TNT History Archives: Genoese Fortress in Trabzon Claimed by Ottoman Pasha's Heirs

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 16 November 2018)


At least they haven't turned into a Starbucks (yet).

In Trabzon, the descendants of Üçüncüzade Ömer Paşa have
filed a suit in court so that they can be declared to be his
heirs and have the deed for the nearly 1,300 dönüm (about
350 acres) of land upon which the Güzelhisar Fortress, built
in the Genoese period of the 13th century, sits turned over to
their association.

Güngör Üçüncüoğlu, founding president of the Üçüncüoğlu
Assistance and Solidarity Association,  claims that a suit
in 1938 resulted in the deed for the Güzelhisar Fortress
being recorded as belonging to the Üçüncüoğulları family.
He declared that "we have filed a suit regarding our being
the rightful heirs and to have the land recorded in our name.
We will win the suit!"



Dreams of a sultanate from Konya to Sivas to Trabzon.

The Güzelhisar Fortress sits on a site overlooking the port
of Trabzon and the descendants of Üçüncüzade Ömer Paşa,
who was originally from nearby Gümüşhane and served as
Trabzon governor from 1737 to 1745 during the Ottoman
period, claim that the 1,300-dönüm site belonged to the
Paşa.  Since the fortress is situated at a strategic military
location, though, the Turkish Army rented the land from
the Üçüncüoğlu family but took it over entirely during the
military coup of 1960.

Güngör Üçüncüoğlu asserted that if they win the suit
any income they make from the land will be given to
worthy students for scholarships (!).  He also claimed
that a fountain in Trabzon's İskender neighborhood, a
fortress in Torul district of Gümüşhane province, the
Elegü Fortress in Görele district of Giresun province,
the Üçüncüoğlu Bridge in Sivas and a mosque in Konya
belong to his family. 

GÜZELHİSAR CASTLE

An important place in the history of Trabzon in the 13th century 

during the Genoese period is a castle built at a point dominating

 the port. Sources include Leonkastron or Leo Castro. The surviving

 parts are in the north-south direction. The walls and the spaces 

inside the tunnel can be seen. In the 1740s, a palace was built by 

the Orion Pasha. However, no remains of this palace remain today.

 The stone walls of the fortress reflect the 14th century fortress 

architecture. The lower parts of the fortress are defined as before 

1316 and the upper parts as after 1349. Today, the castle, which is

 the property of the military, is used as a social facility.

1898 sketch of Trabzon's ancient fortifications.
Güzelhisar Fortress is probably number 21,
at upper right.