KONYA
GENERAL INFORMATIONS

THE HISTORY OF KONYA 

Konya is one of the oldest cities in Anatolia and its name comes from the word “Icon” which means “Holy Depiction”. The city called "lconium" or "lkonion" during the Roman period, developed significantly and became the governing center of the Proconsulate of Asia Minor. In Seljuk and Ottoman period, it began to be called “Konya” and this name came to today without any change.

Since the seventh millennium B.C., Konya has been the cradle of civilization. The early permanent settlements in and around Konya, go back to prehistoric times. The cultures of the Neolithic, Paleolithic and Early Bronze Ages can be found within this period of time. Tumulus, which are the inhabitancy areas of this period, are within the borders of Konya. The findings belonging to the Neolithic Period (7000-5500 BC) came out through the archeological excavations in Çatalhöyük.

In Karahöyük, which is one of the regions of Konya today, inhabitancy of the Hittite is seen. The archeological excavations that have been carried out for many years give us findings that reflect this period. The Phrygians, who ended the Hittite  domination on Asia Minor, were migrating tribes from the Thrice. The findings from the Aleaddin Hill, Karapinar, Gicikısla and Sizma belong to the seventh millennium B.C. Konya (Cavania) was invaded by the Lydian, Alexander the Great and Romans.  The Roman  domination all over Asia Minor was long-lasting and Konya was called Iconium (25 B.C.).

St. Paul Antiochia, one of the Christian saints who went up from Antalya to Anatolia, then came to Ikonium (Konya). At this period Hatunsaray Lystra-Derbe, Leodica and Sille were important settlement areas of Byzantines. With the spread of Islam in Anatolia Arabian raids started. The Ommayads and Abbasids raided over Konya.

    After the Battle of Malazgirt in 1071 a large part of Anatolia including Konya was captured by Seljuk Turks, and the dominance of the Eastern Roman Empire began to disappear. Suleyman Shah, the Anatolian Seljuk Sultan, declared Konya the seat of his empire in 1076. In 1080 Iznik was made the capital city and in 1097, once more, Konya was declared the capital of Anatolian Seljuk Empire, staying that way until 1277. Karamanoglu Mehmet Bey took over the rule of the Karamanogulları State. The Ottoman Sultan Murad II captured Konya in 1442 and ended the Karamanogulları rule. Konya enjoyed many years of esteem, making for herself a notable reputation during the Ottoman reign. Konya was the halting place of Yavuz Sultan Selim during his campaigns to Egypt and Persia. Suleyman the Magnificent and Murad IV halted in Konya on their way to Baghdad.

 During the Republic Period, Konya became the largest province of the country. In spite of the fact that the city of Karaman which includes the districts of Ayrancı, Ermenek, and Kazımkarabekir was separated from Konya with a law put forth in 1989, the city kept this special feature.

Alaeddin Hill is a tumulus which hides relies of 400 years under it. Once upon a time, it attracted attention not as an area of settlement but as an area where the richness of history, culture and nature were protected and a place where people’s needs of having a rest were met. In the north of the hill Alaeddin Mosque has the pleasure of meeting its people after efforts of restoration that lasted for many years.

The mausoleum that has the sarcophagus of eight Seljuk Sultans, first and fore most Alaeddin Keykubat’s, is in the courtyard of the mosque. If you stand on the eastern part of the hill, next to the Monument of Martyrs you will see the Mevlana Dervish Convent with its green, eye-catching dome at the end of the dual carriage way lying in front of you. You can also see the minarets of Sultan Selim Mosque which was built by one of the Ottoman Sultans, Selim II, on the right side of Mevlana Dervish Convent which has been used as a museum since 1926.

Konya, with its historical works, is a city that seems like an open-air museum.