Karaman

Karaman Province Capital.
City of Karaman.
Population: 107.000
Elevation: 1033
Karaman is a town in south central Turkey, located north of the Taurus Mountains, ca 100 km south of Konya. It is the capital of the Karaman Province. In 2000 it had a population of 107 000. The Karaman Museum is one of the major sights.
In ancient times Karaman was known as Larande. It was destroyed by Perdiccas about 322 BC and later became a seat of Isaurian pirates. It belonged to the Roman and later Byzantine Empire until it was captured by the Seljuks in the early 12th century. It was occupied by Frederick Barbarossa in 1190. It was subsequently an important ilitary site as part of the Cilician Armenian Kingdom, until they lost it. In 1256 the town was taken by the Turkish warlord Karamanoğlu Mehmed Bey and was renamed Karaman in his honor. From 1275 Karaman was the capital of the emirate (and later Ottoman province) of Karamanid. In 1468 Karamanid was conquered by the Ottomans and in 1483 the capital of the province was moved to Konya. Karaman has retained ruins of a Karamanid castle and some walls, two mosques and a Qur'an school (medrese) from that age. An exquisite mihrab from a mosque from Karaman can now be found in the Çinili Pavilion near today's Archeology Museum in Istanbul.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:  37°10'37"N 33°13'50"E

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  • Polygon adjusted.
  • Karaman is in the south of central Anatolia, Turkey, at the northern foot of the Taurus mounts. The ancient Laranda, Karaman was renamed after the chieftain of a Turkic tribe who conquered the city ruled during a short period by the Latins and the Armenians in c.1250 and set up the independent The seljuks rewarded the Karamanoğlu with a dominion and a city which became the capital of the Karamanid Emirate in 1256. Thanks to Mehmet Bey in 1277 it became the first Turkish state to use the Turkish language ("Türkçe") instead of Persian which had been the official language of the Seljuk sovereigns. . Yunus Emre, the first great poet to write in Turkish, lived and died there (1238-1320) : his poetry, language and philosophy shaped Turkish culture and still do so Muslim state of Karamania, which at one time comprised most of Asia Minor.. A successor state of the Seljuk empire, Karamania existed until its final subjugation by the Ottoman Turks in the late 15th century. Its area is 9.237 square km and its population is around 250 thousand. Karaman became a province of Turkey in 1989. Karaman is formed by Karaman (center), Ayranci, Ermenek,sariveliler,Başyayla,Kazım Karabekir districts. Some sites of Interest and history are; Gokce forest recreation area, Maraspoli Cave, Karaman, Ermenek (Firan) and Mennan castles, Hatuniye, Emir Musa, Ibrahim Bey and Siyahser theological schools (medrese) for alms and Tol Medrese, Kazimkarabekir district and Yollarbasi (Ilisra) town Grand Mosques, Haci Beyler, Aktekke (mother of Mevlana), Arapzade, Pasha, Dikbasan (Fasih), Akcasehir, Sipas and Mimar Emir Rustem Pahsa historical mosques, Yunus Emre Mosque and Lodge, small mosque of Seyh Celebi(seljuks) ,a lot of historical mausoleums, Bicakci Bridge and Ala Bridge, Karaman Museum, Karadag Thousand Churches and one of the first church in the world(derbe)also, South of there are the remains of the beautiful Byzantine Alahan Monastery . This Byzantine complex dating from the 5th century comprises three main parts: the basilica, the baptistery in the middle, and the church. There is also some fine stone carving to admire. Its magnificent location on a natural terrace offers a breathtaking view over the Göksu Valley. Some significant dates for the city are: Culture and Art Week, Karaman, May 5-12th Commemoration Ceremonies for General Kazim Karabekir, at Kazim Karabekir district, January 26th Commemoration Ceremonies for Mader'i Mevlana, Karaman, December 10th Celebrations of Language Day, Karaman, May 13th and apple,cherry festivals in the towns and districts This province is famous with its special breed of sheep and delicious yogurt.also special soup for winter(arabaşı soup),and etliekmek(bread with small meats)
This article was last modified 17 years ago