Imagine 700 years ago. This very spot was part of the Turkish Beylik of Teke. Today we are standing before the Tekke in Antalya.
Let’s delve into its story. The Anatolian beylik of Teke existed from 1321 to 1423. Antalya served as its capital. This beylik emerged as one of the frontier principalities. These principalities were established by Oghuz Turkish clans. This happened after the decline of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum.
The Teke dynasty began when two brothers split their territories. These brothers belonged to the neighboring Hamidid dynasty. Yunus Bey became the Teke beylik’s first ruler. Its inhabitants spoke Anatolian Turkish.
Until the early years of the Republic of Turkey, Antalya was the sanjak of Teke. The peninsula west of Antalya is still called the Teke Peninsula. It reminds us of this beylik’s legacy.
Antalya itself boasts a rich history. King Attalus II of Pergamon founded it around 150 BC. He named it Attaleia. Over time, this name evolved into Antalya. The city served as a naval base for Attalus’s powerful fleet.
Interestingly, excavations suggest an even earlier settlement. Remains dating to the 3rd century BC were discovered. This indicates Attaleia was built upon an older town.
In 133 BC, Attalus III bequeathed his kingdom to Rome. Attaleia then became part of the Roman Empire. The city prospered. Christianity spread to the region. Paul of Tarsus and Barnabas visited Attaleia. This is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles.
Attaleia became a major city in the Byzantine Empire. It was the capital of the Theme of the Cibyrrhaeots. This theme occupied Anatolia’s southern coasts. According to Speros Vryonis, it was a major naval station. It was a commercial center. It was the most convenient harbor between the Aegean Sea and Cyprus. Merchants from various cultures frequented the city. Armenians Saracens Jews and Italians were common sights.
In 1206, the Seljuk Turks tried to capture the city. Aldebrandus, an Italian ruler, defended it. He received help from Cyprus. The attackers were defeated. However, the Seljuks captured Attaleia the following year. They built its first mosque.
The local Christians rebelled in 1212. They briefly restored Byzantine rule. But Kaykaus I ended this in 1216.
Ibn Battuta, the Arab traveler, visited Antalya between 1335 and 1340. He described it as a most beautiful city. He noted its vast size and attractive layout. Each community lived in its own walled quarter. Christian merchants lived in the Mina. Greeks and Jews had their own quarters. The king and his court lived in another.
In the late 17th century, Evliya Celebi described a city with narrow streets. It contained 3000 houses. These were divided into Turkish and Greek neighborhoods. The town had grown beyond the city walls. The port could hold up to 200 boats.
The Tekke Oglu family held power near Perga. They remained a rival to the Ottoman governor.
In the early 20th century, Antalya had factories spinning and weaving cotton. As Muslim refugees moved into Anatolia, Antalya’s population grew. The city’s port served the inland areas.
In 1920, Antalya had about 30000 residents. It exported wheat flour sesame seeds livestock timber and charcoal. The harbor was small and unsafe in winter. Antalya also had Greek Armenian and Jewish communities.
Italy occupied Antalya for three years after World War I. Turkey recaptured it during the Turkish War of Independence. Large-scale development transformed Antalya into a major metropolitan area.
Today Antalya is a major tourist destination. It attracts millions of visitors every year. The Tekke stands as a reminder of Antalya’s layered history. It reminds us of the Beylik of Teke and the empires that shaped this beautiful city. It is now a popular tourist destination. It offers a blend of history culture and natural beauty.