Erzincan Erzincan Turkey

Chaldia, located in the mountainous interior of the northeast Anatolia, had been established as a formal theme by 840.

Until the eastern gains in the latter tenth century, the Theme of Chaldia had remained the northeastern frontier of the Empire.

During the periods 1091/1095–1098 and 1126–1140, the theme was practically autonomous from the imperial government.

During the first period, under its doux, Theodore Gabras, the region had been cut off from the remaining imperial territories by the Seljuq Turks, while during the second period, doux Constantine Gabras had rebelled against Emperor John II Komnenos.

Ikhtiyar al-Din Hasan ibn Ghafras is a member of the Gabras family, very likely identical with, or possibly the son of, an unnamed member of the family who defected to the Sultan in the late reign of Emperor Manuel I Komnenos (r. 1143–1180), became a leading member of the Seljuq court, and served as the Seljuq ambassador to the Emperor during the Myriokephalon campaign of 1175–76.

Ikthyar is safely attested from about 1180 on, when he led negotiations with Saladin, and holds the post of vizier until Kilij Arslan's death in 1192.

It is possible that he (or a possible son) is the "Ghawras" who was accused of poisoning the Sultan and his heir, Kaykhusraw I, in 1192.

After Kilij Arslan's death, he is dismissed from his office and makes for his estates near Erzincan, where he intends to retire, but is waylaid and killed on the way by Turkmen raiders.

His estates are claimed by the Mengujekid emir Bahramshah.

…Erzinjan, …

…Bayezid retaliates by capturing the ruler of Erzincan, Timur's protégé in eastern Anatolia.

Uzun Hasan invades Anatolia with the support of many Turkmen princes who had been dispossessed by Mehmed.

Hasan is successful at first, meeting the Ottomans in battle near Erzincan in 1471, but there are no simultaneous attacks by any of the western powers.

About seven thousand Qizilbash forces, consisting of Ustaclu, Shamlu, Rumlu, Tekelu, Zhulkadir, Afshar, Qajar and Varsak tribes, respond in the summer of 1500 to the invitation of Ismail in Erzincan.

Ismail, having started with just the possession of Azerbaijan, Shirvan, southern Dagestan (with its important city of Derbent), and Armenia in 1501, takes the title of "Shah of Iran" after defeating a Aq Qoyunlu army in 1502.

In the same year, he gains possession of Erzincan and …

...western Armenia, and ...