Manavgat Castle in the Late Middle Ages Turkish Period (1071-1453)

Abstract

The subject of this article is the usage process of the Manavgat Castle in the late Mediavel Ages Turkish period. There are many studies about the historical development of the settlements in Manavgat and its surroundings. However, no detailed publication work has been make about Manavgat Castle so far. As a result of the on-site investigations and research, the ground plan of the castle has been drawn, attempts have been made to determine its architectural phases made based on the existing architectural traces. Since a large part of the castle has been destroyed, the castle is no longer in use today. The castle, which had been built the Roman period, was also used in the Byzantine, Seljuk, Princely and Ottoman periods. After the conquest by the Turks, the small castle was extended to the south with new walls and became a settlement center in the area. Manavgat Castle, a very important structure in the history of Manavgat, played a key role as an administrative center in the process of Turkishizition of the region in the 13th and 14th centuries. The rulers of Manavgat Castle acted as an autonomous principality and minted coins in their own mint, albeit for a short time