Tilhalit, also spelled Tell Khalid (Latin: Trialeth) and officially recognized as Asmacık, is a neighbourhood in the municipality and district of Oğuzeli, Gaziantep Province, Turkey.[1] Its population is 195 (2022).[2] It was a fortress during the 12th century, contested at times by the Crusaders, Zengids and Ayyubids.

Tilhalit
Asmacık
Tilhalit is located in Turkey
Tilhalit
Tilhalit
Location in Turkey
Coordinates: 36°45′43″N 37°37′46″E / 36.76194°N 37.62944°E / 36.76194; 37.62944
CountryTurkey
ProvinceGaziantep
DistrictOğuzeli
Population
 (2022)
195
Time zoneUTC+3 (TRT)

The village is inhabited by Abdals of the Kurular tribe.[3]

History edit

On 29 November 1114, an earthquake devastated Tell Khalid, along with numerous other places across the region of Aleppo.[4] It was also damaged in the 1138 Aleppo earthquake.[5] In the autumn or winter of 1150, it was captured by the Zengid ruler Nur ad-Din from the County of Edessa, a Crusader state, which was entirely conquered by the Zengids and other Muslim powers by July 1151.[6] On 17 May 1183, Saladin, a former emir of Nur ad-Din, turned Ayyubid sultan, captured Tell Bashir as part of his general movement to capture Aleppo, which he besieged four days later, from the Zengids.[7] Saladin's brother, Buri, had already been besieging Tell Khalid, but its town and fortress surrendered without fighting upon Saladin's arrival there.[7] It was thereafter bestowed to Badr ad-Din Dildirim al-Yaruqi, the Turkmen lord of nearby Tell Bashir and ally of Saladin.[7] He continued to hold Tell Bashir well after the death of Saladin, and into the 12th century during the latter's son az-Zahir Ghazi's rule over the Emirate of Aleppo, which included Tell Bashir.[8] By 1218, it was firmly in the possession of az-Zahir Ghazi's son and successor, al-Aziz Muhammad.[9] There is scant information about Tell Khalid in the historical record after the Ayyubid era.

References edit

  1. ^ Mahalle, Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Address-based population registration system (ADNKS) results dated 31 December 2022, Favorite Reports" (XLS). TÜİK. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  3. ^ Peter Alfred, Andrews; Benninghaus, Rüdiger, eds. (1989). Ethnic Groups in the Republic of Turkey. p. 231.
  4. ^ Ambraseys 2004, p. 741.
  5. ^ Ambraseys 2004, p. 744.
  6. ^ Setton 1969, p. 517.
  7. ^ a b c Lyons 1982, p. 195.
  8. ^ Humphreys 1977, p. 82.
  9. ^ Khoury 1996, p. 56.

Bibliography edit