History of Marmaris

In the mid-fifteenth century, the Ottoman Empire began to rise and the region became very important as its geographic state of controlling the Mediterranean. Town’s name changed into Mimaras during the era of Ottomans, and later on it became Marmaris. According to the historian Herodotus, there was a castle in Marmaris since 3000 BC. Marmaris Castle was rebuilt in 1522 by the Ottoman sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. In 1545, a caravanserai was built on the road to the castle by Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. Today it is used as a shopping centre. The productive plains and rich sea products of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas made the region very important for all ages. There are a lot of architectural and historical evidences showing that Marmaris have hosted many civilizations such as; the Egyptians, the Asdurs, the Aeolians, the Ionians, the Dorians, the Persians, the Macedonians, the Syrians, the Romans, the Byzantium, the Seljuks and the Ottomans.

The Caria Region and Era
Caria region was covering the lands of the city of Mugla today. First settlement was in 3400 BC. After Carians had enough strength and power, they invaded Rhodes Island after tough wars with the Lykians. Later on, Carians conquered all Aegean Islands in 3000 BC and they also seized Crete and Minos Islands. Carian’s sovereignity went on till the era of Mene, the king of Minos. After a tough and long struggle king Mene managed to take the Crete Island back. After the defeat, Carians returned to their lands on the Anatolian peninsula and couldn’t be able to recover themselves for a long time. They were attacted by many natives around. But at least they manage to control the Marmaris and live long.

The Era of the Egyptians & Scythians
Egyptians have reigned on the region of Caria for some time. After Egyptians, Scythians took the lead in the region. Scythians established nine towns in the region and expanded their borders from the Aegean Sea to the Asurs’ lands. After Scythians, Asurs reigned in the region. Herodotus and Homeros have declared that Carians have settled around the region of the Mount Milet and Mikale, where these regions are the Greek cities during the era of Ions Union. After the sovereingnity of the Asurs, Carians took place for the Troians at the famous Troia Wars. According to another legend, after the Troian’s defeat in 1209 BC, new invaders came to the Aegean Islands and lands and have established new colonies.

The Era of the new colonies

The Aeolians
The Aeolians were one of the three major ancient Greek tribes. The rest were the Ionians and the Dorians. Orest, the Aeolian, have reigned some regions of Mysia and Caria during 1124 BC, The Aeolians were the one the first clonies in these lands.

The Ionians
Second move for the invasion of the Caria lands were made by the Ionians in 1044 BC They reigned both in the Ephesus and Milet region. According to the Greek legend, Ionia was colonised by refugees from mainland Greece. According to the myth, the Ionians were descended from the hero Ion, son of Xuthus and son of Hellene. The Marmaris Castle where currently you may see by the coast, was built by the Ionians.

The Dorians
Movement of the Dorians to the Caria lands and islands have been easy without any wars. Dorians took the control of the south Caria region and Rhodes Island in 1000 BC They have built nine towns in the region. Knidos and Halicarnassos were the most famous of them.

Caria and Herodotus
History in Caria starts with the Herodotus who live during 484-420 BC. In Greek historiography, the Dorians are mentioned by many authors. The chief classical authors were Herodotus, Thucydides and Pausanias. Herodotus himself was from Halicarnassus, a Dorian colony on the southwest coast, around Marmaris. Caria and Lykia lands during the era of the Alexander the Great, the Pergamons, the Romans and the Byzantium.

Alexander the Great (356–323 BC) was the king of the Macedons who created one of the largest empires in the ancient history. A new era have begun in both Europe and Asia by his being the king in the age of 20. In 334 BC, he reached Troia with his Macedon and Greek army. An invasion by the Lydians in 334 BC led to the partition of the Roman Empire, ruled by Alexander the Great. He beated the Persian army of Darius, the Persian king and after, the doors of the Anatolian lands showed up its face to Alexander the Great. Most parts of the country conquered including the Aegean costs and Darius’ treasures were captured too. Alexander the Great died in 323 BC in the city of Babel.

Roman sovereignty in the region moved on till the birth of the Byzantium. Civil wars have begun in Rome in the first century BC. Julius Cesar in 44 BC, Brutus and Cassias in 42 BC have been killed. While Antonius and Cleopatra were living in Caria in those years and preparing to move to Egypt, there have been rebellions in the towns such as Milas and Alabanda. But later on the Romans recaptured those towns, Milas were ruined and the Alabanda folks were killed. Following four centuries of the cruel wars, the torture and the wrath ended with the division of the Roman era and the new era started with the Byzantium.

In 395, Caria and Lykia were under the control of Byzantium governance. In the 8th century, Caria and Lykia were invaded by Harun but later on in 860 Byzantium recaptured them. During the year 1100 till 1282, Seljuks took the lead on the Anatolian lands and on the lands of Caria and Lykia as well. Later on, the Anatolian colony of Mentese conquered those lands in 1291. After the head man Mentese died, his son Mesut took the lead of the colony and he used the port and the castle of Marmaris for the invasion of the Rhodes Island in 1300. He have conquered Rhodes but the Crusade Fleet recaptured the island back in 1309. The colony of Mentese had their golden age during the lead of Sucaeddin Orhan Bey and in those years Marmaris have become a big coastal town. Mentese colony attended to the Ottomans in 1424.

The era of the Ottomans
During this new era, Marmaris didn’t lose its importance and developed too. In 1425, the Ottomans made the town as one of the important part of their territory. Sultan Sulayman the Magnificent believed that the Empire should conquer the Rhodes Island for a complete sovereignty in Mediterranean. The Marmaris castle was rebuilt in 1522 by the Suleyman the Magnificent when he had set out for his campaign on Rhodes. Marmaris served as the Ottoman base during the era. Town’s name changed into Mimaras during the era of Ottomans, and later on it became Marmaris.

In 1545, a caravanserai was built on the road to the castle by Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. Today it is serving for  the souvenir shops and cafes. The Tomb of Sariana is another historic event, was built in the Ottoman style for the memory of a woman who helped the Ottoman troops of the Suleyman the Magnificent by carrying them milk and predicting the conquest of the Rhodes during the years of Rhodes campaign. The tomb is located on the north-east slopes of the town. Ibrahimaga Mosque was built in 1789 and with its large dome it shows the traces of the architectural significance of the era. The Tashan (Stone Inn) and The Aqueduct, which was built by Süleyman the Magnificient are the other works of the era on the road to the city Mugla.

After the conquest of the Rhodes Island, Marmaris have been governed by the voivodes sent from Mugla region. Later on, Marmaris attended to Rhodes Island governance. Finally Marmaris, in 1867, became a district of the city Mugla.

Cronological History of Marmaris

3000 BC - First city walls of Physkos (city of Caria) are built. Ruins of Physkos can be viewed from the hills of Asartepe.

8th Century BC - Ancient city of Loryma is established.

546 BC - Persian sovereignty in the region.

334 BC - Alexander the Great invades the region.

323 BC - Sovereignty of the Pergamons in the region after the death of Alexander the Great.

133 BC - Sovereignty of the Roman Empire in the region.

95 BC - Byzantium era starts in the region.

7th Century AC - Arabic assaults. Most cities were destroyed.

1290 - Era of the Mentese Beylik. Marmaris becoming a big port town after 1300.

1451 - Ottoman sovereignty starts in the region.

1522 - Suleyman the Magnificent goes for the Rhodes campaing with his big army.

1867 - Marmaris becomes the district of Muğla City.

1913 - German Destroyer sheltering to the Marmaris port during World War I.

1914 - Marmaris Castle is cannon fired by the French Fleet and a huge damage for the Castle after.

1919 - Italians invade the region after the treaty between Italy and Greece.

1922 - Italian Army leave the town and Marmaris takes back its freedom.