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HISTORY
Fethiye was a horbour at the lycian-Karian frontier, named as
telmessos in the antique period. The Telmessos
antique city is a unique sample as a residential center
along the mediterranean shoreline throughout the history. Based on
philological facts, the suffix-ss indicates that it dates back to
the third century B.C. , although this is not supported by any
documentation as yet.
“ In the early
years of the Trojan War , the Lycian god Apollon falls in love with
the daughter of Antenor, who was the host of Odysseus and Menelaus.
In order to capture the heart of this different and bashful girl, he
assumes the apperance of a small, lovable dog. When the girl is
attracted to him, he reveals his true identity and they make love.
Eventually a son is born to them whom they call Telmessos. A city is
esteblished in his name along the Lycian border and Apollon appoints
his son as the prophet of the city.”
The name of the city
was Telebehi in the Lycian language on the coins minted during the
5th Century B:C: Based on the above legend narrated by Suidas, one
of the authors of the
antique period, it can be surmised that the city has a past going as
far back as the trojan war. Herodot mentions telmessos as a center
of prophecy famed in asia minor and beyond during his siege of
halicarneassus, alexander the great had a dream which was
interpreted by aristander, the prophed of telmessos, by virtue of
which he was saved from the betrayel of one of his comrades, and he
kept the prophet by side throughout his campaigns.
Strabon esteblishes
the location of telmessos as follows: “ I mean the Lycian mountain
past Daidala next to which there ,s the lycian town of telmessos and
the port of telmessos.” Nearly all the researches indicate the
location of the antique city as being at the center of the
presedent-day Fethiye This is further proven by the presence of the
name Telmessos on many
inscriptions found in the areas of modern settlement.
Telmessos was an
indipendent city for a long time, not tied in the Lycia, but
its politics were no different from other Lycian cities.
Telmessos exhibited the same heroical free spirit of Lycia and like
all Lycians, it resisted coloniazation through many centuries and
retained its own traditions.
In 545 B.C. the
Persians, dominating Lydia under the command of harpagos, moved nto
lycia over caria, seizing caunus and telmessos. During the years 535
and 33 b.c. , while the persians dominated the area for certain
periods telmessos together with the
rest of lycian cities was ruled by the first satrap. It’s
fate was no different from lycia on the whole. In 446 B:C: prior to
the Euremedon War. Telmessos was individually included in the list
of Lycians who departed
from Persians and joined the Attic- Delos Naval Union, paying
tax in certain years. Telmessos was ruled by the persians once again
in 390 b.c. During this period city was governed by a lycian dynast,
artumpara, acting on behalf of the persians. When the lycian prince
pericles, who was the ruler during the years 380-362, defeated
artumpara, the city became part of the lycian league. However, the
leauge was not constituted properly during this period. In 362 b.c.
the lycians joined the satraps uprising against the persians, but
this was put down by mausoos of halicarnassos, who sided with the
persians, and the region was divided into two as the western and
eastern lycia, the former coming under the carian rule, including
telmessos. This state of affairs lasted until the conquests of
alexander seized halicarnassus telmessos, as well as rest of
lycians, welcomed him into the city with no resistance. According to
one legend this was archived by virtue of a trick.
“Alexander’s
naval force, during his Anotolian campaign, comes to the harbour of
telmessos. The commander, nearchus, obtains the permession of the
governor of the city, antipatriades, for the musicians and the
prisoners of war yo enter the city. The captives, carrying the
musical instruments, are actually armed warriors. During the
festivities at night they arrange a surprise attack, seizing the
acropolis.”
In 443 a.d. , based
on the wishes of emperor claudius. The roman senate declared lycia
as a roman province where by telmessos fel totally unde the rule of
the romans. The city became part of the calchedon council in 451
a.d. but lost its promience especially during the arabian invasions
in the seventh century. In tge second eight century a.d. anastasius
the second changed the name of the city to anastasiopolis but ths
was not very effective.
In the subsequent century, it was named makri, which some
researchers claim meaning far-off lands while others believe that
this was inspired by a bishop called makrianes.
The malazgirt war
in1071 opened up the whole anotolian plateau to the selchukians, and
the Turkish clans figure in makri in late eleventh century. In the
beginning this was not a continuous siege. At first the turkish
colonialists, as dervishes following the scriptures of the islamic
philosophy and seeking to eliminate the byzantian culture of the
dark middle ages, and later theselchukian turcoman tribes and the
turks, seeking settlement of the high plateaus and fertile plans of
Makri, were successful in their campaigns. In 1204 there was
a sort of a frontier between the byzanthians and the turks. This
extended as far as makri with the city included under the bycantian
rule. During this period the turkish teribes settled on the
mountains and the plains located away from the center, assimilating
with the local peoplei absorbing their ecomonical traditions and
equating their own life-style with theirs.
The mongolitan
campaign during the second half of the 13th century caused the great
selchukian state to be divided into beylics, and the arrival in the
west of new turcoman tribes strengthened these beylics, resulting in
thedominance of the region. During this period Megri ( as
Makri was more conveniently pronounces in the turkish language ) was
seized by mentese beylic. Mentese
bey and became part of the mentese beylic. Mentese bey had a
medtesseh ( a thelogical school) built in megri and died here in
1282, leaving his sons a vast emirate. the byzanthians were not
happy with the turkish domination in the region and sent general
alexi to seize the land . the general conqured megri and its
environs but later revolted against the byzanthians, joining forces
with the turks. However, alexis was killed in the uprising. The
menteseogullari defended the region against the rhodion chevaliers
and prevneted the conquest of the land.
Meanwhile, the
ottoman beylic, by virtue of a well-formed state established in and
around iznik, appended more land and in 1390 the mentese beylic
became part of the ottoman empire under the thunderbolt beyazit.
However, ahmet gazi of the mentese beylic defended becin and megri
against the ottomans. He had a medresseh built in megri which was
later destroyed by the venitians. After the death of Ahmet ghazi in 1391, the mentesogullari were deprived of
all their property and sided with timur against the ottomans, as a
result of which they were granted all the lands origanally belonging
to the mentese emirate. However, during the ensuing struggle for
power among the sons of thunerbolt beyazit, because
they supported Isa bey, mehmet celebi devastated the whole
region. Persuant to mehmet celebi and dring the rule of murat the
second, in 1424 the teke beylic and in 1426 the mentese beylic were
conquered. Consecuively, the region was domianted by the papal
forces, the veniants anand the rhodian chevaliers. In 1473 the
venitians seized megri and settled ,n the fortress built here, as
well as on the chevalier Island overlooking the hrbour. After the
conquest of rhodes by suleiman the magnificent, the region was able
to survive in peace.
The land is highly
fertile. The greeks, arriving here for trade, built the city of
levissi (the presedent-day kaya village) in the region located away
from the maria-generating swamps. Megri became the harbour for this
city. Famous traveller charles texier records the population of
megri as about a thousand in 1850. Late in the 19th century, the
name mentese was demolished and the region became part of the area
ruled by the pasha of mugla. Megri became a subdivision in 1864 and
a municipality was esteblished in 1874 with Hadji Nikola of rhodes
becoming the first mayor. Around the 1900s it was populated by the
turks arriving here from crete and thrace. In 1914 the council of
the municipality changed the name of megri to fethiye in hanour of
fethi bey, the first turkish air force pilot who cashed and died.
Fallowing the first
world war, when the lands of the defeated ottoman empire were under
discussion, venizelos wanted this area to begiven over to greece due
to the greek majority of the population. The italians took over
antlaya and its environs, granted to them by the london pact, and
accopuied fethiye on 11 may 1919 . During their short occupation,
the italians endeavoured to establish friendly relations with the
local people and departed from fethiye on 21 june 1920. Throughout
the war of independance, the area was not subject to great mishaps,
but the most tragic event was the migration of the greek population
of fethiye and levissi to greece on the basis of the excvhange
aggreement signd in 1923.
Mstafa kemal atatürk
stpped at fethiye by the steamship ege on 22 februrary 193. The city
devoloped speedily after the proclamation of the turkish republic.,
becoming the most prminent center in the area. The earthquake on 24
april 1957 destroyed nearly
90% of the houses in the city center but thanks to the intiative of
governor nezih okus and other administrators, only 19 lives were
lost. Today, the antique theater and the old fethiye houses around
paspatur and in the southern part
of the carsi street with their unique stracture, greet us as
relics aof the melencholy past of the city.
The fethiye region is
also known as beskaa (five subdivisions) though the origin ogf his
name is not clear. Most probably, during the rule of the mentese
beylic, there was a central qadi ( administarator) with asistants in
five regions anf thus Fethiye was known as beskaza by the local
people. This name was so popular that it is mentioned in folk songs
and folk dances (1).
(1) we are grateful
to Mr.Huseyin Kokturk for this information. For further informatio,
the following resources may be freferred: Lycian History ( Oktay
Aksit), Lycia in the hellenistic and roman periof ( Oktay Aksit),
history ( Heredot), geography ( strabon ) caria ( G.E. Bean ) The
Aegean and the greek history ( A. Mufit Mausel), Anatolian resources
on the apollan cult ( ziya Taslýklýoglu) Lycian turkey ( G.E
Bean), Milas (Askidil and turban akarca ) asia minare ( C. Texier ),
The lycians vol. 1 ( T:R: Bryce ),
the mentese beylic ( paul witte).
2. The Man kept
alive by the name of our town fethiye bey ( 1891 – 1913)
He became a naval officer after graduatins from the naval school at
haybeliada (1907). He was sent to the bristol airplane factory in
england to be trained for aviation and to become a pilot (1911). He
was promoted to the rank
of captain his return and was one of the turkish pilots.
The french aviator dacourt planned to fly to cairo by way of istanbul in
1913 which project was
not realized when his plane crashed at the taurus mountains;
theeupon by Turkish pilots. Fethi bey and his vo-pilot Sadik Bey
took off with the bleriat type plane called muavenet- milliye while
pilot nuri bey and his co-pilot were flying the plane named prince
celalalettin (februrarry 1913). Nuri bey and his co pilot had to
return due to unfavourable weather conditions. However , fethi bey
and sadik bey flew as far as damascus. On their way from damascus
their plane crashed near taberiye for some obscoure reason. A
fourtycoloumn monument was erected at the Fatih Park in Istanbul in
their honour.
3. Fethiye during the war of independence
“KAYA NATIONAL DELEGATION COMITTE” against MAVMI MIRA
The first municipality in fethiye was established in 1874. The
economically dominant greeks immediately became administrators. The
“mayors” of fethiye were, in chronogical order, Haci Nikola Lövizidi
Kromadi Manol, Haci Yanni Lövizidi and Murday Muda.
By virtue of the “orroman land legislation” in 1858i, the property
ownership was
eventually turned over tothe public . This law was beneficial over
to the public. This law was was beneficial wo wealthy greeks with
commercial caiptal who took over 75% of the properties at the kaya
village. They became more greek schools were esteblished. Both at
kaya and in Fethiye , the four schools for turkish and greek students started poisoning the
minds of the youngsters at the invisible hands of the megalo idea.
Haci yanni , Haci nikola lövizidi and krumadi konstanti headed
these schools as the “ Board of trustees” tied in with the
archpriest of the fethiye church.
It was later ascertained that the Mavri- Mira-Etniki Eterya movement,
blessed by and under the partonage of the archpriest, had taken root
at the kaya village. This was a perilious state of affairs for mugla
which had to be terminated in its preliminary stages.
The fethiye committee of the nationalist forces became active tothis
end. Captain Cavit Aker, the commander of
the fethiye gendarme , took measures. The national delegation
committee at kaya , headed by suleyman harmandar , was successful in
a short time. The mavri mira committee at kaya could not instigate
action pursuant to secret propoganda phase the greek faction in
fethiye was this defeated in the early days, prior to future
defeats.
THE STOCK OF ARMS AT MUGLA TO BE DISPOSED OF
In March of 1919, the British inspectors at Aydin asked the commander of
57th Division at aydin, colonel sefik beg. “to have all the
mechanism valves of the breech plugs of the cabeþ erhard
cannons sent to is Istanbul” . These arms were more than eight thousand and were to play
a prominent role in the
“ probable” Turkish resistance, stored at the depots of
Mugla, Ula, Milas, Marmaris and FETHIYE. This was not only a
request but also an essential part of the mondros treaty.
It was indeed a critical situation. Istanbul wanted no opposition
against the allies. Upon the
insistance an pressure of headquarters of the 17th Army Corps, only
the eight Cebel Erharg cannons at Denizli and the machine guns at
Aydin were turned over to the allies The arms at the depots of mugla
were hidde ; delivery was postponed, and they were subsequently
turned over to local comittees.
FETHIYE’S REPLY TO ITALY SEEKING COLLABORATION: “
REJECTION”
On 4 april 1919 and an Italian torpedo arrived at Fethiye. Just at that
time the “Principal of the Greek school” and the “Rhodian
Cemal” had a fight at the pier. The Commodore of the Italian
vessel claimed that “ the public order was violated” by this
incident and had a team of 20 infantrymen and a machine gun land at
Fethiye. The Acting Governor of thecity ( Hasan Efendi, the Kaya)
immediately aproched the Italian Commodore, pointing out that a
personal strife like this could not be interpreted as violation of
public order and asking
the landed force to be first but then had to give way upon the
insistance of the Acting Governor.
Meanwhile, an Italian soldier, Teado, approached doctor Pursah Halit Beg
and made a secret proposal that “if he acts as an agent for the italians, he would be paid a very god
salary.” Which Halit Beg defiantly refused.
Mr. Birici made a similar suggestion to the Mayor of Fethiye with no
avail. This, the Italians could not acquire anycollaborates at
Fethiye.
FETHIYE UNDER ITALIAN OCCUPATION
Italians instigated the occupation of Fethiye on 11 may 1919 by 50 armed
soldiers landed from the Ligorya warship anchored at the port. The
Turkish flag at the cutoms house on the shoreline was replaced by
the flag of the invaders. Furthermore, three thousand Italian
soldiers were kept in abeyance on the Island of leros
as spare forces. At that time there was no army in Fethiye.
All the arms at Fethiye. All the arms were seized in Line with the
terms of the Treaty and there were no government forces. The acting
governor, Hasesn Fehmi, approched the Italian commander and claimed
that thioccupation was against the terms of the treaty and asks him
to with draw his government and that he would not withdraw hisforces
and Memorial of lives Lost in Combats furthermore, he would start
bombing the town in the face of slightest attact and show of
disrespect.
To top it all, an ifantry force of 200 soldiers were landed on 12 may
1919 from the artiyeri torpedo , anchoring at the port. This the
occupation was completed.
These ancidents were cabled to Istanbul through the Governorship of
mugla but no reply was received.
ALAMAN AGA OF BOGALAR IN ACTION
On 16 May 1919 “The Mentese Comittee of the National Defense” was
esteblished. At the beginning it had 21 members. The Committee
decided to compile all local partisans under a single rule on 19 May
1919 Accordingly, all the prominent swashbuckling village blades of
Mugla became the first armed militia forces, laying the foundation
of future organizations. The first resistance group of 21 members
and 18 swashbuckling village blades were named “the mugla
sacrificial detachmenté. Prior to the formation of a national army,
these swashbuckling guerillas participated in the flights with the
enemy. Alaman Aga of bogalar ruled the whole of the Fethiye plains
and the shoreline. In those days, all the local guerilllas and
reserve lietenants were unde the command of Yoruk Ali Efe, whom they
chose as the commande of ther militia forces.
Whili the national defense forces were formed in Fethiye, alaman aga
performed laudary feats. In a short while he disposed of the
detrimental committeee called tarikati selasiye, headed by telegraph
operator Nasit. He fought against the guerillas supporting the
Sultan, arriving from Tefenni; the militia of Koca Mistik and Kaz
Ahmet, coming down from the Seki plains with the intent of
usurpation, and the greek Etnik-i eterya Committeee at Kaya.
NATIONALIST FORCE COMMITTEEE ESTABLISHED AT FETHIYE
AT THE CONGRESS HELD AT Mugla on Friday, 6 June 1919 the second
committee of Nationalist force was elected. The first task of the
committee was the development and enforcement of the Southwestern
Aegean Nationalist force which was defenseless and without an army.
In towns and subdistricts Committees of Nationalist Forces were
established.
Thanks to Alaman Aga and the committeee of nationalist force, there were
no negatory movements against the nationlaist force.
The committee went through four long and diffucult years. Headed by four
different presidents namely osman bey of cesme (maro). Kamil Sikman,
Salih zeki pein and hilmi dogerli. The members were hoca Suleyman
Efendi, Mehmet Ali Efendi, retired Chief of police Arif Beg, and
head of the Kaya Committee, suleyman Harmandar.
THE RESPONSE OF SERGERANT HUSEYIN OF OVACIK
TO THE GREEK DOCTOR
The Fethiye Nationalist Force had an unexpected guest three months from
its establishment. Greece attempted to act as the protector of more
than 10 thousand Greeks living at Kaya and central Fethiye. On 7
August 1919 a Greek vessel entered the port of Fethiye citizens to
this request was a huge “BOOO!”.
Just then a greek doctor apperead on the deck and started
making indecent gestures with his hands. He was also furnished with
an appropriate response. He was felled by a bullet fired by Sergeant
Huseyin of Ovacik (Huseyin Tunc)
THE FETHIYE COMMITTEE OF NATIONALIST FORCE IN ACTION
The mighty union Lieutenant Cavit Aker of
Gendarme, the governor hasan bey (administrator of the esen
District) and the Mayor osman bey(maro) Resulted in the required for
the resistance were acquired. With these weapons, the rebellious
swashbuckles were also brought to heel
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