MALATYA, FROM THE CONQUEST OF WHICH TO DANISHMENDS
Abstract
Malatya, the first settlement of which was Arslantepe, has a very ancient history and was been on the routes of important commercial and military activities in the east-west direction. Due to these characteristics, Malatya is one of the cities that the countries like Akad, Assyrian, Hittite, Urartu, Roman and Byzantine, living in different times, wanted to dominate over it. The dominance of Muslims over Malatya first started at Hz. Omar time period and it was further strengthened by the military garrison which was initiated in the city by Muawiya who was the governor of Damascus and al-Djazira. Malatya assumed the role of base for Muslims on the Byzantine expeditions, therefore it was being destroyed by attack from time to time but it could rebuilt. Malatya was invaded by the Byzantines in 934, and after that date, it began to be a military base for Byzantium expeditions to Muslims. In 1056/1057 Turkmans, who were at the command of Emir Dinar, took a lot of booty by seizing the city when they appeared in front of Malatya. The great ruler of the Seljuks, Malikshah (1072-1092), took Malatya to the Seljuks domination in 1086 by giving the administration of Malatya and Urfa to Bozan. As a matter of fact, after the death of Bozan, the Armenian Gabriel ruled the city alone and this dominance continued until the Danishmends captured Malatya with the help of two Syriac soldiers on 18 September 1103. In 1106, the Danishmends, who lost the dominance of the city to the Anatolian Seljuk State, reigned Malatya in 1124.
