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Cilician Castle.jpg
Korikos Castle, built in the 11th-12th centuries, by the Rubenian dynasty of Cilician Armenia.
(Western Armenia, currently Turkish Republic)
Two Armenian inscriptions that were discovered at the castles of Korykos were credit to its construction to Levon I and then to Hetum I, who were Kings of Cilician Armenia, attested by Langlois, op. cit {supra, note 21), pg 48.
The Armenians held it until the end of the 14th century, as the last stronghold of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, apart from the mountains of Cilicia which still had remote sovereign principalities. The city was then handed over to the Lusignans of Cyprus. It was taken by the Mamelukes, and again by Peter I of Cyprus. In the late 14th century it fell again to the Turks. From 1448 or 1454 it belonged alternately to the Karamanlis, the Egyptians, the Karamanlis a second time, and finally to the Osmanlis.
The ruins of the city are extensive. Among them are a triumphal arch, a necropolis with a beautiful Christian tomb, sarcophagi, etc. The two medieval castles, one on the shore, the other in an islet, connected by a ruined pier, are partially preserved; the former was reputed impregnable. The walls of the castle on the mainland contain many pieces of columns; and a mole of great unhewn rocks projects from one angle of the fortress about a hundred yards across the bay. Three churches are also found, one decorated with frescoes. The walls of the ancient city may still be traced, and there appear to be sufficient remains to invite a careful examination of the spot.
Turkish guides, and "historians" will be reluctant to inform you of Korikos' Armenian history, and conception due to the hostile relations of both nations. They will often refer to it as Roman, or just simply as christian without mentioning the fact that it was built, and occupied by Armenian Kingdoms for hundreds of years. This goes for many Ancient Armenian sites in "eastern turkey" Western Armenia today, which are misrepresented.
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