Urban History (of Ankara)
The city of Ankara, first mentioned in written sources in the 2nd millennium BC, has been referred to by many different names throughout history, like many other ancient cities. However, the name did not change significantly from Ankuwas, the Hittite cultural center, to Ankyra (Greek: Ἄγκυρα / Latin: Ancyra, meaning “anchor”) used during the Classical and Medieval periods. We have limited knowledge about Ankyra during the period between the Phrygians and the time of Alexander the Great. However, it is known that the city, located on the famous Royal Road established during the reign of Persian King Darius I (522–486 BC), served as a commercial center at the time.
In 278–277 BC, a branch of the Galatians (Celts), who migrated from Europe to Anatolia in three major waves and settled near the Halys River (modern-day Kızılırmak), made Ankyra their capital.
After the Kingdom of Pergamon bequeathed its lands to the Roman Empire in 133 BC, Galatia, which was part of Greater Phrygia, came under the control of the Kingdom of Pontus. However, the Pontic Kingdom could not exert significant influence in the Ankyra region. Following a period of unrest, Emperor Augustus brought Galatia under Roman rule in 25 BC, and Ankyra became the capital of the Roman province of Galatia, maintaining its importance as a major trade center in central Anatolia.
Under Byzantine rule, Ankyra lived mostly in peace until the 7th century AD, when it began to face Arab raids and looting. After Sultan Alp Arslan of the Seljuks defeated the Byzantine army at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, the city came under Seljuk rule in 1073, and its name was changed to Engürü. The reign of Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad (1219–1237) marked the most prosperous period of the Seljuks, and Engürü saw significant urban development during this time.
During the Mongol invasions of Anatolia, like other Seljuk cities, Engürü was heavily affected. Sultan Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev II, after being defeated by the Mongols, took refuge in the city because of its strong fortress. Due to increased Mongol pressure, Engürü fell under Mongol domination in 1243. From 1290 onwards, the city was governed by local leaders known as Ahi Beys, who were a kind of provincial governor under Mongol control and were also engaged in trade.
In the Islamic period, the name Ankyra evolved into Engürü and Angora. The city was conquered by the Ottomans in 1356. During Tamerlane’s invasion of Anatolia, it became the battleground of the Battle of Ankara in 1402, where Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I was defeated by Timur in the Çubuk Plain. Following Timur’s withdrawal from Anatolia and the resurgence of the Ottoman Empire, Ankara briefly served as the center of the Anatolian Province.
In the early 17th century, Ankara was affected by the Celali rebellions that erupted in the region, and parts of the city were burned during the uprisings. During the decline of the Ottoman Empire, Ankara, like many other cities, entered a period of stagnation. However, it maintained its importance as a center of mohair production and trade, and was known for leather craftsmanship.
With the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Ankara regained importance during the Turkish War of Independence. After the victory in the war, Ankara was declared the capital of the Republic of Türkiye on October 13, 1923. At that time, the city had a population of only 35,000. Today, its population has reached approximately 4.5 million, making it the second most populous city in Türkiye.