Yeni-Kale
Yeni-Kale | |
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Yenikale | |
Crimea | |
![]() Yeni-Kale's tower | |
Coordinates | 45°20′57″N36°36′17″E/ 45.34917°N 36.60472°E |
Site information | |
Open to the public | yes |
Condition | ruins |
Site history | |
Built | 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
[edit]In the ancient period in this area was the ancient Greek town ofMyrmekionand many ancient remains have been found.[1][2]
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.[3]
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.[4]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
[edit]-
Southern gate of Yeni-Kale
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Yeni-Kale's northern wall
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Yeni-Kale, coast side
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Turkish fortress
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Eastern Gate
References
[edit]External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Buildings and structures in Kerch
- Ottoman fortifications
- Crimean Khanate
- Castles in Ukraine
- Government buildings completed in 1706
- Military installations established in the 1700s
- Tourist attractions in Crimea
- Forts in Ukraine
- 1706 establishments in the Ottoman Empire
- 1706 establishments in Ukraine
- Cultural heritage monuments of federal significance in Crimea