Simisso, The Genoese Trade Colony (1280-1420)

Amisos/Aminso(s), which had been a frequent destination for ships sailing in the Black Sea since antiquity, maintained its importance for centuries thanks to the trade route that reached the interior of Anatolia, despite its harbor partially protected from the north winds. The Genoese who sailed to the Black Sea in the second half of the 13th century and established many colonies along the coast, established a trading colony on the coast of Aminso, called Simisso where was administered by a consul who directly appointed from Genoa. The population and trade volume of the colony which was built on economic foundations, increased day by day. In 1417-1418, a fire, the date and cause of which is unknown, was the end of Simisso. Hearing the news of the fire, the Ottomans first captured Simisso and in 1419 the Muslim Samsun. In 1420, they had the walls of Simisso destroyed. Although the Genoese made diplomatic attempts to rebuild the Simisso Castle between 1421 and 1425, neither the castle nor the colony could be rebuilt. Despite this, the commercial relations of both Genoese and other Latins with Muslim Samsun continued.

Journal

TARIH INCELEMELERI DERGISI

Year

2021

Volume

36

Issue

2

Pages

527-563

ISSN

0257-4152

DOI

10.18513/egetid.1050201

WoS UID

WOS:000748730500006