BITLIS

Bitlis: translation

(Bidlis)

Bitlis was a prominent Kurdishemirateduring the 16th and 17th centuries in what is now southeasternTurkey. It is the name of the province and its chief city. Although a scenic city long admired by visitors, it has very hot summers and rigorous winters. An ancient legend claims that the city was originally established by one of Alexander the Great's generals as an impregnable citadel.

One of itsmirs,Sharaf Khan Bitlisi, was the author of the famous Kurdish history, theSharafnama. This history contains a great deal of data on the emirate's history.Evliya Chelebi, the famous Turkish traveler and author of theSeyahatname, also spent much time here in 1655. Many of the emirate's inhabitants wereArmenians, and the city played an important part in Armenian history. Until the problems at the end of the 19th century, the Armenians lived in relative harmony with the neighboring Kurds, Turks, and Jacobites (Christians).