Fatih Sultan Mehmet’s Conquest Route Rediscovered 564 Years Later
A groundbreaking project led by Prof. Dr. İsmail Köse from Karadeniz Technical University (KTU) has made significant strides in identifying and modeling the arrival routes of Fatih Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror in the Black Sea region. The project, titled “401-400 BC in 401-400 BC and 1461 in 1461 Fatih Sultan Mehmet the Black Sea arrival routes to identify and modeled with geographical signs,” was developed within the framework of the EU-supported COST Action Science and Technology European Cooperation Program-SEADDA, through KTU’s Technology Transfer Application and Research Center, and is set to be presented to TÜBİTAK.
The project, which involved the participation of 8 individuals from universities in Trabzon, Erzurum, and Gümüşhane, spanned over a period of approximately 2 years, with the aim of mapping out the war and conquest routes of Fatih Sultan Mehmet. The team successfully determined the conquest route of Trabzon through Bayburt, Aydıntepe, and Maçka, and digitally mapped out the identified routes.
Dr. İsmail Köse shared insights into the project, emphasizing the meticulous effort put into aligning literature with topography over the past two years. Despite facing financial challenges initially, the team persisted in their research and ultimately secured funding for their project, which has now been recognized as an international endeavor. The findings of the project shed light on previously unknown aspects of the conquest of Trabzon, particularly in the Bayburt region.
With ambitions to preserve these historical routes for future generations and potentially develop them for tourism purposes, Prof. Dr. Köse expressed satisfaction with the project’s results. The team, comprising 8 dedicated individuals, strived to bridge the gap between historical accounts and geographical evidence, unveiling new insights into Fatih Sultan Mehmet’s conquest route 564 years later.
Moving forward, Assoc. Dr. Osman Emir from KTU’s Department of History highlighted the significance of the project’s four main routes, which encompass ancient pathways such as the Silk Road. By delving into the region’s rich historical legacy, the team aims to pave the way for a deeper understanding of Fatih Sultan Mehmet’s conquest route and its implications for the broader Black Sea region.
