Philadelphia in the age of Turkish conquest: A unique Byzantine provincial city (11th-14th centuries)

Philadelphia is a Byzantine city that maintained its power and independence in the region from the last quarter of the 11th century until the end of the 14th century. In other words, it was the Byzantine city that showed the longest resistance against the Turks. Philadelphia, which was the most powerful city in the region in terms of political and military power, sometimes demonstrated this power with the attitudes and behaviors it displayed against the Byzantine Empire to which it was affiliated. Especially in periods of weakening central authority and political and economic crises, it attracts attention with its rebellions against the central government and the successes it achieved. This success sometimes manifested itself in a semi-autonomous status and a civil administration different from other cities in the region. It is possible to mention many reasons behind all these successes or differences. First of all, the city had a very prestigious past. It had achieved many successes both from its foundation and during the Christian era. Taking full advantage of the opportunities provided by its geographical location, the city had become one of the most important economic powers of the region. It was one of the most important Byzantine cities to operate in the state-controlled silk weaving industry. It also excelled in other industrial production, agriculture and trade. This economic potential played a major role in its distinctive character among Byzantine provincial cities. But other aspects of the city's distinctiveness were the administrative tradition it had built up over time, thanks to its charismatic leaders, and, perhaps more importantly, its prestigious religious identity. Already in the early Christian era, the city had become an important religious center and a popular destination for Christian pilgrims. It was one of the few cities mentioned with praise in the Christian holy book. Thanks to this strong religious identity, the city maintained its Christian identity even when it came under Ottoman rule and became one of the cities with the highest number of non-Muslims. It was also differentiated from other contemporary cities in the region by the magnificent religious buildings and strong defense structures built in the city. In this thesis, which deals with all these aspects that differentiate the city of Philadelphia from other Byzantine provincial cities, first of all, the contributions of its geography and historical heritage are emphasized, and then the administrative tradition it has formed over time and its relation or difference with other Byzantine provincial administrations are tried to be examined. In the meantime, the religious identity of the city, to which the city owes its uniqueness to a great extent, and the construction process of this identity have also been analyzed in as much detail as possible.