A General Evaluation of the Medieval Historical Sources Providing Information about the Turkish History of Ordu and Its Surroundings

Abstract

Ordu entered the Medieval period under the rule of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire. With the Byzantine Empire's conflict against the Sassanids and the subsequent collapse of the Sassanid state, Umayyad and Abbasid activities began to appear in the southern territories of Ordu. Following the Battle of Manzikert, the lands of Ordu, like the rest of Anatolia, opened their doors to the Turks; however, the process of transforming the region’s coastal basin into a Turkish homeland was only completed three centuries later. During the period of Turkish domination over Anatolia, although Ordu was under the control of the Empire of Trebizond, the activities of the Mengujekids, Danishmendids, and the Seljuks of Rum were also evident in the Ordu region. The Mongol invasion initiated a period of turmoil across Anatolia, which in turn marked the beginning of a favorable phase for the Turkish presence in Ordu. As the Mongol power waned, the influence of the Eretnaids and Kadı Burhaneddin became apparent in the region, and in the early 14th century, the Bayramlı principality was established with Ordu as its center. During the period of Ottoman expansion into the Ordu region, the southern parts of Ordu witnessed the presence of the Aq Qoyunlu and Qara Qoyunlu Turcoman confederations. Information regarding this political history of Ordu can be found in historical sources of the period written in Greek, Armenian, Georgian, Byzantine, Turkish, Syriac, and Arabic. Therefore, identifying and understanding these sources is essential for research on the medieval history of the Ordu region and contributes significantly to regional historical studies.