Erzurum - Name and Etymology

Name and Etymology

The name "Erzurum" derives from Artsn (Arcn, Artze), a neighboring commercial city that was subjected to a heavy sack by the Seljuk Turks in 1048-49. When its Armenian, Syrian, and other Christian inhabitants relocated to Erzurum (then named Theodosiopolis), they began calling it "Artsn Rum" (Arzan ar-Rum). To the Arabs, the city was known as Ḳālīḳalā (which was adopted from the original Armenian name Karno K'aghak', or Karin City, to differentiate it between the canton of Karin (Կարին). It was still referred to as "Karin" (Armenian: Կարին) by Armenians during the modern period. During Roman times it was renamed Theodosiopolis (Latin: Theodosiopolis, Greek: Θεοδοσιούπολις), acquiring its present name after its conquest by the Seljuks following the Battle of Manzikert in 1071.