The timeline of Anatolian history covers events from the establishment of the Hittite Empire in 1600 BCE through the conquests of Alexander the Great, the Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods, and the Republic of Turkey in the 20th and 21st centuries, including events in Anatolia as well as developments elsewhere in the states and empires that governed the region.
17th century BCE Year Date Event 1600 BCE Hittite Empire established in the region of Anatolia with capital in Hattusa near present-day Boğazkale, Turkey.
14th century BCE Year Date Event 1346 BCE Hittite empire reaches its height under the rule of Šuppiluliuma I.
13th century BCE Year Date Event 1274 BCE Battle of Kadesh between the Hittite Empire and the New Kingdom of Egypt.
12th century BCE Year Date Event 1178 BCE Collapse of the Hittite Empire, splinters into several independent Syro-Hittite states.
5th century BCE Year Date Event 499–493 BCE Ionian Revolt, military rebellion by the Greek regions of Anatolia against Persian Empire rule. Revolt is crushed.
4th century BCE Year Date Event 334 BC Alexander III of Macedon crosses the Hellespont into Asia, making his landing in present-day Turkey. 334 BC May Alexander III of Macedon defeats the armies of the Achaemenid Empire in the Battle of the Granicus river (modern-day Biga Çayı). 333 BC 5 November Alexander III of Macedon defeats the armies of the Achaemenid Empire in the Battle of Issus. 323 BC 10/11 June Alexander III dies in Babylon, triggering a division of his empire including present-day Turkey, among his generals in a treaty known as the Partition of Triparadisus.
2nd century BCE Year Date Event 133 BC The Roman invasion of Anatolia begins with the annexation of Attalid Pergamon by the Roman Republic. The entire region is later brought under Roman rule. For the next few centuries, under Roman rule, the region becomes prosperous, roads and infrastructure are built and improved and coastal communities flourish.
4th century Year Date Event 324 The Roman emperor Constantine I chooses Byzantium (later known as Constantinople and currently Istanbul) to be the new capital of the Roman Empire, renaming it New Rome. 324 Constantine I becomes the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. 36015 February The Hagia Sophia Church is first consecrated by the Arian Bishop Eudoxius of Antioch.
5th century Year Date Event 476 The region becomes part of the Byzantine Empire with the collapse of the Roman Empire.
7th century Year Date Event 674–678 First Arab Siege of Constantinople by the Umayyad Caliphate, ends with Byzantine victory.
8th century Year Date Event 717–718 Second Arab Siege of Constantinople by the Umayyad Caliphate, ends with Byzantine victory.
9th century Year Date Event 863 Beginning of the Byzantine resurgence with emergence of Macedonian dynasty, most of lost territories are retaken from Arab invasions.
11th century Year Date Event 1071 Alp Arslan of the Great Seljuq Empire defeats Romanos IV Diogenes of the Byzantine Empire at Malazgirt, near Muş, Historical Western Armenia (today called Eastern Anatolia) 1077 Suleyman I of Rum is appointed as a governor in Seljuq. Then he moved on to Turkey. But he acts independently and founds a state. Capital İznik (Nicea), Bursa Province, Northwest Anatolia. 1081 Tzachas, an independent Turkish sea captain, founds a principality in Smyrna, giving the Seljuks access to Aegean Sea. 1084 Conquest of Antakya (Antioch), South Anatolia. 1086 Süleyman I of Rum tries to add Syria to his realm. But he commits suicide after being defeated by his cousin Tutush I in the Battle of Ain Salm, Syria. 1092 Kılıç Arslan I (1092–1107) 1096 Kılıç Arslan I defeats Walter Sans Avoir and Peter the Hermit of People's Crusade at the battles of Xerigordon and Civetot both in Northwest Anatolia. 1097 Bohemond of Taranto, Godfrey of Bouillon and Adhemar of Le Puy of First Crusade defeat Kılıç Arslan I in the battle of Dorylaeum (near modern Eskişehir, Central Anatolia). The capital İznik is lost to Crusades. A few years later Konya, becomes the new capital. 1100 Danishmend Gazi, an independent bey, defeats Bohemond I of Antioch in the battle of Melitene (Malatya)
12th century Year Date Event 1100s 12th century renaissance in the Byzantine Empire, revival of art, architecture and economic activity. 1101 Kılıç Arslan I defeats Stephen of Blois and Hugh of Vermandois of the second wave of First Crusades at the Battle of Mersivan (near modern Merzifon, Amasya Province, Central Anatolia.) 1107 Kılıç Arslan conquers Musul, Iraq, but is defeated in the battle. 1110 Şahinşah (1107–1116) (also called Melikşah, not to be confused with the sultan of Great Seljuk Empire with the same name) Continuous struggle with the Crusades weakens the state. 1116 Mesut I (1116–1156) During the early years of his reign he has to accept the dominance of Danishmends a rival Turkish state in Anatolia. 1142 Mehmed of Danishmends dies and the Sultanate of Rum becomes the leading power in Anatolia for the second time. 1147 Mesut I defeats Holy Roman Emperor Conrad III of Second Crusade in the Second battle of Dorylaeum (near modern Eskişehir) Mesud I defeats French king Louis VII of Second Crusade at Laodicea (near modern Denizli, West Anatolia). 1156 Kılıç Arslan II (1156–1192) 1176 Kılıç Arslan defeats Manuel I Komnenos of Byzantine Empire in the battle of Myriokephalon (probably near Çivril, Denizli Province, West Anatolia). 1178 Kılıç Arslan II annexes Danishmend realm. (Sivas, and the surrounding territory, Central Anatolia.) 1186 Kılıç Arslan II partitions the country into 11 provinces, each governed by one of his sons 1190 Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa of Third Crusade crosses West Anatolia. While main Turkish army avoids conflict, several irregular troops try to fight, but are repelled. Temporary German occupation of capital Konya. 1190 Frederick Barbarossa of Third Crusade dies near Silifke, Mersin Province in South Anatolia. 1192 Keyhüsrev I (1192–1196) 1194 After the collapse of Great Seljuk Empire, the Sultanate of Rum become the sole surviving branch of Seljuks. 1196 Suleyman II of Rum (1196–1204)
13th century Year Date Event 1202 Süleyman II of Rum annexes Saltukid realm (Erzurum, and the surrounding territory, Eastern Anatolia.) Georgian army defeats Süleyman II at the Battle of Micingerd 1204 Kılıç Arslan III (1204–1205) 1205 Keyhüsrev I (1205–1211) (second time) 1207 Conquest of Antalya, access to Mediterranean Sea 1211 Keykavus I (1211–1220) 1214 Conquest of Sinop, Black Sea coast 1220 Alaaddin Kayqubad I (1220–1237) 1221 Conquest of Alanya, Antalya Province, Mediterranean coast 1223 Construction of an arsenal in Alanya, a sign of Alaaddin Keykubat's interest in maritime trade 1224 Alladdin Keykubat annexes a part of Artuqid realm (Harput and surrounding territory, .)1225 Kayi Obasi (Tribe) 1227 Sudak in Crimea is annexed. This is the most notable overseas campaign of Seljuqs. 1228 Mongol conquests in Iran result in a flux of refugees to Anatolia, one of the refuges is Mevlana Alaaddin Keykubat I annexes Mengucek realm (Erzincan and the surrounding territory), Eastern Anatolia . 1230 Alaaddin Keykubat defeats Celaleddin Harzemşah of Harzemşah Empire in the Battle of Yassıçemen, near Erzincan 1237 Keyhüsrev II (1237–1246) 1238 Sadettin Köpek the vizier of the inexperienced sultan who has executed some members of Seljuk house and becomes the de facto ruler of the sultanate is killed. 1239 Revolt of Baba Ishak. A revolt of Turkmen (Oguz) and Harzem refugees who have recently arrived in Anatolia. The revolt is suppressed. But the sultanate loses power. 1240 Conquest of Diyarbakır in Southeast Anatolia. 1243 Bayju of Mongols defeats Keyhüsrev II in the battle of Kösedağ, Eastern Anatolia. From now on, the sultanate is a vassal of Ilkhanids. 1246 Keykavus II (1246–1262) Governs together with his two brothers. But the real ruler is vizier Pervâne who has married to late sultan's widow Gürcü Hatun. 1256 Mongols defeat Seljuk Turks at the Battle of Sultanhan, Aksaray Province, Central Anatolia. 1258 Mongols partition the country. Double sultanate 1262 Kılıç Arslan IV 1260–1266 1266 Keyhüsrev III 1266–1284 1277 Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey, a semi independent bey, allies himself with the Mameluk sultan Baybars who invades a part of Anatolia. Karamanoğlu Mehmed Bey conquers Konya and enthrones his puppet Jimri. But Ilkhanids intervene and reestablish Keyhüsrev's reign. (During his short stay in Konya Mehmed Bey declares Turkish as the official language in his realm). 1284 Mesut II 1284–1297 1289 Seljuk-Ilkhanid coalition defeats the tribes of Germiyanids 1297 Alaaddin Kekubat III 1297–1302 1299 Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire, begin the Ottoman history. (According to Halil İnalcık, expert on Ottoman history, Ottoman Empire was founded in 1302 not 1299.)Foundation of Ottoman State, Halil İnalcık http://www.inalcik.com/images/pdfs/39409006FOUNDATiONOFOTTOMANSTATE.pdf
14th century Year Date Event 1302 Mesut II 1302–1307 (last sultan of Rum) 1371 27 September Battle of Maritsa. Most of Macedonia is conquered. 1389 15 June Battle of Kosovo. Most of Serbia is conquered. 1396 25 September Battle of Nicopolis. Bulgaria is conquered.
15th century Year Date Event 1444 10 November Battle of Varna. Ottoman victory, end of Crusade of Varna. 1453 Mehmed II (the Conqueror) captures Constantinople, Christian emperor Constantine XI dies in the fighting and the Byzantine Empire yields to the Ottoman Empire as Mehmed II. 1460 Mehmed II conquers Morea. 1461 Mehmed II conquers Trabzon thus ends Empire of Trebizond. 1462 Mehmed II begins to build his palace, Topkapi Palace (Topkapı Sarayi). 1463 Bosnia is conquered. 1473 Battle of Otlukbeli; Mehmed II defeats Uzun Hasan of Akkoyunlu Turkmens. 1475 Gedik Ahmet Pasha captures Caffa. Crimea becomes vassal of the Ottoman Empire. 1478 Albania is conquered. 1480 Gedik Ahmet Pasha captures Otranto, the southeast corner of Italy, as a base for further attacks on Italy (only to evacuate after the death of Mehmet II). 1481 3 May Mehmed II dies. Bayezid II ascended to the throne. 1482 Herzegovina is conquered. 1498 Montenegro is conquered.
16th century Year Date Event 1514 Battle of Chaldiran; Selim I defeats Ismail I of Safavid Persia; Kurdistan under control of Ottoman Empire. 1516 Battle of Marj Dabiq; Selim I defeats Al-Ashraf Qansuh al-Ghawri of Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt. Syria and Palestine under Ottoman rule. 1517 Battle of Ridaniya; Selim I defeats Tuman bay II of Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt. Egypt under Ottoman rule; Selim I takes the title caliph. 1519 Algeria is conquered. 1520 The reign of Suleiman the Magnificent (Suleiman I) begins. 1521 Suleiman I captures Belgrade. 1522 Suleiman I captures Rhodes. 1526 Battle of Mohács. Suleiman I defeats Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia 1529 Siege of Vienna. 1533 Iraq under Turkish control. 1538 Sea Battle of Preveza. Turkish navy controls most of Mediterranean Sea. 1550 Sultanate of Women 1551 Libya is conquered. 1541 Suleiman I captures Budapest (known as Buda), which eventually leads to conquest of most of Hungary. 1547 Most of Hungary under Turkish control. Hungary is divided, by agreement between the Ottoman sultan Suleiman I and Ferdinand I of Austria. 1566 The reign of Suleiman the Magnificent (Suleiman I) ends. 1569 The great fire of Istanbul broke out. 1570 Conquest of Cyprus by Piyale Pasha 1571 The Spanish and the Venetians defeat the Turks at the Battle of Lepanto. 1574 Tunisia is conquered. 1578 Tbilisi and most of Georgia conquered. 1590 Treaty of İstanbul between Ottoman Empire and Safavid Persia; Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia as well as west Iran under Ottoman rule.
17th century