Yeni-Kale

Yeni-Kale
Yenikale
Crimea
Yeni-Kale's tower
Yeni-Kale
Coordinates	45°20′57″N36°36′17″E
Site information
Open to the public	yes
Condition	ruins
Site history
Built	1706(1706)
Built by	Goloppo
Materials	Stone

Yeni-Kale(Ukrainian:Єні-Кале;Russian:Еникале;Turkish:Yenikale;Crimean Tatar:Yeñi Qale,also spelled asYenikaleandEni-KaleandYeni-KalehorYéni-Kaleb) is afortresson the shore ofKerch Straitin the city ofKerch.

History

In the ancient period in this area was the ancient Greek town ofMyrmekionand many ancient remains have been found.

Yeni-Kale was built byOttoman Turksin 1699–1706 on theKerch peninsulathat belonged to theCrimean Khanate.The nameYenikalemeansNew CastleinTurkish(yeni- new,kale- castle). The fortress was built under the guidance ofGoloppo,who was anItalianconvert toIslam.SeveralFrenchengineers also took part in the construction.

Yeni-Kale was armed with powerfulcannonsand took an important strategical place on the coast ofKerch Strait.The fortress occupied area of 25,000 m²and had two powder-magazines, arsenal, water reservoir, living houses,bath-houseandmosque.About 800 Turkish and 300Crimean Tatarsoldiers were garrisoned in Yeni-Kale. The weak spot of the fortress was a lack ofdrinking waterin the area, so an underground water-pipe was made to bring water from a source located several kilometres away from the fortress. Yeni-Kale also served as a residence of thepasha.

Duringthe Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774the Russian Army invadedCrimeain the summer of 1771. Though reinforcements from theOttoman Empirehad arrived beforehand, the Turks decided to abandon Yeni-Kale. Russian units under command of generalNikolay Borzoventered the fortress on 21 June 1771.Abaza Muhammad Pasha who was a commandant of Yeni-Kale fled toSinopand thesultansentenced him to death for the number of military failures.

After theTreaty of Küçük Kaynarcain 1774,Kerchand the fortress of Yeni-Kale were ceded to Russia. The fortress became a part of the Kerch-Yenikale city municipality of theTaurida Governorate.

In the 19th century the fortress was used by Russians as amilitary hospital.Since the 1880s Yeni-Kale was completely deserted.

Today ruins of Yeni-Kale are often visited by tourists. The neighboring district ofKerchalso is named Yeni-Kale.

Gallery

• 
  Yenikale fortress inKerch.Crimea,Ukraine
• 
  Southern gate of Yeni-Kale
• 
  Yeni-Kale's northern wall
• 
  Yeni-Kale, coast side
• 
  Turkish fortress
• 
  Eastern Gate

External links

• Yenikale Fortress, Castles in Ukraine