History
Darende has a long history, being in the centre of different civilizationes. Until 1914 the population of Darende was quite diverse, the city had an armenian population of 3,983, with 3 armenian churches and schools, which had about 300 pupils. After the events of 1915 only a smal minority of armenians stayed, those who stayed secretly changed the names for islamic names to avoid furthur represion. Since the founding of modern Turkey, Darende has grown in population. The surrounding geography includes the Tohma River flows in Darende abundantly. In 1934, it was one of the districts of Sivas, but because of cultural, climatic and regional similarities, Darende became one of the districts of Malatya. The city sustained its popularity in the First period of Turkish Republic.
Balaban, Aşaği Ulupinar, Yenice, Ayvali, Ilica and Ağilbaşi towns, and there are 44 villages in Darende. It was called as Timelkie, Tiranda, Tiryandafil and Derindere in history and at present it is called Darende. The Zengibar Castle is the symbol of the district. It is one of the interesting castles of Turkey that is built on rocks. The castle was built during the Hittite and Urartu civilizations. The castle has an entrance gate, the King’s house and graves remnants. There are three graves of Sahabe and they are on the field of “HU DEDE” which is on the slopes of castle. Darende had been conquered by Halid Bin Velid whose army hadn’t been defeated in any time and since then it has been centre of belief and culture. Seyyid Abdurrahman Gazi had been martyred on this land while he was a soldier of Holy Army fighting for the Conquest of Istanbul.
Hasan gazi (who was uncle and father in law of Seyyid Battal Gazi) died while serving the Ottoman State and Islam. He is buried on the hill that now bears his name. The tomb of Hasan Gazi which reminds Huseyin’s holiness on Karbala attracts visitors' interest.
According to some Muslim ideologies those who died for Islam show deed to all humanity all over the world. Abdurrahman Erzincani mosque and its complex is a frequented place for visitors. Its historical bridges, Ozan monument, Danabey Masjid, Great mosque, Mehmet Paşa Mosque complex, Ibrahim paşa Mosque and the minarets that their mosques represent the history of the district. The are current projects of the directorate general of foundations,DGOF, to restore the minarets. There are historical richesness such as Aslantaşlar(Lion Stones) 20 km away from Darende situated on the northern part of the district.
Two rocks that could not be known their date meet you when you go there. (Divriği, Gürün,Eğin, Arapgir and Darende)
According to rumours these statues of lions were pieces of a temple in ancient times. Their faces look at the side sun rises.
Read more about this topic: Darende
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“Most events recorded in history are more remarkable than important, like eclipses of the sun and moon, by which all are attracted, but whose effects no one takes the trouble to calculate.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature.”
—Henry James (1843–1916)
“Regarding History as the slaughter-bench at which the happiness of peoples, the wisdom of States, and the virtue of individuals have been victimized—the question involuntarily arises—to what principle, to what final aim these enormous sacrifices have been offered.”
—Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831)