View source for Erzurum

{{pp-semi-indef}}{{Infobox settlement <!--more fields are available for this Infobox--See Template:Infobox Settlement-->
| settlement_type    = [[Metropolitan municipalities in Turkey|Metropolitan municipality]]
| subdivision_type   = [[Countries of the world|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[Turkey]]
| timezone           = [[Time in Turkey|TRT]]
| utc_offset         = +3
| map_caption        = Location of Erzurum within Turkey.
| official_name      = Erzurum
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image|total_width=280px|perrow=1/2/2/2|border=infobox
| image1                          = Erzurum Citadel - Erzurum Kalesi 01.jpg
| alt1                            = 
| image2                          = Atatürk Monument in Erzurum.jpg
| alt2                            = 
| image3                          = Erzurum Cifte Minareli Sunrise.JPG
| alt3                            = 
| image4                          = View of the Ski Jump Towers- panoramio.jpg
| alt4                            = 
| image5                          = Yakutiye Medresesi, Erzurum 02.jpg
| alt5                            = 
| image6                          = Three tombs - Üç kümbetler 03.jpg
| alt6                            = 
| image7                          = Erzurum Kongre ve Milli Mücadele Müzesi - Museum of Erzurum Congress and Turkish War of National Independence 02.jpg
| alt7                            = 
}}
| image_caption      = '''Clockwise from top:''' Erzurum Citadel, [[Çifte Minareli Medrese (Erzurum)|Çifte Minareli Medrese]], [[Yakutiye Medresesi]], [[Erzurum Congress|Erzurum Congress Museum]], The Three [[Gonbad#Kümbet|Kümbets]] ([[:tr:Üç Kümbetler|Üç Kümbetler]]), K-95 and K-125 [[ski jumping]] towers at the [[Palandöken Mountain|Mt. Palandöken ski resort]], [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk|Atatürk]] Monument
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_type  = Emblem of Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of Turkey|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Erzurum Province]]
| population_total   = 
| total population   = 
| population_urban   = 767,848
| population_as_of   = 2021
| population_footnotes = 
| population_density_km2 = 
| area_total_km2     = 
| elevation_m        = 1890
| pushpin_map        = Turkey
| pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Erzurum
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|39|54|31|N|41|16|37|E|region:TR|display=inline,title}}
| leader_name        = Mehmet Sekmen
| leader_party       = [[Justice and Development Party (Turkey)|AKP]]
| leader_title       = Mayor
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info_sec1    = [[Humid continental climate#Mild/cool summer subtype|Dfb]]
| website            = {{url|https://www.erzurum.bel.tr}}
}}
'''Erzurum''' ({{Langx|hy|Կարին|translit=Karin}};<ref name="EIS" /> {{Langx|ku-Latn|Erzîrom}}<ref>{{cite book|author1=Adem Avcıkıran|url=http://tirsik.net/danegeh/pirtuk/ismail%20bulbul/anamneza%20bi%20kurmanc%C3%AE.pdf|title=Kürtçe Anamnez Anamneza bi Kurmancî|date=2009|page=56|language=tr, ku|access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref>) is a [[List of cities in Turkey|city]] in eastern [[Anatolia]], [[Turkey]]. It is the largest city and capital of [[Erzurum Province]] and is 1,900 meters (6,233 feet) above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 367,250 in 2010. It is the site of ancient Theodosiopolis. 

The city uses the [[double-headed eagle]] as its coat-of-arms, a motif that has been a common symbol throughout [[Anatolia]] since the [[Bronze Age]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Chariton|first=Jesse David|date=2011|title=The Mesopotamian Origins of the Hittite Double-Headed Eagle|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339213501|journal=UW-L Journal of Undergraduate Research|volume=XIV|via=ResearchGate}}</ref>

Erzurum has [[winter sports]] facilities, hosted the [[2011 Winter Universiade]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fisu.net/results/winter-universiade/25th-winter-universiade-erzurum-2011-main-results|title=25th Winter Universiade - Erzurum 2011 - Main Results|website=www.fisu.net|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-22}}</ref> and the 2023 Winter [[Deaflympics]] (in March 2024).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Erzurum 2024 |url=https://www.deaflympics.com/games/erzurum-2023 |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=www.deaflympics.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Name and etymology ==
The city was originally known in [[Armenian language|Armenian]] as Karno K'aghak' ({{langx|hy|Կարնոյ քաղաք}}), meaning city of '''Karin''', to distinguish it from the district of Karin ([[wikt:Կարին|Կարին]]).<ref name="EIS"/> It is presumed its name was derived from a local tribe called the Karenitis.<ref name="ASE">{{in lang|hy}} Darbinian, M. "Erzurum," [[Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia]]. Yerevan: Armenian Academy of Sciences, 1978, vol. 4, p. 93.</ref> An alternate theory contends that a local princely family, the [[Kamsarakan]]s, the Armenian off-shoot of the Iranian [[House of Karen|Kārin Pahlav family]], lent its name to the locale that eventually became the city.{{sfn|Pourshariati|2017}}

During Roman times, Erzurum was named '''Theodosiopolis''' ({{Langx|la|Theodosiopolis}}, {{langx|el|Θεοδοσιούπολις}}). On the [[Tabula Peutingeriana]] it is called '''Autisparate'''. After the [[Arab conquest of Armenia]] in the seventh century, the city was known to the [[Arab people|Arabs]] as Kālīkalā (adopted from the original [[Armenian language|Armenian]] name Karno K'aghak' ({{langx|hy|Կարնոյ քաղաք}}), meaning 'Karin City', to distinguish it from the district of Karin ([[wikt:Կարին|Կարին]]).<ref name="EIS"/>

It received its present name after its conquest by the [[Seljuk Turks]] following the [[Battle of Manzikert]] in 1071.<ref name="EIS"/> In 1048/49, a neighboring commercial city named [[Artze]] (Arcn, Arzan; Armenian: Արծն) was [[Sack of Artze|heavily sacked]] by the Seljuks.<ref name="EIS">{{EI2|last=Inalcik|first=Halil|author-link=Halil Inalcik|title=Erzurum|volume=2|page=712}}</ref><ref>{{ODB|last=Garsoïan|first=Nina G.|author-link=Nina Garsoïan|title=Theodosioupolis|page=2054}}.</ref> Its [[Armenians|Armenian]], [[Assyrian people|Syrian]], and other Christian inhabitants moved to Theodosiopolis, which they began calling ''Artsn Rum'' (meaning 'Artze of the [[Rûm]]', i.e., [[Rhomaioi|Romans]]) to distinguish it from their former residence.<ref name="Laurent-Canard">See Joseph Laurent's extensive note in his {{in lang|fr}} ''L’Arménie entre Byzance et l’Islam depuis la conquête arabe jusqu’en 886'', 1919, new edition revised and updated by [[Marius Canard]] (Lisbon: Librairie Bertrand, 1980), pp. 87–88, note 83.</ref><ref>{{in lang|de}} Markwart, Joseph. ''Südarmenien und die Tigrisquellen nach griechischen und arabischen Geographen'' (Vienna: Mechitharisten-Buchdruckerei, 1930), pp. 41, 334, 339.</ref><ref>Robert H. Hewsen. "Summit of the Earth: The Historical Geography of Bardzr Hayk" in ''Armenian Karin/Erzerum'', ed. Richard G. Hovannisian (Costa Mesa, CA: Mazda Publishers, 2003), pp 42–44.</ref><ref name="EIS"/>

Some older sources derive the name Erzurum from the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] '''Arḍu ar-Rūm''' ({{langx|ar|ارض الروم}}) 'land of the [[Rûm]]'.<ref name="Laurent-Canard"/><ref name="ASE"/>

During the brief period it came under [[Kingdom of Georgia|Georgian]] rule,{{when|date=December 2019}} the city was known as Karnu-kalaki ({{lang-ka|კარნუ-ქალაქი}}).<ref>[[Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia]], vol. 5, p. 412, Tb., 1980.</ref>

The following variants of the name also occur: ''Erzerum'', ''Arzrum''.{{Sfn|Wilson|Maunsell|1911}}

== History ==
{{Further|Erzurum Province#History}}

===Early history===
[[File:Erzurum_Mar_2020_12_14_14_771000.jpeg|thumb|[[Yakutiye Medresesi]] in the city center]]
The surroundings of Erzurum at the [[Urartians|Urartian]] period presumably belonged to [[Diauehi]].<ref>Kemalettin Köroğlu: ''The Northern Border of the Urartian Kingdom.'' In: Altan Çilingiroğlu/G. Darbyshire (Hrsg.): ''Anatolian Iron Ages 5, Proceedings of the 5th Anatolian Iron Ages Colloquium Van.'' 6.–10. August 2001. British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara Monograph 3 (Ankara 2005), p. 101.</ref> 

Later, Erzurum existed under the Armenian name of Karin. During the reigns of the [[Artaxiad]] and [[Arsacid Dynasty of Armenia|Arsacid]] kings of [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Armenia]], Karin served as the capital of the eponymous canton of [[Karin (historic Armenia)|Karin]], in the province Bardzr Hayk' (Upper Armenia).<ref>Hewsen, Robert H. ''Armenia: a Historical Atlas''. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2001, p. 103.</ref> After the [[Peace of Acilisene|partition of Armenia]] between the [[Eastern Roman Empire]] and [[Sassanid Persia]] in 387&nbsp;AD, the city passed into the hands of the Romans who fortified the city and renamed it Theodosiopolis, after Emperor [[Theodosius I]].<ref>Garsoïan, Nina G. "The Foundation of Theodosiopolis-Karin" in ''Armenian Karin/Erzerum''. UCLA Armenian History and Culture Series: Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces, 4, ed. [[Richard G. Hovannisian]]. Costa Mesa, CA: Mazda Publishers, 2003, pp. 63–72.</ref> 

As the chief military stronghold along the eastern border of the empire, Theodosiopolis held a highly important strategic location and was fiercely contested in wars between the Byzantines and Persians. Emperors [[Anastasius I (emperor)|Anastasius I]] and [[Justinian I]] both refortified the city and built new defenses during their reigns.<ref>{{in lang|hy}} Arakelyan, Babken N. "Hayastani Khoshor Kagh'ak'nere" [The Great Cities of Armenia] in ''Hay Zhoghovrdi Patmutyun'' [History of the Armenian People]. Yerevan: Armenian Academy of Sciences, 1976, vol. 3, p. 232.</ref>

===Middle Ages===
[[File:Erzeron Tournefort.png|thumb|"A Prospect of Erzeron the Capital of Armenia" from [[Joseph Pitton de Tournefort]]'s 1717 book ''Relation d'un voyage du Levant'']]
[[File:Erzurum, madrasa dei minareti gemelli, 1253 ca., cortile 08,0.jpg|thumb|The [[Sultanate of Rûm|Seljuk]] era [[Çifte Minareli Medrese (Erzurum)|Çifte Minareli Medrese]] (Twin [[Minaret]] [[Madrasa]]) is the symbol of the city and appears on its [[coat of arms]].]]
Theodosiopolis was conquered by the [[Umayyad]] general [[Abdallah ibn Abd al-Malik]] in 700/701. It became the capital of the emirate of Ḳālīḳalā and was used as a base for raids into Byzantine territory. Though only an island of [[Arab]] power within Christian Armenian-populated territory, the native population was generally a reliable client of the Caliph's governors. As the power of the [[Caliphate]] declined, and the resurgence of [[Byzantium]] began, the local [[Armenians|Armenian]] leaders preferred the city to be under the control of powerless Muslim [[emir]]s rather than powerful [[Byzantine emperors]].<ref>Whittow, Mark. ''The Making of Byzantium, 600–1025''. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996, pp. 310, 320.</ref>

In 931, and again in 949, Byzantine forces led by [[Theophilos Kourkouas]], grandfather of the future emperor [[John I Tzimiskes]], captured Theodosiopolis. Its Arab population was expelled and the city was resettled by Greeks and Armenians.<ref>Whittow. ''The Making of Byzantium'', p. 322.</ref> Emperor [[Basil II]] rebuilt the city and its defenses in 1018 with the help of the local Armenian population.<ref>Arakelyan. "The Great Cities of Armenia", pp. 232–233.</ref> In 1071, after the decisive battle at [[battle of Manzikert|Manzikert]], the [[Seljuk Turks]] took possession of Theodosiopolis. The [[Saltukids]] were rulers of an [[Anatolian beylik]] (principality) centered in Erzurum, who ruled from 1071 to 1202. [[Melike Mama Hatun]], sister of Nâsırüddin Muhammed, was the ruler between 1191 and 1200.

Theodosiopolis repelled many attacks and military campaigns by the Seljuks and [[Kingdom of Georgia|Georgians]] (the latter knew the city as Karnu-Kalaki) until 1201 when the city and the province was conquered by the Seljuk sultan [[Süleymanshah II]]. Erzen-Erzurum fell to the Mongol siege in 1242, and the city was looted and devastated. After the fall of the [[Sultanate of Rum]] in early 14th century, it became an administrative province of the [[Ilkhanate]], and later on the city was under [[Empire of Trebizond]] occupation for a while around the 1310s.<ref>Zehiroğlu, Ahmet M.; "Trabzon Imparatorluğu 2" 2016, Trabzon, ({{ISBN|978-605-4567-52-2}}); pp.133–134</ref> Then became part of the [[Timurid Empire]], the Çoban beylik, [[Black Sheep Turkmen]], and [[White Sheep Turkmen]]. It subsequently passed to [[Safavid Persia]], until the [[Ottoman Turks|Ottomans]] under [[Selim I]] in 1514 conquered it through the [[Battle of Chaldiran]]. During Ottoman imperial rule, the city served as the main base of military power in the region.

It served as the capital of the [[Erzurum Eyalet|''eyalet'' of Erzurum]]. Early in the seventeenth century, the province was threatened by [[Safavid Persia]] and a revolt by the province governor [[Abaza Mehmed Pasha]]. This revolt was combined with [[Jelali Revolts]] (the uprising of the provincial musketeers called the Jelali), backed by Iran and lasted until 1628. In 1733, Iranian ruler [[Nader Shah]] took Erzurum during the [[Ottoman–Persian War (1730–35)]],<ref>John A Boyle. [https://books.google.com/books?id=JL2NOXXCHPsC&dq=nader+shah+captured+erzurum&pg=PA43 "Persia (RLE Iran A): History and Heritage"] p 43</ref> but the city returned to Ottoman possession following his death in 1747.

===Modern history===
In 1821, during the last major [[Ottoman-Persian Wars|Ottoman-Persian War]], the Ottomans were decisively defeated at Erzurum by the Iranian [[Qajar dynasty|Qajars]] at the Battle of Erzurum (1821).<ref>''A Global Chronology of Conflict: From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle'', Vol.III, ed. Spencer C. Tucker, 1140.</ref> In 1829 the city was [[Russo-Turkish War (1828–29)|captured by the Russian Empire]], but was returned to the [[Ottoman Empire]] under the [[Treaty of Adrianople (1829)|Treaty of Adrianople]] (Edirne), in September of the same year. During the [[Crimean War]] Russian forces approached Erzurum, but did not attack it because of insufficient forces and the continuing Russian siege of [[Kars]]. The city was unsuccessfully attacked ([[Battle of Erzurum (1877)]]) by a Russian army in the [[Russo-Turkish War, 1877–1878|Russo-Ottoman War]] of 1877–78. However, in February 1878, the Russians took Erzurum without resistance, but it was again returned to the [[Ottoman Empire]], this time under the [[Treaty of San Stefano]]. There were massacres of the city's Armenian citizens during the [[Hamidian massacres]] (1894–1896).<ref>[[Vahakn N. Dadrian|Dadrian, Vahakn N]]. ''Warrant for Genocide: Key Elements of Turko-Armenian Conflict''. New Brunswick, N.J.: Transaction Publishers, 1999, p. 141.</ref><ref>{{cite book
|last = Balakian
|first = Peter
|author-link = Peter Balakian
|title = The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America's Response
|location = New York
|publisher = [[HarperCollins]]
|isbn = 0-06-055870-9
|pages = [https://archive.org/details/burningtigris00pete/page/59 59, 127–129]
|url-access = registration
|url = https://archive.org/details/burningtigris00pete/page/59
|date = 2004-10-05
}}</ref>

==== World War I and Turkish War of independence ====
[[File:Սանասարեան վարժարան.jpg|thumb|Sanasarian College was one of the premier Armenian educational institutions in Erzurum on the eve of the First World War. Its faculty was murdered during the 1915 [[Armenian genocide|genocide]].]]
The 40,000-strong Armenian population was deported from the city and killed en masse during the 1915 [[Armenian genocide]]. Their cultural institutions, including churches, clubs, and schools, were looted, destroyed, or otherwise left derelict. When Russian forces occupied Erzurum in 1916, there were scarcely 200 Armenians left alive.<ref>Kévorkian, Raymond. ''The Armenian Genocide: A History''. London: I.B. Tauris, 2011, pp. 289-318.</ref>

The city was also the location of [[Battle of Erzurum (1916)|one of the key battles]] in the [[Caucasus Campaign]] of [[World War I]] between the armies of the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] and [[Russian Empire]]s. This resulted in the capture of Erzurum by Russian forces under the command of [[Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich of Russia (1856–1929)|Grand Duke Nicholas]] and [[Nikolai Nikolaevich Yudenich]] on February 16, 1916. Erzurum reverted to Ottoman control after the signing of the [[Treaty of Brest-Litovsk]] in March 1918. In 1919, [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]], one of the key founders of the modern [[Turkey|Turkish Republic]], resigned from the Ottoman army in Erzurum and was declared an "Honorary Native" and freeman of the city, which issued him his first citizenship registration and certificate (Nüfus Cuzdanı) of the new Turkish Republic. The [[Erzurum Congress]] of 1919 was one of the starting points of the [[Turkish War of Independence]].<ref>See Richard G. Hovannisian, "The Competition for Erzerum, 1914–1921" in ''Armenian Karin/Erzerum'', pp. 378ff.</ref>

==== Inspectorate General ====
In September 1935, Erzurum was made the seat of the newly created third [[Inspectorates-General (Turkey)|Inspectorate General]] (''Umumi Müfettişlik,'' UM).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/20607|title=Üçüncü Umumi Müfettişliği'nin Kurulması ve III. Umumî Müfettiş Tahsin Uzer'in Bazı Önemli Faaliyetleri|website=Dergipark|page=2|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> The third UM span over the provinces of [[Erzurum Province|Erzurum]], [[Artvin Province|Artvin]], [[Rize Province|Rize]], [[Trabzon Province|Trabzon]], [[Kars Province|Kars]] [[Gümüşhane Province|Gümüşhane]], [[Erzincan Province|Erzincan]] and [[Ağrı Province|Ağrı]].<ref name=":1" /> It was governed by an Inspector General.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bayir|first=Derya|title=Minorities and Nationalism in Turkish Law|date=2016-04-22|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-09579-8|pages=139–141|language=en}}</ref> The Inspectorate General was dissolved in 1952 during the Government of the [[Democrat Party (Turkey, 1946–61)|Democrat Party]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Fleet|first1=Kate|title=The Cambridge History of Turkey|last2=Kunt|first2=I. Metin|last3=Kasaba|first3=Reşat|last4=Faroqhi|first4=Suraiya|date=2008-04-17|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-62096-3|pages=343|language=en}}</ref>

== Ecclesiastical history ==
Theodosiopolis was important enough in the Late [[Roman province]] of [[Armenia Tertia]] to become a bishopric, which the [[Annuario Pontificio]] lists as [[suffragan]] of the [[Archdiocese of Comachus]], but in ''Notitiae Episcopatuum'' from the seventh and early tenth centuries, its (later?) Metropolitan is the [[Archdiocese of Caesarea in Cappadocia]].<ref>Heinrich Gelzer, ''Ungedruckte und ungenügend veröffentlichte Texte der Notitiae episcopatuum, in: Abhandlungen der philosophisch-historische classe der bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften'', 1901, p. 536, nº 80, e p. 551, nº 112</ref> In either case, it was in the sway of the [[Patriarchate of Constantinople]].

Its historically recorded Suffragan Bishops were :
* Petrus I, intervening at the council of 448 convoked by Patriarch [[Flavian of Constantinople]] in his see to condemn Archimandrite [[Eutyches]] as a heretic for his extreme opposition to [[Nestorianism]]
* Manasse intervened at the [[Council of Chalcedon]] in 451
* Petrus II participated in the 533 dispute in Constantinople between 'orthodoxy' and [[Monophysitism]]
* As ancient Theodosiopolis in Armenia (or "in Cappadocia"), the former bishopric remains a Latin Catholic [[titular see]].

=== Council of Theodosiopolis (593) ===
After the long [[Byzantine-Sasanian War of 572-591]], Byzantine rule was extended to all western parts of [[Byzantine Armenia|Armenia]], and emperor [[Maurice (emperor)|Maurice]] (582-602) decided to strengthen political control over the region by supporting pro-[[Chalcedonian]] fraction of the Armenian Church. In 593, regional council of western Armenian bishops met in Theodosiopolis, proclaimed allegiance to the [[Chalcedonian Definition]] and elected John (Yovhannes, or Hovhannes) of [[Bagaran (ancient city)|Bagaran]] as new Catholicos of Chalcedonian Armenians.{{sfn|Meyendorff|1989|p=108-109, 284, 343}}

As Ancient '''Theodosiopolis in Armenia''' (or "in Cappadocia"), the former bishopric remains a Latin Catholic [[titular see]], renamed as Titular Archiepiscopal See of Aprus. Its post is vacant since 1968, [[Antonio Gregorio Vuccino]] was its last archbishop.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Titular See of Aprus, Turkey|url=http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/former/t0165.htm|website=GCatholic|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
In 1829, Erzurum had 130,000 inhabitants, including 30,000 Armenians.<ref name=vgm/> In 1909, there were 60,000 inhabitants, including 15,000 Armenians (2,500 families).<ref name=vgm/> Armenians mainly lived in the northern and northwestern districts of the city.<ref name=vgm/> On the eve of the First World War, 37,480 Armenians lived in the [[kaza]] of Erzurum, with 43 churches, three monasteries and 52 schools.<ref name=vgm>{{Cite web |title=Kaza Erzurum |url=https://virtual-genocide-memorial.de/region/the-six-provinces/erzurum-vilayet/sancak-erzurum/kaza-erzurum/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=Virtual Genocide Memorial |language=en-US}}</ref> All but about 200 Armenians were executed during the [[Armenian genocide]].<ref name=vgm/>

Today, the city has a [[Lom people|Lom]] population.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |title=Ethnic Groups in the Republic of Turkey |year=1989 |editor-last=Peter Alfred |editor-first=Andrews |pages=369 |editor-last2=Benninghaus |editor-first2=Rüdiger}}</ref>

== Economy ==
{{Further|Erzurum Province}}
[[File:Jewelry_shops_in_Taşhan_03.jpg|left|thumb|Jewelry shops in Taşhan]]
[[File:Administrative_Justice_Palace,_Erzurum.jpg|thumb|Erzurum Administrative Justice Palace]]
One of the largest source of income and economic activity in the city has been [[Atatürk University]]. Established in 1950, it is one of the largest universities in Turkey, having more than forty-thousand students. Tourism also provides a portion of the province's revenues. The city is a popular destination in Turkey for [[winter sports]] at the nearby [[Palandöken Mountain]].

Erzurum is notable for the small-scale production of objects crafted from [[Oltu stone]]: most are sold as souvenirs and include prayer beads, bracelets, necklaces, brooches, earrings and hairclips.

For now, Erzurum is the ending point of the [[South Caucasus Pipeline]], also called the ''[[Baku]]-[[Tbilisi]]-Erzurum'' (BTE) pipeline. Erzurum will also be the starting point of the planned [[Nabucco pipeline]] which will carry [[natural gas]] from the [[Caspian Sea]] basin to the [[European Union]] member states. The intergovernmental agreement between Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Austria to build the Nabucco pipeline was signed by five Prime Ministers on 13 July 2009 in Ankara.<ref name="bbc130709">
{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8147053.stm|title=Europe gas pipeline deal agreed|work=[[BBC News]]| date = 2009-07-13|access-date=2009-07-13}}</ref><ref name="zaman130709">{{cite news|url=http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=180776&bolum=107|title=Turkey, EU countries sign gas pipeline deal|newspaper=Today's Zaman|date=2009-07-13|access-date=2009-07-13|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718210306/http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=180776&bolum=107|archive-date=2009-07-18}}</ref> The European Union was represented at the ceremony by the [[President of the European Commission]] [[Jose Manuel Barroso]] and the [[European Commissioner for Energy|Commissioner for Energy]] [[Andris Piebalgs]], while the United States was represented by the [[Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy]] [[Richard Morningstar]] and the [[Ranking Member]] of the [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations]] [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Richard Lugar]].<ref name="turkish130709">{{cite news|url=http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=346171|title=Nabucco Summits Begins|publisher = Turkish Press| date = 2009-07-13| access-date = 2009-07-13}}
</ref><ref name="state130709">{{cite press release| url = https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/july/125968.htm| title = Signing Ceremony for the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Nabucco Pipeline| author = Ian Kelly| publisher = United States Department of State| date = 2009-07-13| access-date = 2009-07-13}}</ref>
{{clearleft}}

== Tourism ==
[[File:Regional_Research_Hospital,_Erzurum.JPG|thumb|left|Erzurum Regional Research Hospital]]
[[File:Palandoken Erzurum 2009.JPG|thumb|[[Palandöken Mountain|Palandöken]] in August 2009, as seen from downtown Erzurum.]]
[[File:Mosque_at_Ibrahim_Polat_St.,_Erzurum_01.jpg|thumb|A mosque view in Erzurum.]]
Little of medieval Erzurum survives beyond scattered individual buildings such as the citadel fortress, and the 13th century [[Çifte Minareli Medrese (Erzurum)|Çifte Minareli Medrese]] (the "Twin Minaret" madrasa). Visitors may also wish to visit the [[Çobandede Bridge]], which dates back to late 13th century,<ref name="guide">Erzurum city guide, travel guide, hotel guide, tourism guide. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://erzurumguide.com/</ref> the [[Lala Mustafa Pasha]] Mosque and the [[Grand Mosque of Erzurum|Grand Mosque]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Selected Studies on Rural Tourism and Development|last1=Akkus|first1=Cetin|last2=Akkus|first2=Gulizar|date=2019-01-17|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|isbn=9781527526013|pages=18|language=en}}</ref>

==Culture==
[[File:Waxwork, Man and Woman in traditional costumes 01.jpg|thumb|left|A waxwork illustrating a man and a woman in traditional costumes, [[Yakutiye Medresesi]], Erzurum.]]

===Cuisine===
[[File:Cağ_kebab.jpg|thumb|left|[[Cağ Kebab]] of Erzurum.]]

One specialty of Erzurum's cuisine is [[Cağ Kebab]]. Although this [[kebab]] variety is of recent introduction outside its native region, it is rapidly attaining widespread popularity around Turkey.

Kadayıf Dolması is an exquisite dessert made with walnut.

Other regional foodstuffs include [[Börek|Su böreği]] (wet pastry), [[Dolma|ekşili dolma]] (sour stuffed vegetables), [[chorba|kesme çorbası]] (soup), [[ayran aşı]] [[chorba|yayla çorbası]] (nomads soup), [[çiriş]], [[dolma|şalgam dolması]] (stuffed turnip), [[pilaf|yumurta pilavı]] (egg pilaf), and [[Dolma|kadayıf dolması]].<ref name="guide" />

==Education==
{{expand section|date=April 2020}}
[[File:Erzurum,_Turkey_-_panoramio_(1).jpg|thumb|[[Atatürk University]] in Erzurum]]
The [[Erzurum Technical University]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Erzurum Teknik Üniversitesi|url=https://www.erzurum.edu.tr/duyuru/iskur-is-kulubu-ile-erzurum-teknik-universitesi-karpam-egitimlerimiz-tum-hiziyla1?LanguageAbbrevation=tr|access-date=2020-08-12|website=www.erzurum.edu.tr}}</ref> and the [[Atatürk University]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Atatürk University|url=https://www.atauni.edu.tr|website=Atatürk University}}</ref> are located in Erzurum.

[[Sanasarian College]] was formerly in Erzerum.

== Sports ==
===Venues===
[[File:Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and George Papandreou, Erzurum January 2011 12.jpg|thumb|2011 Winter Universiade opening in [[Kazım Karabekir Stadium]].]]
[[File:Erzurum Kiremitliktepe Kayakla Atlama Kuleleri3.jpg|thumb|The K-95 (left) and K-125 (right) ski jumping towers at Kiremitliktepe.]]

*[[Kazım Karabekir Stadium]]
*[[Erzurum Ice Hockey Arena]]
*[[GSIM Yenişehir Ice Hockey Hall]]
*[[Milli Piyango Curling Arena]]
*[[Kiremitliktepe Ski Jump]]

===International events hosted===
Erzurum has hosted the following international winter sports events:

*[[2009 IIHF World U18 Championships – Division III#Group B|11th World Ice Hockey U18 Championships-Division III – Group B Tournament]] – March 9–15, 2009
*[[2010 IIHF World U18 Championships#Division III|12th World Ice Hockey U18 Championships-Division III – Group A Tournament]] – March 8–14, 2010
*[[2011 Winter Universiade|25th Winter Universiade]] – January 27 – February 6, 2011
*[[2012 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship|World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship]] – April 23 – 29, 2012
*[[2012 European Curling Championships|European Curling Championships – Group C Tournament]] – October 5–10, 2012
*[[2012 IIHF World Championship Division III|11th IIHF World Championship Division III]]  – April 15 – 21, 2012
*[[2017 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival]] – February 12 – 17, 2017

The city's initial football club [[Erzurumspor]], which during 1998–2001 played in the [[Süper Lig|Turkish Super League]], was forced to relegate to the [[Turkish Regional Amateur League]] due to financial problems. It was finally dissolved in 2015.

After dissolution of Erzurumspor due to financial problems, Erzurum is presented by [[Büyükşehir Belediye Erzurumspor|BB Erzurumspor]] in association football. It was founded as "Gençler Birliği Gençlik Spor Kulübü" in 1967 and took present name in 2014. It played in the [[Turkish Super League]] in 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons.

Erzurum's football venue, the [[Erzurum Cemal Gürsel Stadium|Cemal Gürsel Stadium]], has a seating capacity for 21,900 spectators. To be able to carry out the competitions of the Winter Universiade, a ski jumping ramp, an ice hockey arena and a curling hall were built in Erzurum.

===Frank Lenz disappearance===
In May 1894, American bicyclist [[Frank Lenz (cyclist)|Frank Lenz]] disappeared outside the city on the final leg of his quest to circumnavigate the globe on a bike.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/a-lens-on-lenz-on-the-south-side-635673/|title=A lens on Lenz on the South Side}}</ref>

== Climate ==
Erzurum has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Dfb,'' [[Trewartha climate classification]]: ''Dcbc'') with very cold, snowy winters and warm, dry summers. The average maximum daily temperature during August is around {{convert|28|C|F}}. The highest recorded temperature is {{convert|36.5|C|F}}, on 31 July 2000. ; January is the coldest month, with an average minimum daily temperature around {{convert|-16|C|F}}. The coldest recorded temperature is {{convert|-37.2|C|F}} on 28 December 2002. Snow cover is frequent in winter, but the dry nature of the climate usually prevents large accumulation. Winter temperatures in this city are exceptionally cold for their latitude, being more comparable to [[Russia]] than to somewhere in the [[Middle East]].

{{Weather box 
|metric first= Yes 
|single line= Yes 
|location= Erzurum (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1929–2023)
|Jan record high C = 10.4
|Feb record high C = 10.6
|Mar record high C = 21.4
|Apr record high C = 26.5
|May record high C = 29.6
|Jun record high C = 32.3
|Jul record high C = 35.6
|Aug record high C = 36.5
|Sep record high C = 33.3
|Oct record high C = 27.0
|Nov record high C = 20.7
|Dec record high C = 14.0
|year record high C = 36.5
|Jan high C = -4.0
|Feb high C = -2.4
|Mar high C = 3.9
|Apr high C = 12.1
|May high C = 17.6
|Jun high C = 22.9
|Jul high C = 27.7
|Aug high C = 28.5
|Sep high C = 23.7
|Oct high C = 16.4
|Nov high C = 7.3
|Dec high C = -1.2
|year high C = 12.7
|Jan mean C = -10.2
|Feb mean C = -8.8
|Mar mean C = -1.9
|Apr mean C = 5.5
|May mean C = 10.5
|Jun mean C = 14.8
|Jul mean C = 19.1
|Aug mean C = 19.5
|Sep mean C = 14.3
|Oct mean C = 8.1
|Nov mean C = 0.2
|Dec mean C = -7.1
|year mean C = 5.3
|Jan low C = -15.9
|Feb low C = -14.7
|Mar low C = -7.5
|Apr low C = -0.7
|May low C = 3.4
|Jun low C = 6.1
|Jul low C = 9.9
|Aug low C = 10.0
|Sep low C = 4.4
|Oct low C = 0.3
|Nov low C = -6.0
|Dec low C = -12.4
|year low C = -1.9
|Jan record low C = -36.0
|Feb record low C = -37.0
|Mar record low C = -33.2
|Apr record low C = -22.4
|May record low C = -7.1
|Jun record low C = -5.6
|Jul record low C = -1.8
|Aug record low C = -1.1
|Sep record low C = -6.8
|Oct record low C = -14.1
|Nov record low C = -34.3
|Dec record low C = -37.2
|year record low C = -37.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 16.2 
|Feb precipitation mm = 19.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 34.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 55.9
|May precipitation mm = 72.4
|Jun precipitation mm = 42.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 21.9
|Aug precipitation mm = 16.5
|Sep precipitation mm = 22.7
|Oct precipitation mm = 46.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 25.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 21.3
|year precipitation mm = 395.7
|Jan precipitation days = 10.63
|Feb precipitation days = 11.07
|Mar precipitation days = 12.8
|Apr precipitation days = 14.93
|May precipitation days = 16.8
|Jun precipitation days = 10.73
|Jul precipitation days = 6.93
|Aug precipitation days = 6.17
|Sep precipitation days = 5.3
|Oct precipitation days = 10.3
|Nov precipitation days = 8.77
|Dec precipitation days = 11.23
|year precipitation days = 125.7
| Jan snow days  =15.2
| Feb snow days  =13.96
| Mar snow days  =12
| Apr snow days  =4.32
| May snow days  =0.36
| Jun snow days  =0
| Jul snow days  =0
| Aug snow days  =0
| Sep snow days  =0.04
| Oct snow days  =0.8
| Nov snow days  =5.16
| Dec snow days  =11.84
| year snow days =
|Jan humidity = 79.9
|Feb humidity = 79.6
|Mar humidity = 75.5
|Apr humidity = 68.0
|May humidity = 65.7
|Jun humidity = 60.8
|Jul humidity = 53.6
|Aug humidity = 49.7
|Sep humidity = 52.8
|Oct humidity = 65.8
|Nov humidity = 74.3
|Dec humidity = 81.4
|year humidity = 67.2
|Jan sun = 108.5 
|Feb sun = 121.5
|Mar sun = 155.0 
|Apr sun = 183.0
|May sun = 235.6 
|Jun sun = 300.0 
|Jul sun = 331.7 
|Aug sun = 316.2 
|Sep sun = 252.0 
|Oct sun = 201.5 
|Nov sun = 144.0 
|Dec sun = 89.9
|year sun = 
|Jand sun = 3.5
|Febd sun = 4.3
|Mard sun = 5.0
|Aprd sun = 6.1
|Mayd sun = 7.6
|Jund sun = 10.0
|Juld sun = 10.7
|Augd sun = 10.2
|Sepd sun = 8.4
|Octd sun = 6.5
|Novd sun = 4.8
|Decd sun = 2.9
|yeard sun = 6.7
|source 1 = [[Turkish State Meteorological Service]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.mgm.gov.tr/veridegerlendirme/il-ve-ilceler-istatistik.aspx?k=H&m=ERZURUM
| title = Resmi İstatistikler: İllerimize Ait Mevism Normalleri (1991–2020)
| publisher = Turkish State Meteorological Service
| language = tr
| access-date = 1 May 2021}}</ref>
| source 2 = [[NOAA]] (humidity, 1991–2020),<ref name=WMOCLINO>{{cite web
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Turkiye/CSV/ErzurumHavalimani_17096.csv |format=CSV |postscript=.
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020
| publisher = [[NCEI|National Centers for Environmental Information]]
| access-date = 2 August 2023}}</ref> Meteomanz(snowy days 2000-2024)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Erzurum - Weather data by months |url= http://www.meteomanz.com/sy3?l=1&cou=6290&ind=17096&m1=02&y1=2000&m2=12&y2=2024 |access-date= 4 February 2025 |website=meteomanz}}</ref>
}}

== Notable people ==
[[File:Erzurum,_Çifte_Minare_Medresesi_(13._Jhdt.)_(40381778801).jpg|thumb|Details of the [[Çifte Minareli Madrasa]]]]
[[File:Erzurum, madrasa yakutiye, 1310, interno 01.jpg|thumb|Interior of the [[Yakutiye Medrese]]]]
[[File:Eskişehir_8.7.2007_(72).jpg|thumb|The Statue of [[Nene Hatun]], (1857 – 22 May 1955) was a Turkish folk heroine, who at her age of twenty showed bravery during the recapture of Fort [[Aziziye]] in Erzurum from Russian forces at the start of the [[Russo-Turkish War (1877–78)|Russo-Turkish War]] of 1877–1878.]]

===Armenians===
*[[Hakop Karnetsi]], (1618–1673) Armenian historian, geographer
*[[Ghoukas Karnetsi]], (1722–1799) [[Catholicos of All Armenians]] (1780–1799)
*[[Hovhannes Karnetsi]], (1750–1820) Armenian poet, pedagogue
*[[Armenak Arzrouni]], (1901–1963) Armenian photographer
*[[Nikita Balieff]], Armenian stage performer
*[[Arshak Gafavian]], Armenian military commander
*[[Johannes Avetaranian]] (a.k.a. Mehmet Sükrü), Seyyid (self-proclaimed descendant of the prophet Muhammed), Christian missionary
*[[Karekin Pastermadjian]], a leader of the [[Armenian Revolutionary Federation]] and an ambassador of [[Armenia]] to the US
*[[Vartkes Serengülian]], Armenian deputy in the Ottoman parliament killed during the course of the Armenian Genocide<ref>Kévorkian. ''The Armenian Genocide'', pp. 533-34.</ref>
*[[Kourken Yanigian]], American-Armenian author, engineer who murdered two Turkish consular officials in 1973

===Turks===
*[[Acun Ilıcalı]] Television programmer
*[[Adnan Polat]], [[Ahiska]]-Turk, President of [[Galatasaray]]
*[[Arif Sağ]], Turkish singer, bağlama virtuoso
*[[Bülent Güven]], Political Scientist and Politician
*[[Cemal Gürsel]], the fourth [[Presidents of Turkey|president of Turkey]]
*[[Fethullah Gülen]], Islamic writer and preacher
*[[Hasan Çelebi]], world-famous [[Islamic calligraphy|Islamic calligrapher]]
*[[Huseyin Avni Ulas]], Influential Politician during the early period of the Republic of Turkey
*[[İbrahim Hakkı Erzurumi]], Turkish and Sufi philosopher and encyclopedist
*[[Nene Hatun]], female defender of Erzurum during the [[Russo-Turkish War, 1877–1878|Russo-Turkish War]] of 1877–78
*[[Orhun Ene]], Turkish Basketball player
*[[Ömer Nasuhi Bilmen]], Islamic scholar known for his book titled The Big Book of Islamic Catechism (''Büyük İslâm İlmihali'')
*[[Recep Akdağ]], minister of health of Turkey
*Şair [[Nef'i]], 17th century Turkish poet
*[[Şakir Yavuz]], Turkish German business executive and philanthropist

===Others===
* [[Markos Vafiadis]], leading cadre of the [[Communist Party of Greece]] (KKE)

== Twin towns and sister cities ==
{{Portal|Turkey}}
* {{flagicon|Azerbaijan}} [[Shusha]], Azerbaijan<ref>{{cite web |title=Erzurum ile Azerbaycan kenti Şuşa 'kardeş şehir' oldu |url=https://yesiligdir.com/haber/detay/31653 |website=Yeşil Iğdır Gazetesi |access-date=21 October 2022 |language=tr |date=2022-09-22}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Iran}} [[Urmia]], Iran (since 2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.mehrnews.com/news/106532/Urmia-Erzurum-sign-sisterhood-agreement|title=Urmia, Erzurum sign sisterhood agreement|date=7 April 2015}}</ref>

== Notes and references ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
;Published in the 19th century
* {{Cite book |publisher = S. Converse |location = New Haven |author1 = Jedidiah Morse |author-link1=Jedidiah Morse |author2=Richard C. Morse |title = A New Universal Gazetteer |date = 1823 |edition= 4th |chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/newuniversalgaze00morsrich#page/246/mode/2up |chapter= Erzerum }}
* {{Cite book |publisher = John Murray |location = London |title = Armenia: A Year at Erzeroom and on the frontiers of Russia, Turkey, and Persia |url = https://archive.org/details/armeniaayearate03curzgoog |author = Robert Curzon |author-link=Robert Curzon, 14th Baron Zouche |date= 1854|ol = 7178931M }}
* {{Cite book |publisher = J. Murray |location = London |title = Handbook for Travellers in Turkey |edition=3rd |date = 1854 |oclc = 2145740 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/ahandbookfortra22firgoog#page/n224/mode/2up |chapter=Erzeroom }}

;Published in the 20th century
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Erzerum |volume= 9 |last1= Wilson |first1= Charles William |author1-link= Charles William Wilson |last2= Maunsell |first2= Francis Richard |author2-link= Francis Richard Maunsell | pages = 758&ndash;759 |short= 1}}
* {{in lang|hy}} [[Aram Ter-Ghevondyan|Ter-Ghevondyan, Aram N]]. "Կարին-Թեոդուպոլիսը ավանդության և պատմության մեջ" [Karin-Theodosiopolis in Tradition and History]. ''Lraber Hasarakakan Gitutyunneri'' 3 (1971).
* {{Cite book|last=Meyendorff|first=John|author-link=John Meyendorff|year=1989|title=Imperial unity and Christian divisions: The Church 450-680 A.D.|series=The Church in history|volume=2|location=Crestwood, NY|publisher=St. Vladimir's Seminary Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6J_YAAAAMAAJ|isbn=9780881410556}}
* {{Cite book|last=Ostrogorsky|first=George|author-link=George Ostrogorsky|year=1956|title=History of the Byzantine State|location=Oxford|publisher=Basil Blackwell|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bt0_AAAAYAAJ}}

;Published in the 21st century
* {{Encyclopaedia Islamica|last=Enayatollah|first=Reza|title=Erzerum|url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-islamica/erzerum-COM_036116?s.num=0&s.rows=20&s.mode=DEFAULT&s.f.s2_parent=encyclopaedia-islamica&s.start=0&s.q=erzurum|year=2017}}
* [[Richard G. Hovannisian|Hovannisian, Richard G.]] (ed.) ''Armenian Karin/Erzerum''. UCLA Armenian History and Culture Series: Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces, 4. Costa Mesa, CA: Mazda Publishers, 2003.
* {{EI3|last=Sinclair|first=Thomas A.|title=Erzurum|year=2016|url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-3/*-COM_26218}}
* {{cite book |chapter=Erzurum |title=Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art & Architecture |year=2009 |publisher=Oxford University Press }}

== Sources and external links ==
{{Wikivoyage|Erzurum}}
{{Commons category|Erzurum}}
* {{Encyclopædia Iranica Online | article = KĀRIN | last = Pourshariati | first = Parvaneh | author-link = Parvaneh Pourshariati | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/karin | year = 2017 }}
* Erzurum [http://www.erzurumtso.org.tr Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/former/t1755.htm GCatholic - former & titular see Theodosiopolis in Armenia]
* [http://www.obel.bilkent.edu.tr Bilkent Üniversitesi Erzurum Yerleşkesi]
* [https://pbase.com/dosseman/erzurum Over 600 well-organized pictures of museum, city, sights]
* [https://archive.org/stream/ErzurumgarinItsArmenianHistoryAndTraditions_699/Tarbassian_1975_Garin_djvu.txt Erzurum (Garin): Its Armenian History and Traditions] - includes information on local Armenian monasteries, schools, poetry, dialect, figures, proverbs, habits, etc.
* {{cite web |author=ArchNet.org |publisher=MIT School of Architecture and Planning |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA |url=http://archnet.org/library/places/one-place.jsp?place_id=1661 |title=Erzurum |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023213047/http://archnet.org/library/places/one-place.jsp?place_id=1661 |archive-date=2012-10-23 }}
; Bibliography – Ecclesiastical history
* Pius Bonifacius Gams, ''Series episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae'', Leipzig 1931, p.&nbsp;441
* Michel Lequien, ''Oriens christianus in quatuor Patriarchatus digestus'', Paris 1740, Tomo I, coll. 437–438
* Konrad Eubel, ''Hierarchia Catholica Medii Aevi'', vol. 6, p.&nbsp;402

{{Erzerum}}
{{Districts of Turkey|provname=Erzurum}}
{{Largest cities in Turkey}}
{{Ancient settlements in Turkey}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Erzurum| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Turkey]]
[[Category:Armenian genocide extermination centers]]
[[Category:Former Armenian communities in Turkey]]