History of Afyon

Afyon’s history dates back to 4000 B.C and the history is eventful and illustrious, to say the least.

Afyon was initially known as Acroenus till Byzantine Emperor Leo III renamed it Nicopolis (Greek for “victory city”) after his win over the Arabs in 740. In the 13th century, the city was taken over by the Seljuk Turks who renamed it Kara Hissar, meaning “the black castle” after the ebony-black colored ancient fortress that stands atop a rocky mound in the centre of the city.

Afyon’s tumultuous history continued with the Ottoman invasion and occupation in 1392 by Sultan Beyazid I, but was soon lost to Timur Lenk in 1402. It again became a part of the Ottoman Empire in 1428.

Afyon was battered and almost ruined during the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1922) in the early 1920s whence it was twice occupied by the Greeks. It served as the military headquarters to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who ultimately led the Turkish forces to victory. Afyon thus became a part of the Republic of Turkey after 1923.