Hasankeyf (History)

Hasankeyf, which is bounded to Batman Province, is a county, which is located in the southern shore of Dicle River. Its old name is Hısn- Kayfa. Word of Hısn means castle or fortress, Kayfa means rock. It is called Hasankeyf in the Ottoman period. Hasankeyf, which is a very old settlement place with its cave houses, which is a very old settlement place with its cave houses, which is an accomodation place in the waterfront on the trade road, going to east in the ancient age, was a settlement place on the eastern boundary of Romans. After rule of Romans, city is ruled respectively by Byzantines, Abbasids, Hamdanians, Mervanians and finally Artuqids in 1102. Hasankeyf becomes the capital city of Artuqid Beylic. While region is ruled by Ayyubids in 1231,Mongols capture and destroy the city in 1260. Later on, even though Karakoyunlular and Safavids dominate the city, it is included into Ottoman lands in 1517. City lives its most prime period during the period of Artuqids. We can list the old structures in the city, as follows: Hasankeyf Castle is 100m height from Dicle River. Castle is constructed during the period of Roman emperor Iulianus (361-363) and Iovianus (363-364)in 363, outbuildings and gates are constructed in the period of Artuqids and Ayyubids. There are many structure and structure remains within the castle. Ulu Mosque is constructed in Ayyubids period in 1325, mosque undergoes repair in 1394 according to the epigraph, detected here. Great Palace ruins are located in the bottom section of Ulu Mosque. Although El-Rızk Mosque,which is located in the northern-west of the city,is ruinous, its magnificent minaret reaches today in standing position. According to detected eoigraph, mosque is constructed by the order of Ayyubids sultan Süleyman in 1409. Süleymaniye Mosque, which is also constructed by the order of Sultan Süleyman in 1407, is ruinous and only its minaret is standing. Furthermore, there are ruined mosque, hamam madrasah, palace, wall and houses inside the city. It is understood from the epigraph that ruined bridge on Dicle River, is constructed in Artuqids period in 1116 and undergoues repair in Ayyubids period in 1349. Zeynel Bey Tomb, constructed by Akkoyunlu sultan Uzun Hasan for his son, who is died in Otlukbeli War, which he makes with Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 1473 and İmam Abdullah Small Dervish Lodge, constructed in Ayyubids period and in the ruinous position in these days, are located in the opposite side of Dicle River. Hasankeyf is submerged wth its historical values, having the cultural heritage, and its settlement places, constituted by caving the rocks due to Ilısu Dam, to be constructed on Dicle River.

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