Theodosiopolis redirects here; it is also a name of the ancient city of Apros , Thrace.
(also written as ''Erzerum'' in some texts until the early 20th century, formerly known as ''
Arzen '' during the
Roman period, ''Theodosiopolis'' (after
Theodosius I ) during the
Byzantine period and Կարին (''
Karin '' in
Armenian ) is a
City in eastern
Anatolia ,
Turkey . The current name "Erzurum" derives from "Arz-e Rum" (literally ''The value of the
Romans '' in
Persian ).
Erzurum has a population of 361,235 (
2000 census.) It is the capital (''merkez'') of
Erzurum Province . Erzurum is the largest province in the Eastern Anatolian Region and is located on a high plateau (1950 m). The city is situated 1757 meters (5766 feet) above sea level and has an extreme
Continental Climate with an average January temperature of -11°C (12°F). Temperatures often drop below -30°C in the winter, with heavy snowfall.
Nene Hatun of Erzurum has become synonymous with the patriotism and bravery of Turkish women who defended the city and its province from Russian attacks during the
Russo-Turkish War Of 1877-78 .
The city was a site of
One Of The Key Battles of
Caucasus Campaign of
World War I between Ottoman and
Russian armies which resulted in capture of Erzerum by Russian army under command of
Grand Duke Nicholas and
Nikolai Yudenich on
February 16 ,
1916 . It was returned to the Ottomans with the
Treaty Of Brest-Litovsk in 1918.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk , founder of the modern
Turkish Republic , resigned from the Ottoman Army in Erzurum which had been a gateway to Turkish clans migrating to Eastern Anatolia throughout history, and was declared the "Honorary Native" and the freeman of the city, which issued him his first citizenship registration and certificate (Nüfus Cuzdanı) of the new Turkish Republic.
Erzurum Congress is known as one of the cornerstones of the
Turkish War Of Independence . The fourth
President Of Turkey ,
Cemal Gürsel , was a native of Erzurum.
Erzurum offers winter tourism attactions and a major
Skiing center at the
Palandöken Mountain as well as its regional academic medical center, rich architectural historical sites and great monuments from the
Seljuk period such as the
Çifte Minareli Medrese . International University Sports Federation (FISU) World Winter Games,
2011 Winter Universiade , will be held in Erzurum.
One specialty of Erzurum's cuisine is
Cağ Kebab . Although this
Kebab variety is of recent introduction outside its native region, it is rapidly attaining wide-spread popularity around Turkey.
Erzurum, known as "The Rock" in
NATO code, has served as NATO's southeasternmost air force post during the
Cold War .
The city uses the double-headed
Anatolian Seljuk Eagle as its Coat of Arms, which was based on the double-headed
Byzantine Eagle that was a common symbol throughout Anatolia and the Balkans in the medieval period.
For History, Economy, etc, see
Erzurum Province .
Erzurum was the scene of massacres during the Following the massacres of Erzeroum of October 30, 1895 , a British consul put the hand on two letters sent to his brother and to his parents by a Turkish soldier: "The Graphic", 07.12.1895, Massacres of Erzeroum of October 30, 1895
"My brother, if you want news from here, we killed 1 200 Armenians, all tiny rooms in pâtée for dog
Mother, I am healthy and except. Father, twenty days ago, we carried out the war against the Armenian incrédules. By the grace of God, no misfortune arrived to us. The rumour says that our battalion will be dispatched in your part of the world - if it is the case, we will kill all the Armenians there. Other share, 511 Armenians were wounded, and it perishes about it one or two each day. If you want news of the soldiers and bachi bouzouks, not only one did not bleed of the nose
That God blesses you." "The Graphic", 07.12.1895, Massacres of Erzeroum of October 30, 1895
It was also a major extermination and deportation center during the
The deportation route for the
Armenians of Erzurum and for many others from eastern
Anatolia went through the city of Harput. The Armenian Massacres in Ottoman Turkey: A Disputed Genocide - Page 165 by Lewy, Guenter
