Bolu City

Bolu Province

The oldest known history of the province of Bolu, located in the Black Sea Region of Turkey, dates back to 1200 BC. Bolu, which hosted the Hittites, Alexander the Great, Persians, and the Ottoman Empire, has taken on a different identity with its unique customs and traditions over the years.

History of Bolu

B.C. In the 1200s, Bolu, like all Hittite lands, was in the hands of the Phrygians. B.C. In the 6th century, the Persians dominated the region. B.C. In 336, Alexander the Great defeated the Persians and captured Bolu, like many other parts of Anatolia. When Macedonia collapsed upon the death of Alexander the Great, the Kingdom of Bithynia was established in the Bolu region. According to written documents, archaeological artifacts and historical sources from those times, the people who settled in the arc of Sakarya and Filyos Rivers at the end of the Thracian migrations were called "Bithyn". That's why Northwest Anatolia, including Bolu, was called "Bithynia". Bolu Plain and its surroundings, called Salonia Campus by the Bithyns, were changed to "Claudio Polis" by the Romans.

Bolu Map

It is thought that the name Bolu comes from "Police". The city, which was built on three hills, had inner and outer walls. Remains of these walls can be seen in the Carpet Fortress area in the north of the city. After the 1071 Malazgirt victory, the Turkmens who spread to the west settled in Bolu 3 years later. The commanders of the Seljuk State Artuk, Tutuk, Danişmend, Karateki and Saltuk Beys, under the command of Süleyman Shah, reached the border of Istanbul. During these raids, Bolu was conquered by the Horasanlı Aslahaddin.

The Ottoman invasion of Bolu Region was started by Osman Gazi for the first time. The complete conquest of the Bolu region coincides with the first years of the Orhan Gazi period (1324 – 1326). According to another rumor, the region was named as "Bol Uluğ" in the past, and as "BOLU" in time, due to the abundance of Uluğ - Scholar in the region during the Ottoman period. Bolu was the scene of the war of princes, which started with the death of Yıldırım Beyazid, many times. Bolu was not only outside the areas plundered by Timur after the Battle of Ankara, but also became the town that hosted Çelebi Mehmet, who was considered the second founder of the Ottoman Empire, on the Kızık Plateau until this danger was over. After Çelebi Mehmet ensured the unity of the Ottoman Empire, Bolu gained a regular administration.

Bolu Yildirim Bayezid Bath

Between 1324 and 1692, Bolu was a sanjak principality with 36 districts. XVI. In the 19th century, Bolu became one of the second degree Şehzade sanjaks. During the reign of Bayezid II, Prince Süleyman (Kanuni) was appointed here. Between 1683 and 1792, Bolu was ruled by voivodeship. II. During the reign of Mahmut, it was transformed into a governorship. (1811) Bolu after the Tanzimat; It was attached to Kastamonu province (1864). In 1909, it was converted to the governorship again.

After the Armistice of Mudros entered into force and İzmir was occupied, the first Defense of Law Society in the Bolu region was organized in Gerede. Bolu was not invaded by the enemy during and after World War I, but it suffered material damage. At the end of the periods of national struggle under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Pasha, Bolu completed the period of governorship on October 10, 1923 and became a province.