Through city miniatures of Matrakci Nasuh analyzing Bitlis with regards to history of architecture

Abstract

Bitlis is an important historical city that was settled on important trade roads between Asia and Mediterranean as a kind of market bridge since the beginning of history. Because of having such important position between mountains as a valley of Bitlis river makes this city precious on a very high plateau at the end of Eastern Taurus. With the victory of Malazgirt in 1071 city is frequented by the Turkish army after that point Seljuks became the ruler of Bitlis. Since that time Bitlis owned the essence of open-air museum even today because of having so many Seljuks monuments. The importance of historical background and vital location of city has not been reflected in the historical sources as anticipated. Domestic and foreign travelers who visits Bitlis somehow keep travel diaries which are reference guides today in order to have an idea about the situation of the city at that time, events, places and people in light of the author's owns style and vision. In this context, especially Evliya Celebi who visited Bitlis in 1655 is at the first place. Travelers records have been documented as visual map through Matrakci Nasuh. Between 1533 and 1536 Kanuni Sultan Suleyman organized a campaign and through their journey all ranges were they crossed he noted a book which is called as Beyan-i Menazil-i Sefer-i Irakeyn Suleyman Han or Description of the Stages of His Imperial Majesty Sultan Suleyman's Campaign in Two Iraqs (the 'two Iraqs' of the title refer to areas that are today Western Iran and Iraq) has consisted of 90 pages, 107 miniatures and 25 illustrated texts. Matrakci Nasuh has recorded representations of the cities making them almost appropriate exactly to their origin. In this context, this study would be the first study of Bitlis which is aimed to build city inventory of Bitlis in 16th century view collaborating with miniature of Matrakci Nasuh. Method of the study as depicted through the city which is the only document of the 16th century, structures which are still standing today, overlaid with the technical drawings of buildings and photographs describing the current situations will be discussed with the travelers records from past.