Trabzon

Trabzon historically known as Trebizond in English, is a city on the Black Sea coast of northeastern Turkey and the capital of Trabzon Province. Trabzon, located on the historical Silk Road, became a melting pot of religions, languages and culture for centuries and a trade gateway to Persia in the southeast and the Caucasus to the northeast.The Venetian and Genoese merchants paid visits to Trabzon during the medieval period and sold silk, linen and woolen fabric. Both republics had merchant colonies within the city – Leonkastron and the former “Venetian castle” – that played a role to Trabzon similar to the one Galata played to Constantinople (modern Istanbul).Trabzon formed the basis of several states in its long history and was the capital city of the Empire of Trebizond between 1204 and 1461. During the early modern period, Trabzon, because of the importance of its port, again became a focal point of trade to Persia and the Caucasus.

Trapezus, one of the most easterly of ancient Greek settlements, was probably founded in 756 BCE by colonists from Sinope (modern Sinop). Like many other Black Sea sites, it is associated in legend with the Amazon women warriors. Trabzon is said to be the site on which the army called the Ten Thousand by the writer Xenophon, who was one of its members, reached the sea after its long march that followed defeat in 401 BCE.

The city prospered under Roman rule until it was sacked by the Goths after their victory over the emperor Valerian’s forces about 257 CE. As the Byzantine port nearest to Armenia, lying on a critical frontier of the empire, the city was rebuilt and figured prominently in the eastern campaigns of the emperor Justinian I (reigned 527–565). The see of Trapezus was supposedly founded by St. Andrew the Apostle; Eugenius, its patron saint, was martyred under the Roman emperor Diocletian (reigned 284–305). In the 9th century the city was made the capital of a new military province of Chaldia.