The military map dated Hijri 1335, unearthed by Taner Özdemir, Board Member of the Erzurum Branch of the Turkish Language and Literature Association, revealed the strategic role of Erzurum.
Another very important document that will shed light on the historical memory of Erzurum has come to light. The Ottoman military map dated Hijri 1335, which was obtained by Taner Özdemir, Board Member of the Erzurum Branch of the Turkish Language and Literature Association, during his archive activities, is considered to be one of the most remarkable sources documenting the critical role undertaken by Erzurum in the military planning of the Ottoman Empire in Eastern Anatolia.
The map, prepared in Ottoman Turkish and dated Hijri 1335, reflects the military organization of the period in detail. Erzurum as the center, headquarters, regions where troops are deployed, defense lines, transportation routes, supply routes and strategic crossing points are marked in detail on the map. The intense military symbols, especially around Erzurum, reveal that the city was not only a front city but also planned as one of the centers of military dispatch and administration. Turkish Language and Literature Association Erzurum Branch Board Member Taner Özdemir stated that this map, which he reached within the scope of archive research he has been carrying out for many years, will provide new information about the recent history of Erzurum.
Özdemir said, "Archival documents are silent witnesses of the past. This map dated 1335 Hijri clearly shows that Erzurum was at the center of military planning in Eastern Anatolia. Troop distribution, road networks and defense system on the map reveal the strategic importance of the city with a concrete document." he said.
One of the striking aspects of the map is the defense order created by the military units around Erzurum. The fact that most of the main transportation routes, passes and supply lines were planned in Erzurum, shows that the Ottoman Empire shaped the defense of Eastern Anatolia through this city. According to experts, such military maps provide not only war plans, but also important information about the transportation network, settlement pattern, logistics system and military management approach of the period. In this respect, the map dated 1335 Hijri is of great importance in terms of the city history of Erzurum as well as the Ottoman military history.
Taner Özdemir stated that the Ottoman notes, military symbols and place names on the map will be examined in detail, and all aspects of the document will be evaluated through scientific activities. Özdemir said that there are many documents in the archives waiting to be unearthed, and that each new discovery further clarifies the historical identity of Erzurum.
This map, dated 1335 Hijri, is not just a military plan from the past; It is a powerful historical document documenting why Erzurum has been seen as one of the most important strategic centers of Eastern Anatolia for centuries. This document, which contains important clues about the eastern defense of the Ottoman Empire, once again reveals the decisive role of Erzurum on the stage of history. - ERZURUM