History

Karabük and its phase are located within the borders of the region called Paflagonia in ancient times. The settlements in this geographically complex region started in the early bronze (tunç) age and by the late bronze age, there was a significant increase in both the density and size of the settlements. It is known from the numerous ancient texts found in the Hittite capital Hattusa that the mountains in this region harbored the quarrelsome Kashka People, who were constant enemies of the Hittite State. For this reason, many höyüks spread over a wide area in the southern Paflagonian region have been identified. All of these settlements are located at strategic points and are very close to natural water resources and fertile soils. Most of the tümülülüs in Paflagonian territory have been excavated as kaçak. Therefore, it is difficult to date the tümülüs, but based on the material recovered from the excavated tümülüs, it can be said that they date back to the Hellenistic and even Roman Period, starting from the earliest Frig’s.

Karabük and its phase came under the sovereignty of the Phrygians, Cimmerians, Lydians and Persians respectively after the destruction of the Hittites in 1200 BC. After the defeat of Pontus King Mithridates Evpator ’ in M.Ö 64, the Paflagonian bölge was taken over by the Romans. During the Roman Period, the ancient cities of Hadrianapolis and Kimistene in Eskipazar Province became important settlement centers. When the Roman Empire was divided into two in 395 A.D., a long Byzantine period began in Karabük and its region. During the Byzantine period, Eskipazar and Safranbolu became active religious settlements in the region as episcopal centers.

After the Battle of Malazgirt in 1071, the Turks began to advance rapidly towards Anatolia. Emir Karatekin, the commander of Süleyman Shah, who founded the Anatolian Seljuk State by capturing Iznik in 1075, conquered Karabüankırı’conquered Karabük and the cities in its vicinity and captured Ovacik, Eskipazar, Eflani and Safranbolu in 1084. After this date, these lands changed hands between Byzantium and the Turks. In 1186, he divided the Anatolian Seljuk State among his 11 sons. From this date onwards

Especially Melik Ruknettin, Süleyman Shah II, Muhittin Mesut and Gıyasettin Keyhusrev expanded the Seljuk borders. In 1196, Ankara Melik Muhiddin Mesut fought with the Byzantines for one and a half years near Kastamonu. He conquered Safranbolu castle after besieging it with catapults for four months. With the capture of Safranbolu castle, the Turks became legally sovereign over the region and changed the name of the castle from "Dadybra" to "Zalifre". The region changed hands frequently between the Seljuks and the Byzantines due to its border, and it was not until 1213 that it fell back into the hands of the Turks.

The region was ruled by the Çobanoğlu Principality, the Umuroğulları Principality, and the Candaroğulları Principality, respectively. From 1326 until 1416, when Safranbolu came under Ottoman rule, it is seen that it changed hands several times between the parties. In 1402, after the Battle of Ankara, Karabük and its area fell into the hands of the Isfendiyaroğulları Principality. At the end of the Fetret Period, it was completely transferred to the Ottoman sovereignty by Mehmet the Great in 1416. Karabük and its phase was definitively taken over by the Ottomans and connected to Bolu sanjak. In 1694, when Bolu Sanjak was abolished, it was turned into a Voivodeship and connected to the newly created Viranşehir Voivodeship with a Hatt-ı Hümayun dated 1694. In 1811, Viranşehir Voivodeship was abolished and it became Viranşehir Sanjak. The administrative center of the sanjak was Safranbolu. Karabük and its region remained connected to Kastamonu for a long time during the years of the National Struggle. The events in Karabük and its phase developed centered on Safranbolu during this period. During the 1st World War, 7 or 8 people from the 42nd Regiment, consisting of all Karabük, Safranbolu, Eflani and Ulus soldiers, were able to return from theakkale front. In the War of Independence, the leather and shoe needs of the Kuvay-i Milliye were met from Safranbolu.

Our province has a rich cultural heritage that can be found in very few places in the world. In addition to 21 archaeological sites, 5 Urban Protected Areas, 4 Natural Protected Areas, 1417 registered works, 693 manuscripts, 1088 printed works, 32 tümülüs, 4 höyük, more than 100 rock tombs, it has thousands of unregistered and uninventoried cultural assets.

While Karabük was a 13-household neighborhood of Öğlebeli köyünüof Safranbolu, with the opening of the Ankara-Zonguldak railway in 1934, it was first seen on the State Railways map as the name of the station. Karabük’üs establishment öyküsü is also simultaneous with the öyküsü of Endüstratification in our Republican history. On April 3, 1937, with the directives of the great leader ATATÜRK’, the foundation of the Iron and Steel factories was laid by the Prime Minister of the time, İsmet İNÖNÜ and from this date, it takes its place in the industrialization process of the country. Karabük became a Municipality in 1939 and a District in 1941. On March 3, 1953, it became a province with the law numbered 6068. Karabük, the city of the Republic, takes its place in the Turkish administrative system as the 78th province on June 6, 1995 with the decree no. 550 in the law hükmünde.