Gülek

Gülek is a town in Mersin Province, Turkey.

Geography

Gülek is situated along a valley on the Toros Mountains at 37°15′N 34°46′E. The main pass of these mountains, which is known as Gülek Pass (ancient Cilician Gates), is just east of the town. The altitude of the town is between 1,050 metres (3,440 ft) and 1,250 metres (4,100 ft). The population of the town is 4078

Administration

Gülek is a part of Tarsus district, itself a part of Mersin province. Gülek was a village in the first half of the 20th century. It became the seat of its township in 1954.

History

Macedonian emperor Alexander the Great (reigned 336–323 BC) crossed Taurus mountains through the Cilician Gates during his campaign against Darius III (reigned 336–330 BC) of the Achaemenid Empire. Gülek citizens believe that the ancient inscriptions in the pass were erected by Alexander. But, actually, these inscriptions were erected much later by the Roman Emperor Caracalla (reigned 211–217) during his campaign against the Parthian Empire. The town (then known as Hins Bwls) was established during the Byzantine era. In 652 Ummayad Arab armies annexed Gülek and surrounding territory. From 861, Gülek fell under many states, including the Byzantine Empire, the Seljuks, Lesser Armenia, and the Oghuz Turks (Ramazanoğlu Turkmens). In 1517, sultan Selim I (reigned 1512–1520) of the Ottoman Empire annexed Gülek. In 1832, Gülek was briefly occupied by the forces of the rebellious Mehmet Ali Pasha of Egypt but was returned to Ottoman control after the convention of Kütahya. After the First World War, French forces tried to occupy Gülek, but after the local militia forces from Gülek ambushed the French forces on 27 May 1920 at the pass of Karboğazı, the French army gave up this project.