variants of its name include '''Marzifūn''', '''Mersivan''', '''Marsovan''', '''Marsiwān''', '''Mersuvan''', '''Merzpond''' and '''Merzban'''. The name apparently comes from '''Marzban''', the Persian title for a "march lord" or a district governor, although the exact connection is not clear. Scholar ] claims that original terms Marsıvan (Mers "border" in Persian + van "town" in Armenian) and it means "Border town"<ref>]. Pontus: Antik Çağ’dan Günümüze Karadeniz’in Etnik ve Siyasi Tarihi. Genesis Yayınları. Ankara, 2011. p.440. {{ISBN|978-605-54-1017-9}}.</ref> Former variants of its name include '''Marzifūn''', '''Mersivan''', '''Marsovan''', '''Marsiwān''', '''Mersuvan''', '''Merzpond''' and '''Merzban'''. The name apparently comes from '''Marzban''', the Persian title for a "march lord" or a district governor, although the exact connection is not clear. Scholar ] claims that original name was Marsıvan (Mers "border" in Persian + van "town" in Armenian) whicht means "Border town"<ref>]. Pontus: Antik Çağ’dan Günümüze Karadeniz’in Etnik ve Siyasi Tarihi. Genesis Yayınları. Ankara, 2011. p.440. {{ISBN|978-605-54-1017-9}}.</ref>


==Geography== ==Geography==
Standing on a plain, watered by a river, Merzifon is on the road between the capital city of ] and ] on the ] coast, 109 km from Samsun, 325 km from Ankara and 40 km west of the city of ]. The weather is moderately cold in winter, warm in summer. Standing on a plain, watered by a river, Merzifon is on the road between the capital city of ] and ] on the ] coast, 109 km from Samsun, 325 km from Ankara and 40 km west of the city of ].


==Climate== ==Climate==
Merzifon has a borderline ] (]: ''Csb'') and an ] (]: ''Cfb''), because one summer month has an average precipitation above 40 mm. Merzifon has a borderline ] (]: ''Csb'') and an ] (]: ''Cfb''), because one summer month has an average precipitation above 40 mm. The weather is moderately cold in winter and warm in summer.


{{Weather box {{Weather box
Line 77: Line 81:


==History== ==History==
===Far antiquity=== ===Pre-Roman history===
Archaeological evidence (hundreds of burial mounds ]) indicate settlement of this well-watered farmland since the stone age at least 5500 BC. The first fortifications were built by the ], who were pushed out around 1200 BC by invaders coming in from the nearby ]. From 700 BC the fortifications were rebuilt by the ], who left a number of burial mounds and other architecture. From 600 BC the Phrygians were pushed out by more invasions from the east, this time ] from over the ] mountains; graves from this period have been excavated and their contents displayed in the museum in Amasya. Merzifon then became a trading post of the kings of ], whose ruled the Black Sea coast from their capital in Amasya. Archaeological evidence (hundreds of burial mounds or ]) indicates settlement of this well-watered area since the Stone Age (at least 5500 BC). The first fortifications were built by the ], who were expelled in around 1200 BC by invaders descending from the ]. After 700 BC the fortifications were rebuilt by the ], who left a number of burial mounds and other remains. From 600 BC the Phrygians were pushed out by further invasions from the east, this time by ] from across the ] mountains; graves from this period have been excavated and their contents displayed in the museum in Amasya. Merzifon then became a trading post of the kings of ], who ruled the Black Sea coast from their capital in Amasya.


===Rome and Byzantium=== ===Rome and Byzantium===
The district of Amasya was destroyed during civil wars of the ] and, including Merzifon, was restored by command of the emperor ]. Remains of Roman temples from Merzifon are also on display in Amasya today. The city grew in importance under Roman rule as walls and fortifications were strengthened, and remained strong under Byzantine rule (following the division of the Roman empire in 395), although it was held briefly by Arab armies during the 8th century expansion of Islam. Following which the castle of ''Bulak'' was built as a defence. The district of Amasya was destroyed during civil wars of the ] era but Merzifon was restored by command of the emperor ]. Finds from Roman temples in Merzifon are also on display in the Amasya museum. The city grew in importance under Roman rule as its walls and fortifications were strengthened, and it remained strong under Byzantine rule (following the division of the Roman empire in 395), although it was held briefly by Arab armies during the 8th-century expansion of Islam. After this the castle of ''Bulak'' was built as a defence.


===Turks and Ottomans=== ===Turks and Ottomans===
Islam was finally established by the ] lords in the 11th century and the Byzantines never regained control. The Danishmend were followed by ], ], and from 1393 onwards the ]. Merzifon remained an important city for the Ottomans, because of its proximity to Amasya (where Ottoman princes were raised and schooled for the throne). ] records a well-fortified trading city. In the 11th century the ] dynasty established Islam in Merzifon and the Byzantines never regained control. The Danishmends were followed by the ], the ], and, from 1393 onwards, by the ]. Merzifon was an important city for the Ottomans because of its proximity to Amasya (where Ottoman princes were raised and schooled for the throne). The Turkish travel writer ] recorded it as a well-fortified trading city in the 17th century.
⚫ Merzifon was home to one of the last communities of ] - known as Arewordik (children of the sun), who are believed to have been killed in the ] between 1915–17.
⚫ Merzifon became a center of European trading and missionary activity by the 19th century. American missionaries established a seminary in 1862. In 1886, a boarding school, ] was founded (and expanded to also serve girls in 1893). By 1914, the schools had over 200 boarding students, mostly ethnic Greeks and Armenians. The complex also had one of the largest hospitals in Asia Minor, and an orphanage housed 2000 children. However, the town also became a focal point for both ] (Armenians comprised half of the population of what they called Marsovan in 1915) and anti-Western sentiment. It suffered at least two riots in the 1890s, but the damage was rebuilt. In 1915, over 11,000 Armenians were deported from the city (which had approximately 30,000 inhabitants the previous year) in ]; others were killed and their property confiscated and sold to Turkish insiders, supposedly to benefit the Ottoman war effort, as documented by missionary ]. In addition, in 1915 several Greek men were murdered by the Ottomans, while the women with their babies were compelled to follow and accompany the Ottoman troops. The women who were exhausted after the long marches were abandoned together with their babies on the roadside.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64613402 |title=ARMENIAN ATROCITIES. |newspaper=] |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=3 August 1915 |accessdate=15 February 2021 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> ] was closed in 1924 and all remaining Christians were forced to leave.


⚫ Merzifon was home to one of the last communities of ] - known as Arewordik (children of the sun) - who are believed to have been killed in the ] between 1915 and 1917.
⚫ ===Turkish Republic===
⚫ After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the ], unrest continued. British troops deployed in formerly Ottoman lands to ensure the terms of surrender; some arrived in Merzifon in 1919 as American missionary White returned and reopened the college and orphanage, as well as a new "baby house" for displaced Armenian mothers and infants. However, the British troops soon withdrew and unrest continued in Merzifon.


⚫ By the 19th century Merzifon had become a centre for European trading and missionary activity, and American missionaries established a seminary here in 1862. In 1886, a school called the ] was founded (it expanded to serve girls in 1893). By 1914, the schools had over 200 boarding students, mostly ethnic Greeks and Armenians. The complex also had one of the largest hospitals in Asia Minor, and an orphanage housing 2000 children. However, the town also became a focal point for ] (Armenians comprised half of the population of what they called Marsovan in 1915) and anti-Western sentiment. It suffered at least two riots in the 1890s, but the damage was rebuilt. In 1915, over 11,000 Armenians were deported from the city (which had had approximately 30,000 inhabitants in the previous year) in ]; others were killed and their property confiscated and sold to Turkish insiders, supposedly to benefit the Ottoman war effort, as documented by missionary ]. In addition, in 1915 several Greek men were murdered by the Ottomans, while the women were compelled to follow the Ottoman troops. Those who were exhausted after the long marches were abandoned with their babies on the roadside.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64613402 |title=ARMENIAN ATROCITIES. |newspaper=] |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=3 August 1915 |accessdate=15 February 2021 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The College was closed in 1924 and all the remaining Christians in Merzifon were forced to leave.
==Today==

{{unreferenced section|date=November 2017}}
⚫ ===Turkish Republic===
Merzifon is now a typical large but quiet Anatolian town providing schools, hospitals, courts and other important infrastructure in concrete buildings, but offering few cultural amenities. Few travellers stop here, preferring to press on to reach the Black Sea coast. The best-known dish is the boiled wheat, chick-pea and meat stew called ]; there are also a number of well-known kebab houses and a famous ] restaurant called ''Ciloşoğlu''. And at weekends there is plenty of attractive countryside around for a picnic or other escapes.
⚫ After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the ], unrest continued. British troops were deployed in formerly Ottoman lands to ensure the terms of surrender, and some of them arrived in Merzifon in 1919 just as George White returned and reopened the college and orphanage, as well as a new "baby house" for displaced Armenian mothers and infants. However, the British troops soon withdrew and unrest continued in Merzifon.


==Attractions==
⚫ There is a large airbase nearby. Merzifon is twinned with the city of ].
Merzifon's main attraction is the ], built in 1666 and featuring one of the lovely ''şadırvans'' (ablutions fountains) with internally painted domes for which the Amasya area is known. Much of the original mosque complex, including the hamam and the bedesten, survives and is still in use today.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MERZİFONLU KARA MUSTAFA PAŞA KÜLLİYESİ |url=https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/merzifonlu-kara-mustafa-pasa-kulliyesi--amasya |access-date=2022-08-17 |website=TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi |language=tr}}</ref>{{unreferenced section|date=November 2017}}


==Administrative structure== ==Administrative structure==

Revision as of 20:34, 17 August 2022

Place in Amasya, Turkey
Merzifon
Merzifon is located in TurkeyMerzifonMerzifon
Coordinates: 40°52′30″N 35°27′48″E / 40.87500°N 35.46333°E / 40.87500; 35.46333
CountryTurkey
ProvinceAmasya
Government
 • MayorAlp Kargı (CHP)
 • KaymakamGürkan Demirkale
Area
 • District972.24 km (375.38 sq mi)
Elevation750 m (2,460 ft)
Population
 • UrbanTemplate:Turkey district populations
 • DistrictTemplate:Turkey district populations
Post code05300
Websitewww.merzifon.bel.tr

Merzifon (Template:Lang-hy, Middle Persian: Merzban; Template:Lang-grc, Template:Lang-el) is a town and district in Amasya Province in the central Black Sea region of Turkey. It covers an area of 970 square kilometres (370 sq mi), and the population (2020) is 73,849 of which 57,900 live in the town of Merzifon, the remainder spread throughout the surrounding countryside. The mayor is Alp Kargı (CHP).

Modern Merzifon is a typical large but quiet Anatolian town with schools, hospitals, courts and other important infrastructure but few cultural amenities. There is a large airbase nearby.

Merzifon is twinned with the city of Pleasant Hill, California.

Etymology

Former variants of its name include Marzifūn, Mersivan, Marsovan, Marsiwān, Mersuvan, Merzpond and Merzban. The name apparently comes from Marzban, the Persian title for a "march lord" or a district governor, although the exact connection is not clear. Scholar Özhan Öztürk claims that original name was Marsıvan (Mers "border" in Persian + van "town" in Armenian) whicht means "Border town"

Geography

Standing on a plain, watered by a river, Merzifon is on the road between the capital city of Ankara and Samsun on the Black Sea coast, 109 km from Samsun, 325 km from Ankara and 40 km west of the city of Amasya.

Climate

Merzifon has a borderline warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb) and an oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb), because one summer month has an average precipitation above 40 mm. The weather is moderately cold in winter and warm in summer.

Climate data for Merzifon
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) 0.9
(33.6) 		2.5
(36.5) 		5.7
(42.3) 		11.1
(52.0) 		15.4
(59.7) 		18.7
(65.7) 		21.0
(69.8) 		20.7
(69.3) 		17.7
(63.9) 		13.2
(55.8) 		7.8
(46.0) 		3.1
(37.6) 		11.5
(52.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 38
(1.5) 		31
(1.2) 		36
(1.4) 		46
(1.8) 		59
(2.3) 		49
(1.9) 		18
(0.7) 		13
(0.5) 		23
(0.9) 		30
(1.2) 		35
(1.4) 		40
(1.6) 		418
(16.4)
Source: Climate-Data.org

History

Pre-Roman history

Archaeological evidence (hundreds of burial mounds or höyüks) indicates settlement of this well-watered area since the Stone Age (at least 5500 BC). The first fortifications were built by the Hittites, who were expelled in around 1200 BC by invaders descending from the Black Sea. After 700 BC the fortifications were rebuilt by the Phrygians, who left a number of burial mounds and other remains. From 600 BC the Phrygians were pushed out by further invasions from the east, this time by Cimmerians from across the Caucasus mountains; graves from this period have been excavated and their contents displayed in the museum in Amasya. Merzifon then became a trading post of the kings of Pontus, who ruled the Black Sea coast from their capital in Amasya.

Rome and Byzantium

The district of Amasya was destroyed during civil wars of the Roman era but Merzifon was restored by command of the emperor Hadrian. Finds from Roman temples in Merzifon are also on display in the Amasya museum. The city grew in importance under Roman rule as its walls and fortifications were strengthened, and it remained strong under Byzantine rule (following the division of the Roman empire in 395), although it was held briefly by Arab armies during the 8th-century expansion of Islam. After this the castle of Bulak was built as a defence.

Turks and Ottomans

In the 11th century the Danishmend dynasty established Islam in Merzifon and the Byzantines never regained control. The Danishmends were followed by the Seljuk Turks, the Ilkhanids, and, from 1393 onwards, by the Ottomans. Merzifon was an important city for the Ottomans because of its proximity to Amasya (where Ottoman princes were raised and schooled for the throne). The Turkish travel writer Evliya Çelebi recorded it as a well-fortified trading city in the 17th century.

Merzifon was home to one of the last communities of Armenian Zoroastrians - known as Arewordik (children of the sun) - who are believed to have been killed in the Armenian genocide between 1915 and 1917.

By the 19th century Merzifon had become a centre for European trading and missionary activity, and American missionaries established a seminary here in 1862. In 1886, a school called the Anatolia College in Merzifon was founded (it expanded to serve girls in 1893). By 1914, the schools had over 200 boarding students, mostly ethnic Greeks and Armenians. The complex also had one of the largest hospitals in Asia Minor, and an orphanage housing 2000 children. However, the town also became a focal point for Armenian nationalism (Armenians comprised half of the population of what they called Marsovan in 1915) and anti-Western sentiment. It suffered at least two riots in the 1890s, but the damage was rebuilt. In 1915, over 11,000 Armenians were deported from the city (which had had approximately 30,000 inhabitants in the previous year) in death marches; others were killed and their property confiscated and sold to Turkish insiders, supposedly to benefit the Ottoman war effort, as documented by missionary George E. White. In addition, in 1915 several Greek men were murdered by the Ottomans, while the women were compelled to follow the Ottoman troops. Those who were exhausted after the long marches were abandoned with their babies on the roadside. The College was closed in 1924 and all the remaining Christians in Merzifon were forced to leave.

Turkish Republic

After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the First World War, unrest continued. British troops were deployed in formerly Ottoman lands to ensure the terms of surrender, and some of them arrived in Merzifon in 1919 just as George White returned and reopened the college and orphanage, as well as a new "baby house" for displaced Armenian mothers and infants. However, the British troops soon withdrew and unrest continued in Merzifon.

Attractions

Merzifon's main attraction is the Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Paşa Mosque, built in 1666 and featuring one of the lovely şadırvans (ablutions fountains) with internally painted domes for which the Amasya area is known. Much of the original mosque complex, including the hamam and the bedesten, survives and is still in use today.

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Administrative structure

Towns

  • Merzifon

Villages

Notable natives

  • Kara Mustafa Pasha (1634–1683) Ottoman grand vizier held responsible for the failure to conquer Vienna. The report of this failure was received by the sultan, who ordered Kara Mustafa Pasha to have himself strangled. Being the obedient servant of the Ottoman Empire, he complied, and was garotted with a silk cord in Belgrade on Christmas Day 1683.

See also

References

  1. "Area of regions (including lakes), km²". Regional Statistics Database. Turkish Statistical Institute. 2002. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  2. Özhan Öztürk. Pontus: Antik Çağ’dan Günümüze Karadeniz’in Etnik ve Siyasi Tarihi. Genesis Yayınları. Ankara, 2011. p.440. ISBN 978-605-54-1017-9.
  3. "Climate in Merzifon". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  4. "ARMENIAN ATROCITIES". The North Western Advocate And The Emu Bay Times. Tasmania, Australia. 3 August 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 15 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "MERZİFONLU KARA MUSTAFA PAŞA KÜLLİYESİ". TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi (in Turkish). Retrieved 2022-08-17.

External links

Merzifon in Amasya Province of Turkey
Districts


Districts of Amasya
Districts of Amasya
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