Amasya is a land of legends. Strabo, an Amasya native and the world’s first geographer, tells us that the name of this city, which he calls ‘my country’ comes from the Amazons and that it was a city of kings.

The first observation that is made when speaking about civilizations in history is that they grew up from settlements on the banks of great rivers. And the Anatolian city of Amasya has fit this definition from the day it was founded right up to the present.

With a past going back 7,500 years, it is a city through which civilizations by the dozens have passed and which still preserves their imprint in all its vibrancy. Founded on both banks of the Yeşilırmak river (the ancient Iris) which flows between two mountains, the city is reminiscent of an open air museum. The first settlement here is said to date back to around 5,500 B.C. Traces of the Hittites, Phrygians, Cimmerians, Scythians, Lydians, Persians and Hellenes as well as of the Pontic, Roman, Byzantine, Danishmendid, Seljuk, Ilkhanid and Ottoman civilizations are encountered in Amasya, which was among the leading cities of the numerous civilizations that have ruled Anatolia. The Royal Rock Tombs on the slopes of the hill where Amasya Citadel stands are the best known and most striking of these remains. These royal tombs, which the Pontic peoples, who put a lasting stamp on the city, made by carving out deep troughs in the rock, are among the its most impressive monuments. And the most magnificent among them is the Mirrored Cave which takes its name from their legend.

CITY OF PRINCES
A portion of the bridges, castles and other ruins in the town date back to the Roman and Byzantine civilizations, which held sway over the area for a long time. Selcuk art and architecture came to dominate in the city starting from the period of Turkish hegemony over Anatolia. Mosques, mausoleums and religious colleges were built. One of them, the Gök Medrese, is the finest example you will ever see of Selcuk architecture as well as of its stone carving patterns and techniques. Under Seljuk protection and Danismendid administration, Amasya became a city of strategic importance. With the advent of the Ottomans, the city’s mission was further enhanced when the Ottoman crown princes were sent here to be governors of the province so as to gain experience in state administration. Known as the city of crown princes, Amasya trained many an Ottoman sultan. As it gained in importance, Ottoman culture also came to dominate the city as baths, bridges, fountains, khans and houses were built. Some of the finest examples of this building spree are the Ottoman houses which we can still see today. These traditional houses with their cantilevered balconies overlooking the banks of the Yeşilırmak are also known as the Yalıboyu Houses. They consist of one or two stories over a ‘bodrum’ or cellar with a pavilion known as a ‘şahniş’ over the first, or in some cases, the second story. Usually boasting a courtyard as well as a garden, especially the ones that are divided into separate men’s and women’s quarters have the garden in the middle so that it is closed off to the outside. In other houses privacy is achieved by means of a high garden wall. The houses in the Yaliboyu quarter were built on the ruins of the old Roman city walls in such a way as to afford a view of the Yeşilırmak. In a strategic sense, Amasya also played a major role in history during the Turkish National Struggle as the city where the Amasya Protocol was drawn up in October 1919.

OVER 20,000 MONUMENTS
Over 20,000 monuments and artifacts from civilizations ranging from the Hittites and the Romans to the Seljuks and the Ottomans have been found in and around Amasya and are exhibited today in the Amasya Museum. Among them the most interesting are the mummies of Prince Cumudar, Minister of Anatolia, İşbuğa Noyin, Commander of Anatolia, and İzzettin Mehmet Pervane Bey, all of them leading figures of the Ilkhanid dynasty which ruled in the 14th century, and of their sons, daughters and wives.

This charming and monumental city is famous at the same time for its handicrafts. The local people’s habit of drinking tea has also led to the development of the samovar, and artisans producing unique and elaborately ornamental samovars made especially of tin, brass and copper stand out in the city. Handmade wood carving and the production of walking canes and of costumes made of velvet and of the purple satin with a silver thread running through it known as ‘bindallı’ are widespread as is carpet and kilim weaving. The town’s historic past and cultural richness are reflected as well in the local cuisine, which includes such specialties as ‘toyka’ soup, stuffed broad beans, okra, a mutton dish known as ‘keşkek’ and a sweet made with paper-thin sheets of ‘yufka’. Last but not least, Amasya apples, which have been immortalized in verse and are known to practically everyone, have a fame all their own.

* Turkish Airlines flies round trip Istanbul-Amasya (Merzifon) on Mondays, Wednesdays and fridays.

Resource: THY Skylife

Amasya Protocols :

Kemal Atatürk gave us detailed knowledge in “The Speeches”about “Amasya Negotiations” and Protocols were carried out between the group of Mustafa Kemal Pasha, Rauf also Bekir Sami Beys in the name of the Representative Committee and the War Minister, Salih Pasha in the name of Istanbul Government between the dates of 20th-22nd October 1919. As a result of these negotiations, three explicit and signed protocols and two confidential and unsigned protocols were concluded between together parties.
“First protocol included the demands of Salih Pasha. These demands included the resolutions that the army would not be occupied with policy; and that the movement of the Union and Progress would not be aroused; and that the interventions that would humiliate the administration would be abstained; and that those who were arrested active the grounds of opposition to the organisation, if any would be set free; and that the deported criminals would be punished; and that he thoughts asserting that we had equitable reasons for waging war would be kept confidential; and that the elections would be carried out freely; and that the circumstances that would unbalance the public order would be prevented; and that any article would not be written in favour of or against the administration, etc.

Second Amasya Protocol :
Second Protocol was on 22 October 1919, and it is a record summary of long discussions and negotiations.
In this negotiation, after the head which shows the sides’ common trust on Sultanate and Caliphate, they started to negotiate the decisions which had been taken in Sivas Congress on 11 September 1919:
1- Providing the compliance with the final decision of the countrywide Assembly, the borders that encompass been stipulated before shall be protected (the principle of the integrity and indivisible union of the country was accepted thereof).
It was determined necessary to prevent the disorder by pretending to give independence to Kurds. It was seen that they wanted to create a nation between Anatolia and Arabia to diverse them. It was declared that it wasn’t be accepted to give any of Anatolia. Aydın is moreover indivisible union of the nation.
Trouble in Thrace was that it was thought that it was aimed to create an ostensible independent government and make a colony, aiming to remove the east of Thrace to Midye- Enes line from us. But, it was thought suitable not to quit Edirne also Meriç border in any circumstances even if it would be thought to give them to an Islamic Government.
2- In the fourth item; Any privileges that can derange our political sovereignty and social balance shall not be granted for the Non-Muslim minorities. It was declared that this condition was compulsive to ensure our independence also it would have been a threat to our independence to quit this condition. This principle was agreed that it was the aim that we possessed to be successful.
3- In the seventh item it was discussed how to compensate our technical, industrial, and economical needs active condition that our independence would be kept. If a nation wants to invest money active our country, it will bring about them to have rights to check our treasury, so this subject should be thought also districted by experts of this subject not to be threat to our independence and next The National Assembly will ascertain it.
4- The other decisions of Sivas Congress on 11 September 1919 was previously thought suitable on condition that The National Assembly will accept them.
5- The Anatolian and Roumelian Council for Defence of Rights shall be recognised by Istanbul Government.
In this decision, it was stated that after the National Assembly had the rights of legislation and inspection inclusive of trust and freedom. What would happen to the Council would be stated by the decision of the congress. It was said that this congress was not on condition that it had to be out similar to Erzurum and Sivas Congress.
Deputies who accepted the programme of the Council would be contemplation like delegates who were explained in the regulations of the Council, and their special meetings could be seen as a congress. It was said that after this time, The National Assembly had to work into Istanbul freely and confidently. It was thought that how perhaps it be ensured under these circumstances. Because, Istanbul was into the enemies control, it was thoght that the deputies couldn’t do their legislation employment freely. It was thought suitable to gather the National assembly out of Istanbul in Anatolia where Istanbul government would demonstrate the place like Frenchs possessed done in Bordeaux in Seventy War, and Germans had completed in Weimar until the peace.
After the gathering of The National assembly, if the self-assurance and immunity of it was previously clear, Representatives of the Council would be abrogated and the working aims of their organization would be decided in a special meeting like a congress.
Because, the Government ordered that the election of the deputies would be in a gratis atmosphere, Representatives of the Council wouldn’t have effects active the election.
Representatives of the Council would warn if they realize that some of the deputies were harmful in the army and they were the members of Ittihat and Terakki to not allow them to be elected. Third protocol was prepared to explain how Representatives of the Council would perform this job.
The first also the second protocols were the suggestions of Salih Pasha also they weren’t put in practice. In addition to these protocols, there were 4th also 5th protocols which were anonymous and weren’t signed.

Amasya Proclamation 1919  by Turkish law in English, Hukuki Net

Ottoman Period :

Throughout the process when Timur occupied Anatolia at the beginning of the 15th century and started to destroy it to a great extent, Amasya was surrounded for about seven months by Timur’s soldiers.
After Yıldırım Beyazid possessed been defeated in the Ankara Battle, he was taken a prisoner of war. Then the fights over the Crown came about among the shahzadahs. Çelebi Sultan Mehmet, who tried to continue the Ottoman unity during the collapse known as The Fetret Era and succeeded in doing this, created Amasya his military bottom in the years of struggle.
In the term when Yakut Pasha was the Emir of Amasya in 1402, Kara Devletshah was appointed the Emir of Amasya by Timur, although Devletshah was so notorious for his being cruel among the lower also upper classes of Amasya that his becoming an Emir was not recognized by them and his entering the city was not permitted. Therefore, Kara Devletshah settled in Kağala/Hakala Village also dominated the rest of the city from now.
Amasya in the Ottoman era was a sanjak where Shahzadahs carried elsewhere their duties from the first half of the 15th century and it was the centre of Eyalet-i Rum as well.
It is identified that a Turkmen society known as Kızıl Koca Ogulları, lacking getting under any disciplines of the present structure of that time forced the people living into the area to offer them all their possessions and Yörgüç Pasha put this group also their leader to the sword with some tricks.
In the Ottoman term, one of the crucial events in Amasya was the social incidents identified as Celali Rebellions. throughout these incidents taking location especially in the 16th century, Celalî groups moved mostly within the Yeşilırmak valley into which Amasya was located. In this period, immense disorders were experienced.
The most important disorder was the one caused via Urfalı Yazici Abdulhalim who was the Sanjak Bey in Amasya at single time. As a effect of the events of the year 1603, the supporters of Kara Yazıcı Abdulhalim burnt Amasya. This confusion was so serious that the people of Amasya had to shelter inside the King sway Tombs with all their possessions.
Amasya was the historic place of an important treaty in the history of the Ottoman Empire. This treaty, signed in the late April 1555 and known as Amasya Treaty in our memoir, was one of the first and foremost treaties signed with Persia-Safevi Dynasty. In the while, Kanuni Sultan Süleyman was living in Amasya.
That Amasya was named “Shahzadahs’ City” in the Ottoman history was unpaid to the fact that many shahzadahs were transported up here. Among these shahzadahs were the ones who later succeeded to the throne such as Çelebi Sultan Mehmet, II.Murat, Fatih Sultan Mehmet also II. Beyazid. In addition, it is known that thither were shahzadahs who carried out their duties also then died in Amasya.
The crown place of shahzadahs from the date when it was conquered by the Ottomans onwards, Amasya was excluded since being a shahzadah sanjak after Shahzadah Beyazid fled to Persia in 1559 . head from that year, not one of the shahzadahs was previously on duty in Amasya any longer.

While the Great Seljuk army won the Malazgirt war in 1071, Sultan Alparslan’s high-rank commanders started the attacks against the Middle Anatolia. As a result of these attacks, Bizantyne sovereignity over Anatolia ended and, the commanders who did these conquests founded principalities (beylikler) independent in their internal affairs, after they had recieved the consent of the Seljuk State.
During this process, Amasya and its surrounding were conquered via Danishmend Ahmet Gazi also Turkish sovereignity started into the region. The battle which was held active 5th August 1101 between Amasya and Merzifon by the troops under the order of Seljuk Sultan Kılıç Arslan and Danishmend Gazi dispersed the Crusaders.
Danishmends’ sovereignity lasting intended about a century finished with the conquest of Amasya in 1175 by Seljuk Sultan II. Kılıç Arslan. As a result, the city of Amasya also its surrounding came beneath the Seljukian sovereignity.
throughout his long-lasting reign, II. Kılıç Arslan alloted the Seljuk State to his eleven sons also as a result of this allotement, Nizameddin Argunshah owned Amasya. Upon Nizameddin Argunshah’s brother, II. Rükneddin Süleyman shah’s getting hold of the Seljukian sovereignity, Amasya as many other places transformed into a province dependent active this sovereignity.
When the Mongolians became a threat, the Anatolian Seljuk king Alaeddin Keykubad gave various provinces to Harezm Beys as a fief (dirlik), so that he perhaps benefit from their experiences. Similarly, Amasya was imparted to Bereket Han as a fief in this period (1231).
After the reign of Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad (1220-1237), the ill-management of the country caused various social disorders in the Seljuk State. Amasya-centred, Babailer Rebellion which occured in 637H/1239M was the first also foremost of all the social activities in this period.
At this rebellion beginning under the leadership of Baba İlyas Horasani, Baba Ishak Kefersudi launched the practical process of the activity in the village of Kefersud, also during these happenings relating to the rebellion, Amasya witnessed them as an important historic location.
As a result of the spread of the increasing rebellion, Sultan II. Gıyaseddin Keyhusrev withdrew to the Kubadabad Castle as a precaution and meanwhile Hadji Armaganshah who was appointed as Amasya Subaşı was ordered to suppress the Hadji Armaganshah movement.
In the end, Baba İlyas, who was the chief of the Babaîler Rebellion and was suppressed in a bloody method, and hanged in the ramparts of the Amasya Castle after being captured in his tekke via Hadji Armaganshah. When the Seljuk State was defeated by the Mongols into the Kösedağ Battle in 1243, the Mongols started to plunder almost each part of of Anatolia, which took more than a century and Amasya was one of the places to be affected.
The Mongols who invaded Anatolia settled in the Middle Anatolia Region where Amasya was also situated. These settlers were named ‘Tatar’ in general. In this period, those who settled in Amasya was previously Ca’unğar tribes, also known as gone-hand clans.
After the İlhanlı ruler Ebu alleged Bahadır Han died in 1335, Sultan Alaeddin Eratna founded the State of Eratna by declaring their independence by the assist of Sultan Alaeddin who was the general governer of Anatolia in İlhanlı period and Amasya came under the rule of the State of Eratna in 1341.
In the equal year, Amasya was captured by Taceddinoğlu Principality(beylik) whose centre was Niksar. Sultan Eratna reserved his silence for a while, but when he got the protection also the support of Eygpt-Memluk Sultan Melih Nasır, he sent Tüli Bey (one of his emirs) towards the invaders. As a effect, Tüli Bey recieved Amasya and its around back from Taceddin Doganshah by the help of the local people into Amasya, thereby ending this invasion.
In this term, Zeyneddin Tüli Bey was the Emir of Amasya, but following his death Hadji Kutlushah was appointed as the Emir in 1347. Then, Şahabeddin Ahmet Shah ,the eldest son of Hadji Kutlushah transformed into the Emir of Amasya in the middle of 1352.
By the year 1356, Kebir Sücaaddin Bey transformed into the Emir ,using his power. However, Şahabeddin Ahmet Shah got this mission back from him recurrently in 1358.
Şadgeldi Pasha, the other son of Hadji Kutlushah was appointed the Emir of Amasya into 1359; later in 1361 Alaaddin Ali Bey , the son of Sücaaddin Süleyman Bey became the Emir. However, in the wake of Kaynar incident, Hadji Şadgeldi Pasha was created himself the Emir of Amasya for the subsequent time.
As the sultans ruling the Province following Sultan Eratna were frail and indulged in pleasure and joy of existence, they caused their condition authority to lose influence and the administrators into charge to get the idea to gain their independence. During these years, the Emir of Amasya, Hadji Şadgeldi Pasha started to act on his own and later declared his own principality.
Durign the reign of Şadgeldi Pasha, considerable construction activities were carried out. Amasya Castle was restored into 1363 and the old minting factory was rebuilt; also then a paper factory was built. It is also known that various construction units such as mosque, medrese and imaret were built in this period.
Fahreddin Ahmet Bey was the son of Hadji Şadgeldi Pasha who died in the battle with Kadı Burhaneddin, the judge (kadı) of the State of Eratna into 1381. He became the Emir of Amasya. Like his father, Fahreddin Ahmet Bey was in a continuous struggle with Kadı Burhaneddin; however, because he perhaps not get anything since that struggle, he offered to give Amasya to the Ottomans in revert for another sanjak. after this exchange, the metropolis entered the Ottoman government in 1393.

Roman term:
When the Parths occupied the area as far as Caria, the Roman Emperor Antonius defeated the Parths via the help of his commanders also sent them away from Anatolia. following this incident, Antonius came to Anatolia and had various legal kingdoms established in order to form a tampon region between his own land also that of the Parths, so that he could prevent any Parth attacks. As a consequence of this, into B.C.39, the Mitridates Region inluding Amasya as fine was given to Dorius, the son of II. Pharnakes.
Amasya, in this term, was an crucial city which was the metropolis of the Mitridates Glaticus Region. In B.C. 25 ,the Emperor Augustus (B.C. 27- A.D.14) founded the Provincia Galatia and joined the Mitridates Region also several others to this province.
Throughout the reign of the Roman Empire , Amasya with a provincial status transformed into the centre of the road structure between provinces. intended instance, the roads of Galatia also Cappadocia used to have an conclusion in Amasya.
Head from the reign of Emperor Domitianus (A.D.81-96) up to that of Severus Alexandra (A.D.222-235) , the city coins were known to be minted into Amasya. Now, mainly of these coins are included into the coin collection of Amasya Museum.
The city of Amasya became the religious and administrative centre of Diospontus after Emperor Diocletianus and took location among Armenian castles which were Bizantyne’s military provinces from VIII. century onwards.

Hellenistic Era
At the Issus War taking place in B.C. 333, the Persian forces were previously defeated opposed to the Great Alexandra , also many pieces of Anatolia except intended the North Cappadocia area in which Amasya is located came under the rule of the Macedonian Kingdom, thereby starting a period identified as Hellenistic Age also imposing its influence mostly in terms of culture and art. That term is the one which is a synthesis of eastern also western beliefs and cultures.
Upon Alexandra the immense’s demise (B.C. 323), a fresh process commenced in terms of politics in Anatolia. In this process, Alexandra the immense’s successors could not continue the unity of the Empire and that’s why it was divided in several kingdoms.
During these incidents, Persian Mitridates Ktistes founded the Mitridates Kingdom in B.C.301, also declared Amasya its financing.
In Amasya , having continued its put as a capital intended years up to V. Mitridates Euergetes transferred the financing to Sinop, began a big building activity also the metropolis became the centre of culture inclusive of this action, especially into Mitridates Eupator’s reign.
In this period, acceptable relations midway Mitridates Kingdom and Roman Empire ,exceptionally during the reign of V. Mitridates were reversed during the reign of Mitridates Eupator (B.C. 111-63) and as a effect, long lasting Mitridates battles broke elsewhere.
Finally into B.C.63 when Eupator was defeated in the battle midway Mitridates Eupator and the army of Roman overall Pompeius, Amasya was conquered by Roman soldiers. subsequential on, Pompeius, ending the reign of the Mitridates Kingdom also combining his lands inclusive of Bithynia area, formed Bithynia-Mitridates condition . Consequently, Amasya and its surrounding came under the reign of Rome.
Cremia King II. Pharnakes, the son of Mitridates Eupator, succeded in aquiring back the land of the Midridates Kingdom intended a meantime due to the civil wars into the Roman Empire, although upon organism defeated into the battle with the Roman troops commanded via Ceaser by Zela (Zile) in B.C. 47, the land including Amasya came under the reign of the Roman Empire one time again.

The Iron Age - Med - Persian Period
On top of the end of the five year lasting conflict between the two strong states of Anatolia, the Lydian and the Meds, the river “Kızılırmak” was admitted as a borderline midway these two forces into the year 585 B.C. and upon this the province of Amasya remained a field within the borderlines of the Meds until the Persian sovereignty started.
After a petite lasting Med sovereignty, into the year 547 / 46 B.C. Amasya, like the thumping majority of Anatolia, remained a field under the sovereignty of the Persian dominion upon the founder of the Persian Empire Kyros defeated the Lydian king Croesus.
By conquests, the Persians divided the lands which were beneath their hegemony in twenty parts and appointed governors to these fields. These proconsuls were named inclusive of the word “Satrap” which has the meaning “The keeper of the crown”. During this period Amasya remained as a area within the east borderlines of the zone named as the “Cappadocia Satraplığı” for approximately 250 years.
At this time certain pieces of the route of the “King Way” which starts from “Sardes” also ends at “Susa” passes from the lowland of Yeşilırmak that also houses Amasya into itself.

The Iron Era - Cimmerian - Scythian Period
The Cimmerians; throughout their term they transformed into a threat for the states into Anatolia also affected the societies inclusive of whom they were one time in relation in matters of art.

The Cimmerians spread elsewhere in the Black sea region also at this time Amasya and its surrounding remained a field under the sovereignty of the Cimmerian dominion.

Thither doesn’t exist greatly work belonging to the Cimmerian time but active the different hand the metallic conflict tools taken out since a tomb in the “Imirler” settlement of the district of Gümüshaciköy and was previously brought to the mausoleum of Amasya, belonging to this time.

 The dates 675-585 B.C. into the Anatolian memoir were the years during which the Cimmerians and Scythians made feel their existence as a significant force. following that time they slowly lost their strength.
In the era in which the Cimmerians exist, the Scythians as well can be sighted in the arena of memoir. As a substance of fact similar to Herodotus expressed it; The Scythians typically settled on the settlements belonging to Cimmerians. For this reason Amasya also its surrounding witnessed a Scythian sovereignty after the Cimmerian dominance.

The Iron Era - Phrygian Period
Phrygians who entered the historical arena as a political power after 750 B.C. , expanded their borderlines during the term of King Midas (725-695/675 B.C.) and as a result of this the province of Amasya became a sovereignty field of the Phrygians.
In the year 676 B.C., the Phrygians impart way against the heavy attacks of the Cimmerians who came via the Caucasians and via this way lost their influence in a short period also entered a duration of collapse.

The Bronze Era - Hittite Period
After the Hattie sovereignty was closed down by the Hittites, Amasya remained in sovereignty field of the Hittites. The Hittites who named themselves with the remark “Nesili” which means “The people who speak Nesice” established a great political communion in Anatolia. In this era the municipality of Amasya remained in the interior the borderlines of the Hittites.
One of the most significant settlements of Hittites in Amasya is the Doğantepe (Zara) community which is situated in the centre area of Amasya. The bronze statue of the Hittite Storm God Teshup which was found in this town and stemmed since the years 1400 – 1200 B.C. is accepted to be one of the significant Hittite works reaching these days.
Due to the effects of famine also drought during the life of Hittite’s depressed era, the Kaşgas who were living into the Black sea mountains according to one’s opinion and the Phrygians to another’s opinion who were also into the community who migrated from the Balkans to Anatolia because of attacks of some people, misplaced their sovereignty at regarding 1190 B.C. In these years as the effect of demolitions, depredations also massacres, the province of Amasya also witnessed the “Dark ages” in Median Anatolia lasting for greater than 400 years. But not much information is obtained about this era.