Harput Research Paper

Most of the inhabitants of Harput migrated to a new city in the valley (today's Elazig) in the second half of the XIXth century; the migration experienced beause of insufficient water supply, and clash between various religious and ethnic communities living together in the old town. The isolated rock, has been a fortified site since the IXth century BC and a castle was built later on. Harput was part of the Byzantine defensive system, but Turkish tribes occupied there after Manzikert battle in 1071. Harput became part of a small emirate ruled by the Cubuko and they were vassals of the Sultanate of Rum. Next the town was occupied by the Artukids, and they were holding Mardin and Diyarbakir. Harput was controlled by a separate branch of
the Artukids. The town flourished during this time and its main monuments were built. Later on, Sultans of Rum annexed in 1234. Anyway, the Mongol invasion lost their power gradually and the town was included in Dulgadir whih is an emirate connected to Maras in 1243.