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The pearl of Anatolia, Van, has hosted many civilizations for thousands of years with its natural beauties and rich lands. Due to its existing beauties and location, the fact that many civilizations have lived here has ensured that the city has a deep-rooted history. Van is one of the most populous provinces in the region in terms of population. It borders Ağrı to the north, Hakkari to the south, Iran to the east and Bitlis to the west. The region has extremely fertile lands due to the streams that are passing through it. Let's take a closer look at the unknown history of the ancient city of Van from the Urartians to the present.

Thousands of Years of History

The history of the Van region dates back 4000 years. The first settlement began with the Hurrians migrating from Central Asia. The Hittites, who lived in the same period, established the first political unity in Anatolia. However, they could not take the Van region from the Hurrians. Although the Hittites, like the Hurrians, were of Central Asian origin, they could only extend the Babylonian and Assyrian dominance to the south of Lake Van. However, they could not conquer Van.

The Urartians Against the Hurrians

Another civilization, the Urartians, came from Central Asia and took the region from the Hurrians. After taking the region, they established the Urartian Kingdom in the 9th century BC. 12 kings came and went in this kingdom for 247 years. Between 713 BC and 612 BC, they came under the rule of the Assyrian Empire. The capital of the kingdom was Van, known as Tuşba.

From Urartians to Medes, from Medes to Persians, from Persians to Macedonians…

In 585 BC, the Medes ended the Urartian Kingdom and became the new owner of the region. The next owner of the region after the Medes was the Persians. In the 4th century BC, in 331 BC, Alexander, who became the King of Macedonia, ended the Persian Empire. After Alexander died, the region was included in the Seleucid Empire. Later, it was added to the Roman Empire. For many years, wars took place between the Parthian and Roman Empires for this region. The region, which fell into the hands of the Parthians in 225 BC, fell into the hands of the Sassanids in 226 AD. In 395 AD, the Roman Empire was divided into two and the region fell into the share of the Eastern Roman Empire. The Byzantines and Sassanids frequently fought over the region, so the region frequently changed hands.

Van's Accession to the Islamic State

In the 7th century AD, Hz. Ömer ended the Persian Empire and Van was conquered during the same period. After the conquest, the Islamic armies completely annexed Anatolia to the Islamic State. Then, Muslim Armenians and Muslims living around Van established various principalities. This situation caused civil wars and power struggles to begin in the Islamic states. Byzantium took advantage of this and reoccupied the region and tortured the Muslims and Christian Armenians there a lot. Thereupon, the people of Van asked for help from the Seljuk Sultan Alp Arslan. Alp Arslan conquered Van in 1065 and defeated the Byzantine army that came to the region with the Malazgirt Victory in 1071. Finally, the region was completely taken over by the Turks and Anatolia became the homeland of the Turks.

Van Became a Turkish Land by the Seljuk State

Van, which became a Turkish land by the Seljuk State, fell into the hands of various Turkish principalities until the Ottoman rule. During the Ottoman period, it was a subject of conflict between the Safavids and the Ottomans and occasionally fell into the hands of the Safavids. Later, with the Iran Campaign that was carried out by Suleiman the Magnificent, it became a completely Ottoman State territory. Although Van was Ottoman territory, it later became the center of many wars with the Safavids. In fact, it was captured once again by the Safavids in 1535. However, Sultan Suleiman re-conquered Van in 1548.

After the Tanzimat

Many important statesmen served as governors in Van, which was a provincial center. In World War I, the Russians occupied Van and with the help of the Russians, the Armenians took over the city. Then, on April 2, 1918, Van was liberated from the occupation and returned to the Turks. However, the region was largely destroyed by the Russians and Armenians during the occupation. During the Republican era, Van became the provincial center with the same name. After the 1950s, it began to develop rapidly. Today, this city that has a scent of history is one of the must-see cities in Turkey with its historical and natural beauties.

The Comfort That is Waiting for You While Exploring Van: Elite World Hotels & Resorts

If you would like to top off this discovery with a comfortable accommodation experience while witnessing the rich history of Van, ancient civilizations and unique culture, we are waiting for you at our Elite World Van and Elite World GO Van Edremit hotels. Elite World Van, located in the city center, turns your Van trip into a pleasure with its elegantly decorated rooms, delicious cuisine and central location, while Elite World GO Van Edremit, located on the coastal road in the Edremit district, offers its guests a peaceful break for those who are looking for a peaceful atmosphere. Plan your vacation, discover the culture of Van and let us host you with care on this unique journey.