THE SOVEREIGNTYS OF THE EMPIRE OF TRABZON ON THE COASTS OF GİRESUN (1204-1461)

Abstract

The IVth Crusade caused important political changes and movements in the Byzantine Empire. One of the developments in the imperial territory was the independent state centered in Trebizond, which the Komnenos dynasty founded in 1204 in the Eastern Black Sea region with the help of the Georgian Kingdom, under the name of the Greek State of Trebizond. During the founding years of the New Komnenos state, its borders extended to Karadeniz Ereğlisi. However, after a short while, the western borders of the Komnenos began to narrow due to the struggles with another Byzantine noble who founded a state around Iznik. The borders of Komnenos were first drawn to the Sinop region, and as the Türks became an important power in the region, the city of Ordu had to be abandoned and retreated to the castles on the coast of Sinop from the end of the XIIIth century. The importance given by the Komnenos to Giresun was greater than other cities in the west, and important measures were taken for the security of the city. Because for the Komnenos, Giresun has a much more important importance than an ordinary castle-port city. As a matter of fact, the city is of vital importance not only for its military and economic location, but also for the continued existence of the Komnenian state. In addition to the struggles with Bayramlu/Hacıemiroglu, one of the Türk beys, from the beginning of the XIVth century to protect the city of Giresun, the Komnenos tried to develop new policies to maintain their existence, especially in the south of the capital Trabzon and the entire countryside of Trabzon. Türks mainly live in Giresun. As can be understood from the name of the study, in Giresun, where Türks dominated the rural areas and valleys since the end of the XIIIth century, the Komnenos’ domination area was limited to Görele, Tirebolu and Giresun, which became the center of the western defense line.

Key Words: Giresun, Empire of Trabzon, Komnenos, Chepnis, Hacıemiroğulları.