Amasra and Fatih Sultan Mehmet

Amasra and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Connection: A Historical Conquest Story

Amasra, known as the pearl of the Black Sea, is a port city that has attracted attention throughout history with its natural beauties and strategic location. In Ottoman history, this small but important city stands out as a part of the conquest policies of Fatih Sultan Mehmet. Mehmet the Conqueror's annexation of Amasra to Ottoman territory is considered a great military and commercial success. In this article, the connection of Amasra with Mehmet the Conqueror, the date of the siege, the other conquest attempts of Mehmet the Conqueror in the same period and the strategic importance of Amasra will be discussed in detail.

Siege and Conquest of Amasra

Amasra was conquered by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 1460. This conquest went down in history as the Siege of Amasra, but it was remarkably warless and bloodless. At the time, Amasra was a colony under the control of the Genoese and an important center for Black Sea trade. The Genoese had dominated the region since the 13th century and had made the harbor and castle the base of their commercial activities.

Mehmet the Conqueror turned his attention to the Black Sea coast after the conquest of Constantinople (1453). Having put an end to the Byzantine Empire with the conquest of Constantinople, Fatih wanted to consolidate the regional power of the Ottoman Empire and ensure political unity in the Black Sea region. The conquest of Amasra was part of this goal. In 1460, Fatih marched to Amasra by land with his army and Grand Vizier Veli Mahmud Pasha marched to Amasra by sea with the navy. Fatih reached the valley of the Bartın River with a difficult journey starting from Bolu and when he reached a point overlooking Amasra, he was impressed by the beauty of the city and uttered his famous words: "Lala, lala! Is this the Çeşm-i Cihan?" (Is this the eye of the world?). This expression reflects his admiration for Amasra's natural beauty and strategic value.

During the siege, Fatih sent a messenger to the castle, demanding surrender and informing them that otherwise the castle would be shelled from land and sea. Faced with a sudden and coordinated Ottoman offensive, the Genoese realized that resistance was futile. A delegation led by the last Genoese consul handed over the keys of the castle to the Conqueror. Thus, Amasra, which had been under Genoese rule since 1204, joined Ottoman territory in October 1460. The Conqueror showed mercy to the inhabitants of the city and did not take them prisoners, but sent a group of a few hundred people with their rulers to Istanbul.

Other Conquests of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror during the same period

Mehmet the Conqueror's conquest of Amasra in 1460 was a time when his policies to expand Ottoman sovereignty in the Black Sea and Anatolia intensified. After the conquest of Constantinople, Mehmed the Conqueror continued his conquests both in the east and the west and took important steps towards transforming the Ottoman Empire into an empire. Some important sieges and conquests that took place in the same period or close to the conquest of Amasra are as follows:

1. Conquest of Sinop (1459-1460): A year before Amasra, or around the same time, Fatih targeted Sinop, another important port city on the Black Sea. Sinop was in the hands of the Candaroğulları Principality and Fatih eliminated this principality and took Sinop without a battle. The conquest of Sinop facilitated the capture of Amasra and strengthened Ottoman dominance in the Black Sea.
2. Conquest of Trabzon (1461): One year after the conquest of Amasra, Fatih targeted the Greek Empire of Trabzon. On August 15, 1461, the Ottoman army besieged Trabzon and captured the city after a long campaign. This conquest consolidated Ottoman rule on the eastern shores of the Black Sea and completely eliminated the Byzantine remnants in the region.
3. Peloponnese Campaign (1458-1460): Fatih was also active in the Balkans and the Peloponnese during the same period as the conquest of Amasra. He organized an expedition to the Peloponnese Despotate between 1458-1460 and annexed this region to Ottoman territory. The conquest of the Peloponnese contributed to the Ottoman power in the Mediterranean.
4. Serbia Campaigns (1454-1459): In the years preceding Amasra, Fatih had organized expeditions into Serbia and, with the exception of Belgrade, had largely taken control of this region. Although the Siege of Belgrade in 1456 failed, other parts of Serbia came under Ottoman rule.

These conquests show that the Conqueror was a leader capable of simultaneous operations across a wide geography. The conquest of Amasra was part of this grand plan to gain a strategic base on the Black Sea.

Importance of Amasra

Amasra has been of great strategic and economic importance throughout history. The reasons behind Fatih Sultan Mehmet's desire to conquer this city are as follows:

1. Strategic Location: Amasra was a city on the west coast of the Black Sea, notable for its natural harbors. These harbors provided a safe haven for both military and commercial ships. The Ottoman goal of turning the Black Sea into a "Turkish lake" required the control of port cities like Amasra.
2. Trade Center During the Genoese period, Amasra was an important center of Black Sea trade. Located at the northern end of the trade routes from Anatolia to the east, the city was known for its rich forest products (especially boxwood and chestnut) and fishing. Fatih wanted to bring this economic potential to the Ottoman Empire.
3. The Piracy Problem: Pirates operating off the coast of Amasra were harming Muslim merchant ships. Fatih eliminated this threat and secured the trade routes in the Black Sea.
4. Political Unity in the Black Sea: Before the conquest of Istanbul, only Samsun was under Ottoman control on the Black Sea. The capture of Amasra was an important step towards political unity on the Black Sea coast and paved the way for further conquests.

After the conquest, Amasra was attached to Bolu Sanjak and guards were stationed in the region. The city maintained its importance during the Ottoman period and continued to attract attention with its natural beauties and historical texture.

Conclusion

Mehmet the Conqueror's conquest of Amasra in 1460 was a turning point in his policy of Black Sea domination. This conquest, which took place without a war, reveals both the military genius and diplomatic skills of Fatih. Amasra was known as "Çeşm-i Cihan" for its natural beauty and added strength to the Ottoman Empire with its strategic and economic importance. Conquering regions such as Sinop, Trabzon and Peloponnese in the same period, Fatih took firm steps towards transforming the Ottoman Empire into a world empire. The story of Amasra is a summary of Fatih's visionary leadership and the rise of the Ottoman Empire.