OTTOMAN ARMENIANS IN ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROVINCES OF THE EMPIRE: BURSA

Hurriyet Daily News
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Vercihan Ziflioglu

Bursa, also once called Hudavendigar, was one of the most important
provinces of the Ottoman Empire and was where the Patriarch of the
Armenians resided. The city continues to be a center for commerce
and tourism, especially well known for its hot springs

The national football match between Turkey and Armenia will be played
in Bursa, a city with one of the highest populations of Armenians in
the Marmara region during the Ottoman Empire.

Bursa is also known in history as one of the most important places
for Armenians in terms of religion because the Patriarch resided
there. There were many Armenian schools and monasteries in the
province. Sultan Mehmet II, also known as "Sultan Mehmet the
Conqueror," focused on the Armenians of Bursa after he conquered
Istanbul and brought Hovagim Golod, the Armenian Patriarch, to
Istanbul. Mehmet II also brought Armenian artists and craftsmen to
the new capital.

Bursa the capital

Last year, "Armenians in Turkey 100 years ago," a detailed book
featuring photographs and historical documents from the Carlo Calumeno,
was released by Osman Köker through Birzamanlar Publishing. The book
includes information on the history of Bursa. Köker spoke to the
Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review about his research and said Bursa
was among the Ottoman’s biggest provinces and its borders extended from
the Aegean Sea to the Black Sea. "We see that 82,000 Armenians lived
in Bursa before 1912, according to data by former Patriarch Magakya
Ormanyan," said Köker. "There was an Armenian population of 10,000
in the capital city of Bursa and most of them lived in the districts
known as SetbaÅ~_ı, Kurtoglu and Emirsultan. The Patriarchate was
at SetbaÅ~_ı anyway."

A town of tourism and commerce

Bursa is an important city in history in an economic and social
sense as well. The city attracted many d continues to today. Zakarya
Mildanoglu, who researched Bursa’s economy, said: "Bursa is not a
port city like Ä°zmir but it is as important as that in commercial
means. Nearly all the Anatolian caravan trails pass through
Bursa." Mildanoglu said the city is also important for silkworm
breeding, jewel crafting and the carpet trade. "Bursa is well known
for its thermal springs alongside commerce. There are many hotels
run by Armenians in Cekirge. Since Armenians were the most active
group in business life, Hudavendigar, the only official gazette of
the province, was published in the Armenian alphabet," he said.