Armenian Population in Malatia in the 16th Century According To Cadastral Registers

Abstract | Full Text

Malatia had a strategic position for the Turkish armies raiding Anatolia. The city has a position that can control eastern trade routes. In addition, it is an important city of Byzantium’s defence line from east to south. After the Battle of Manzikert, Armenians started to settle in Malatia under the command of Phileratos. But they could never become a sovereign state in this region. Malatia and its surrounding areas fully joined Ottoman State during the reign of Sultan Selim the Stern. The city was organized as a district under the Ottoman State. Cadastral records indicate that there were Armenians in the region both in the city centre and in the villages. Upon studying archive records, it was determined that Armenians lived in the villages of the sub-districts of Malatia in widespread rural areas. It was found that Armenians were living in four quarters of the city as minority compared to Muslim population