History of Karabuk City

The formation of the city started with the rapid population growth with the development of small industry and sub-industry in parallel with the iron and steel industry, with its proximity to the Zonguldak coal deposits and the presence of the railway network.

In 1937, Karabük, which is a district of the village of Hoşbeli of Safranbolu, with a population of 13 households, began to appear in the history of the Republic for the first time as a station name, as a station name, with the opening of the Ankara-Zonguldak railway in 1935. The founding story of Karabük is also the subject of a simultaneous narrative with the story of industrialization in our Republican history. On April 3, 1937, with the directives of the great leader Atatürk, the foundation of the Iron and Steel Factory was laid by the then prime minister İsmet İnönü. Thus, the process that will announce the name of Karabük to Turkey and later to the world begins.

As a heavy industry establishment, the process of urbanization has started in Karabük, which has gained momentum with the production of the Iron and Steel Factory, in a short time that provides salvation from the village. The strongest indicator that a town has begun to urbanize is the establishment of a municipal organization that will provide public services in that town. With the railway passing through the town in 1935, Karabük gradually began to attract population, and finally, in 1939, it gained a municipality. While Aktaş township was converted into a village in 1941, Karabük township was built. The name Karabük was not found in the 1940 census. The census that first included the name Karabük belongs to 1945, and the population of Karabük as a township is 10,682 in this census. Karabük was recorded as a sub-district of Safranbolu in the 1950 census, and its population doubled to 21,238. While the population of Karabük increased rapidly in this and related years, it was turned into a district on March 3, 1953 with the law numbered 6068. The name of Karabük as a district was mentioned for the first time in the 1955 census, and the population of the city (centre) increased to 15,624 people in the census conducted this year. Karabük, which pioneered the spread and development of the iron and steel heavy industry in our country and saw its school homework, took its place on the political map of Turkey as the 78th province on 6 June 1995 with the Decree Law No. 550. Its districts are Safranbolu, Eskipazar, Eflani, Ovacik and Yenice.

Rome, the last State of Antiquity, BC. When he entered Anatolia in the 1st century, one of the places he gave importance to was the Western Black Sea Region, and he knew how to use the forests and mines of the region for his own interests by following an imperialist policy. The most important cities that Rome established within the borders of Karabük Province for these purposes are located between the borders of Eskipazar. These are the settlement areas known as Hadrianapolis and Kimistene. In addition to this, Bürnük Village, Üçbaş Village, Bulak Village in Karabük; The village of Pürçükören in Ovacık, with its Roman ruins, is almost a historical witness.

The settlements in and around Karabük, which was located within the borders of the region called Paphlagonia in the ancient period, started in the early bronze (bronze) age, and when it came to the late bronze age, there was a significant increase in both the density and size of the settlements. It is known from the numerous cuneiform texts found in the Hittite capital Hattusha that the mountains in this region housed the belligerent Kaska People, who were the constant enemies of the Hittite State. For this reason, many mounds spread over a wide area were identified in the southern Paphlagonia region. All of these mounds are located at strategic points and are very close to natural water sources and fertile soils. Most of the tumuli on the territory of Paphlagonia have been excavated illegally. For this reason, it is difficult to date the tumuli, but based on the material unearthed from the excavated tumuli, it can be said that it dates back to the Hellenistic and even Roman Period, the earliest of which is Phrygian.

Karabük and its surroundings, Hittites; B.C. After its destruction in 1200, it came under the rule of the Firiks, the Cimmerians, the Lydians and the Persians, respectively. B.C. After the defeat of the Pontus King Mithridates Evpator in 64 BC, the Paphlagonia region was conquered by the Romans. During the Roman Period, the ancient cities of Hadrianapolis and Kimistene in Eskipazar District became important settlement centers. M.S. When the Roman Empire was divided into two in 395, a long Byzantine Period began in Karabük and its surroundings. During the Byzantine period, Eskipazar and Safranbolu became active religious settlements in the region as episcopacy centers.

Turkish Settlement Before the Battle of Manzikert

Before the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, the Turks came to Anatolia for different purposes and settled. In particular, there are other Turkish tribes such as Kipchak and Pechenek, as well as Oghuzes, among these Turkish masses, known in history as the Northern Turkish. These Turkish tribes, who later came under the command of Byzantium for various reasons, were settled in various parts of Anatolia due to the settlement policy followed by this state.

Tamışlar, who gave his name to Tamışlar Village in Eskipazar as a result of interpretations based on place names (Toponimi), is an Oghuz Bey under the command of Byzantium, and according to the determinations, while fighting against the Seljuk army in the Battle of Manzikert, due to the similarity of colors and language used in clothes, Tamış At the same time, he changed sides and took the side of the Seljuks.

The second Turkish tribe that appeared and settled in our region before the Battle of Manzikert was the Kipchaks. Kipchaks settled in the lands between Safranbolu and Eflani in masses. Mehmet the Conqueror, XV. When he conquered Amasra in the second half of the century, he sent the Genoese who lived in the city to Istanbul, while he deported the Kipchaks living in Eflani to the city of Amasra. These people, who are very famous for woodworking in Amasra today, are the descendants of the Kipchak Turks. For those who will do research on the Kipchak dialect, Eflani-Bartın and Amasra provide important research material in this respect.

Anatolian Seljuk Period

After the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, the Turks began to advance rapidly into Anatolia. After conquering Çankırı, Emir Karatekin, the commander of Süleyman Shah, who established the Anatolian Seljuk State by capturing Iznik in 1075, headed for Karabük and the cities around it and captured Ovacık, Eskipazar, Eflani and Safranbolu in 1084. These lands, which were captured after this date, changed hands between Byzantium and Turks. In 1186, he divided the Anatolian Seljuk State among his 11 sons. From this date, especially Melik Ruknettin, II. Süleyman Shah, Muhittin Mesut and Gıyasettin Keyhusrev expanded the borders of the Seljuks. In 1196, Ankara Meliki Muhiddin Mesut fought against the Byzantines on the Kastamonu side for a year and a half. After besieging Safranbolu with catapults for four months, he conquered it. With the capture of Safranbolu castle, the Turks also dominated the region legally and changed the name of the castle from "Dadybra" to "Zalifre". Due to the fact that the region is a border, it changed hands frequently between the Seljuks and Byzantium, and it was in 1213 that it was captured by the Turks again.

Ottoman Period

In the region, respectively; Çobanoğlu Principality, Umuroğulları Principality, Candaroğulları Principality ruled. It is seen that from 1326 until 1416, when Safranbolu came under Ottoman rule, it changed hands several times between the parties. After the Ankara War in 1402, Karabük and its surroundings passed into the hands of the İsfendiyaroğulları Principality. At the end of the Interregnum, it was completely under Ottoman rule by Çelebi Mehmet as of 1416. Karabük and its environs were bound to the Bolu sanjak after it was conquered by the Ottomans. When the Bolu Sanjak was abolished in 1694, it became a Voivodeship and was connected to the newly created Viranşehir Voivodeship with a Hatt-ı Hümayun in 1694. In 1811, Viranşehir Voivodeship was abolished and became Viranşehir Sanjak. The administrative center of the sanjak was Safranbolu. Karabük and its environs remained attached to Kastamonu for a long time during the National Struggle years. The events in and around Karabük developed in Safranbolu in this period. During the First World War, 7 or 8 people from the 42nd Regiment, all of whom were soldiers from Karabük, Safranbolu, Eflani and Ulus, were able to return from the Çanakkale front. During the War of Independence, the leather and footwear needs of Kuvayi Milliye were mostly met from Safranbolu.