
Merv: Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2015
As an
initiative launched by TURKSOY the
"Cultural Capital of the Turkic World”
further contributes to the liveliness of culture and art in cities of
the Turkic World.
Upon
decision of the Permanent Council of
Ministers of Culture of Turkic Speaking Countries which came together at its 32nd
term meeting held on November 21st, 2014 in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, the city
of Merv was declared as the Cultural
Capital of the Turkic World 2015.
The
proposal to declare this city located on the historical Silk Road as Cultural
Capital of the Turkic World 2015 was put forward by the president of the Republic of Turkmenistan Gurbangulı
Berdimuhamedov at the 5th Summit of the Turkic Council held in
Bodrum in 2014. Thus, upon unanimous decision of 14 Ministers of Culture, the city of Merv was declared as the Cultural Capital of the
Turkic World 2015.
This beautiful city of
Turkmenistan located on the historical Silk Road once used to be the capital of the Great Seljuk
Empire. At the same time, it is an oasis in the Kara-Kum desert.
The city of Merv which was founded by the mythical Khan
Afrasiyab according to the legend was conquered by the ruler of the early
Seljuk Empire, Chaghri Beg in 1307. During this period, the city center was
shifted towards the West so that it developed around Sultan-Kala. This is also where the
Sultan Senjer Shrine dating back to the 11th century is located.
This shrine along with the tomb of Yusuf Hamdani, as well as the mausoleums of
Shehriyar-Erk, Ibn Zayd and Muhammed also featuring various archeologic relics
are all located in Merv.[5]
In 1221, this place was plundered by Mongolians ruled by
Chinghis Khan who killed almost all the people living there. Before 1221, Merv
was the most important city for Imam Ali Rıza also known as the Shah of
Khorasan.
In 1380, Merv was plundered again by Timur’s army
comprised of Mongolians and Turkmen people. In 1505, the city was then
conquered by Uzbeks before being taken over by Persians five years later. The
Persians took over the city until 1524 and later again from1601 to 1747. The
declaration of Merv as Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2015 is meant to
revive the Golden Age of this historical city of the Turkic World.
In the
speech he delivered following the declaration of
Merv as Cultural Capital, the Minister of Culture of Turkmenistan said: "We, the Turkmen people, will be proud to bear
this prestigious title. We are already excited about events and activities
which we will be hosting in Merv throughout 2015. We look forward to welcoming
you and all kindred peoples of the Turkic World in Turkmenistan.”
Throughout this year, the city of Merv will be hosting concerts, cinema events, painters’ and photographers’ gatherings as well as academic meetings gathering artists and scholars of the Turkic World.
2500 Years of History
The city of Merv located on the
historical Silk Road used to be the home of Achaemenids, Seleucids, Sassanids,
Muslim Arabs, Samanens and finally Turks throughout 2500 years.
The City of Seljuk Princes
When Sultan Mohammad Alparslan
ascended the throne in 1063, Merv where Princes were appointed as ruler of
Khorasan. Merv experienced its golden age as the Capital of the empire during the reign of Sultan Sanjar. In this
period, Merv became an important city of science, culture and arts of the
region with numerous madrasahs and libraries.
From Safavids to Russians
In 1510, Shah Ismail defeated the
Uzbek Sheban Khan and the city was then ruled by the Safavids. In the 18th
century, Shah Murad, the Emir of Bukhara destroyed the Murgab Bend and exiled
people; after that the city completely lost its vitality. During the occupation
of Turkmenistan, Merv was besieged by the Russians in 1884.
Home of the ‘Alp Erens’
Merv is also an important place in
terms of the history of Islam and Sufism. According to some sources, Bureyde
el-Eslemi and Hakem el-Gifari, the Sahabas who introduced Islam to the Turks,
were buried in Merv. Besides, Khoja Ahmed Yasawi who contributed much to the
Islamization of Anatolia with the development of Turkic culture on its
territory, and Yusuf Hemedani, the spiritual leader of Bahaddin Naqshband who
later founded the Naqshbandi Order are also buried in this city.