Tokat is one of our provinces in the Black Sea region, which has been known by many different names since the past. The neighbors of the city, located in the Black Sea region, are the provinces of Amasya, Samsun, Ordu, Sivas and Yozgat.
The city has twelve districts and the population of the province is around 612 thousand. Districts of Tokat; Almus district, Artova district, Başçiftlik district, Erbaa district, Merkez district, Niksar district, Pazar district, Reşadiye district, Sulusaray district, Turhal district, Yeşilyurt district and Zile district.
As a result of the excavations carried out in Tokat, it has been understood that it has been one of the living centers of humanity since before Christ.
The city has been the cradle of many different civilizations since history, and has also prepared a suitable environment for the interaction of various cultures. In this respect, it has a symbolic place not only in Anatolian history but also in world history.
Since Tokat has been one of the important settlements of Anatolia since before Christ, it is among the important settlements that have hosted many civilizations.
During your visit to the city of Tokat, it will be among the cities that impress you with its rich history, as it contains important traces of the past. Here you can find hundreds of artifacts waiting for you to discover.
Located in the Black Sea region, the city is under the influence of the Black Sea climate. While the effect of the Black Sea region climate prevails in the northern part of the city, the transitional characteristics to the continental climate are observed in the inner parts of the city.
Its city receives rainfall throughout the year and it rains in all seasons. Vegetation mainly consists of forests. Oak, larch and beech tree species are abundant. In the inner parts, like other regions in the inner parts of Anatolia, a harsh continental climate is observed.
History of Tokat
Tokat has been known by many names since the past years. Some of the names the city took in previous periods, Comano Pontika, Darün-Nusret, Evdoxia, Dokat, Sobaru, Kah-Cun, Komana, Darün-Nasr and Dokia, and finally took the name Tokat.
The source of the name Tokat is that, according to a rumor, Togayıt Turks founded the city and the name of the city comes from here. According to another rumor, it was inspired by the word Toh-kat, which is used to mean the city with walls.
In addition, Evliya Çelebi writes that the name of the city is Tokat because of the hero named Dok-Ad who built the Tokat Castle.
History of Tokat BC. It is among the information obtained in the archaeological excavations that it dates back to the 5500s and that until today, fourteen states and many principalities ruled on the land of Tokat.
For this reason, Tokat is among the Anatolian cities with a rich historical background. According to the excavations carried out in the province, it has been determined that Tokat has been used as a settlement since the Chalcolithic Age and dozens of civilizations lived in the city.
Some of these civilizations are among the civilizations that lived in the region such as Hatti, İlhanlı, Pontus, Hittite, Danishment, Assyrians, Phrygian, Alexander the Great, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Med, Persian, Macedonian, Danishment, Anatolian Seljuk State, Ottoman State. Tokat is also called an open-air museum because it hosts so many civilizations.
After the Battle of Manzikert, the Danişment Principality was established in and around Tokat, and then the city was connected to the Seljuk State in 1175.
The city, which came under the rule of the Ilkhanate State with the Kösedağ War in the following years, came under the rule of Eretna and Kadı Burhaneddin as of 1335, and finally it was included in the Ottoman lands at the end of the 1390s.
Although it left the Ottoman administration with the Battle of Ankara, it was included in the territory of the Ottoman Empire again in the following period.
In the past, Tokat was a sub-district of Sivas, at the end of the 1870s, it gained the status of Governor, as of 1923 it gained the status of a province and today it is still a province.
Although Tokat was not occupied during the years of the national struggle, many associations supporting the national struggle in Tokat reacted to the occupation of Anatolia.
During the Greek occupation, the people of Tokat condemned the occupation and the occupation of Izmir caused great sadness in the city. In addition, a rally was held in the city for protest, and the occupation was condemned by telegrams. On the one hand, the city, which actively adopted a stance in the national struggle, on the other hand, sent representatives to many congresses.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk came to the city in 1919 and has visited the city six more times since then.
Tokat, which is at the crossing point of important cities such as Ankara, Erzurum and Sivas, where activities were carried out for the War of Independence, is therefore an important route point and one of our cities that gave a lot of support to the national struggle in those years.
Tokat, whose name is mentioned in the folk song “Hey on five fifteen”, is also among the cities appreciated by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk for his contributions during the national struggle.
Historical and Touristic Places of Tokat
Since Tokat has been among the first settlements of humanity since ancient times, it attracts many visitors to the city.
There are many historical and touristic places where local and foreign tourists can visit this city with a rich history.
Within the borders of Tokat, artifacts and historical remains from different civilizations have reached the present day.
Due to its rich forest resources and historical structure, the city is visited every year.
Mosques, Complexes, Madrasahs and Tombs in Tokat
Tokat is among the cities where the most tombs are found in Turkey. Due to the rich historical background of the city, many works were built and some of them have survived to the present day.
It is possible to reach these structures, most of which are located in the city center, on foot from your location.
Tokat Grand Mosque
The mosque, which was built by the Danishmends in the 13th century, has a rectangular form.
The fact that there is a congregation place in the east and west makes it unique. The carved stone birdhouse in the corner of the mosque is among the rare examples.
Wooden material was used on the ceiling of the Ulu Mosque. The ceiling of the mosque is dominated by red and green colors.
The mosque, which has the ornamental features of its own period, is decorated with Rumi pen motifs.
Garipler Mosque
Garipler Mosque, built by Danishmend Gazi between 1080 and 1090, is located in the city center of Tokat.
Another name for Garipler Mosque is Yeşil Minaret Mosque.
It is one of the oldest mosques built after the 1071 Malazgirt Victory.
The mosque, which was restored in 2008, is open to visitors today.
Niksar Great Mosque
Niksar Ulu Mosque was built by Cenepnizade Hasan Bey in the 13th century.
Niksar Ulu Mosque, which has a rectangular form, does not have a courtyard.
Niksar Ulu Mosque, which is among the works that can be visited by those who love ancient architectural works, is open to visitors at any time of the day.
sky madrassas
Gök Madrasa, located near Taşhan on Gaziosmanpaşa Boulevard, is one of the most impressive examples of madrasahs.
The entrance to the madrasa, which is one of the special examples of Seljuk architecture, is quite impressive.
It was built in 1277 by a person named Müineddin Pervane Süleyman.
Gök madrasah has a two-storey, open courtyard and portico plan.
There are stone and tile and plaster decorations in the madrasah.
It was used as a madrasa during the Ottoman period, and later it was also used as a hospital and immigrant shelter.
Burgac Hatun Tomb
Located in the center of Tokat, the tomb is also known as Burgaç Hatun, Bibi Hatun and Dudu Hatun.
The tomb does not have an inscription.
According to research, it was built between the 13th and 14th century.
The architectural techniques of the period are used in the work. The door of the hexagonal tomb is in the north.
It maintains its place among the tombs with rare features found in Anatolia.
The tomb was built using stone and brick.
Yagibasan Madrasa
Yağıbasan Madrasa, known as the first madrasa built in Anatolia, has a very old history.
The madrasa takes its place among the structures that are quite impressive and have visual aesthetics.
Yağıbasan Madrasa is also known as Çukur Madrasa.
The madrasah, which was built during the Danishment Principality, was built by Nizamettin Yağıbasan.
The madrasa, which was started to be built in 1151, is important in terms of forming the first examples of Anatolian madrasahs with a closed courtyard.
Above the courtyard is a dome with a diameter of fourteen meters.
You should definitely see the madrasah, which is open to visitors except Mondays, during your visit to Tokat.
Ancient Cities in Tokat
Komana Ancient City
Two temple states lived in the Hellenistic Period around Tokat in the Black Sea Region.
Komana Ancient City is among the trade centers built in the name of the mother goddesses.
In the following years, the Temple State of Komana became a principality and was transformed into a city empire in 582 AD.
The ancient city of Komana expanded during the reign of the Pontus Kings and the Roman Empire.
Limited depictions of the image of the temple are on the coins of the period.
It is also rumored that 8 columns used in the foundation of Ali Pasha Mosque in the city center of Tokat belong to this old temple.
Komana Ancient City is located very close to the center of Tokat. The ancient city was built on the hill in the Gümenek region of Tokat. The place where the city was founded covers a large area with fertile land.
It is thought that these fertile lands and their proximity to the river play an important role in the foundation of the city and its economic structure.
Museums in Tokat
Latifoğlu Mansion Museum House
Located in the center of Tokat, Latifoğlu Mansion Museum House was built in 1746.
The mansion is in Ottoman Baroque style and has an “L” shaped plan.
Latifoğlu mansion has two floors and is made of mud brick. There is also a square-shaped pool in the courtyard built of stone material.
Downstairs is the kitchen, a small room and the living room.
On both sides of the sofa on the upper floor of Latifoğlu Mansion, there are harem and selamlık sections.
The rich workmanship in Latifoğlu Mansion stands out.
The depictions of Istanbul on the walls with flower motifs attract attention.
Today, Latifoğlu Mansion has been converted into a museum and opened to visitors. Konak, where the traditional home culture of the city of Tokat is depicted, awaits its visitors as a museum.
Bazaars in Tokat
Yazicilar Han
Yazmacılar Inn, located in the center of Tokat, is among the Ottoman works built in the 19th century.
There is a special place for Tokat in writing. Its real name is Gazioğlu Han, on the other hand, it is known by this name because it has been made for many years among the people.
Tashan
Tashan, which is considered as one of the rare inns of Turkey, is among the largest city inns in Anatolia.
The inn, which was started to be built in 1626, is in the Ottoman period.
Taşhan has a rectangular plan with an open courtyard and two floors.
