Ardanuç

Infobox Settlement
settlement_type = Town
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = TUR
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
map_caption =Location of Ardanuç within Turkey.
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3

official_name = Ardanuç


image_caption =
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_type =

---

subdivision_type1=Region
subdivision_name1 = Black Sea
population_total = 5294|population_footnotes=
urban population| =
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_density_km2 =
area_total_km2 = 969|elevation_m = 558|postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code = 08
blank_info = 08|blank_name=Licence plate
area_code = 466
leader_title=Mayor
leader_name = Veterinarian YILDIRIM DEMİR CHP
website = http://www.ardanuc.bel.tr/
leader_title1=Governor
leader_name1 = MUSTAFA GÜNDÜZ
gwebsite = http://www.ardanuc.gov.tr

Ardanuç (Lang-ka|არტანუჯი, "Artanuji") is a town and district of Artvin Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Geography

Ardanuç is a mountainous district, rising from 250 m in the Şavşat River basin (Şavşat district) up to the highest point, 3050 m Mount Çadır. Other high mountains are Kürdevan, Yalnızçam and Mount Horasan. The town of Ardanuç is on the western side of Yalnızçam Mount and at the conjunction of Bulanık, Aydın and Horhot streams.

History

The history of this area goes back to the settlement of the banks of the Çoruh River by the Hurri and Mitanni branches of the Hittites in 2000BC. The first mention of Ardanuç was in a Urartu monument to the defeat of the local people in battle by Urartu King Saduris II in 753 BC. Then in the 7th century BC the Saka or Scythians are known to have settled.

By 575 AD Ardanuç was an early capital of the Georgian Bagrationi dynasty of Tao-Klarjeti kingdom and Gevhernik Castle was built in this period. The castle was besieged by the Ummayad Arabs in 744.

Fighting between the Bagrationi and Anatolian Turkish Beyliks began in 1080. Ardanuç being a mountain stronghold was hard to capture, although it did fall to the Mongols during their wars with the Turks and Georgians in the 13th century and was brought into the Ottoman Empire in 1551 by Suleiman the Magnificent following yet another siege, this time to overturn the local ruler, Atabeg of Samtskhe.

Following the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878) Ardanuç was ceded to Russia and after the Russian Revolution was returned to the Ottomans after a referendum was held.Fact|date=October 2008

At the end of the First World War the area was occupied by Georgian troops, who withdrew in 1921 following a petition by the newly formed republic of Turkey.

External links

* [http://www.ardanuc.gov.tr Governor's Office]
* [http://www.ardanuc.bel.tr/ the Municipality]
* [http://www.yerelnet.org.tr/iller/ilce.php?il_adi=ARTV%DDN&ilce_adi=ARDANU%C7 local information] tr icon