Cave city and nature .
On the north side from the top of the steep rocky four depart Cape , the so-called fingers Mangup .Western Cape - Chamny -breaker ( Pine Point ) , next to him - Cape Chufut Cheargan -breaker (Cape Challenge Jews) , the third cape - Elli -breaker ( Windy Point ) , East - Teshkli -breaker ( Leaky Cape) . In the end the latter is viewed through hole , formed by the destruction of the walls of cave structures.
For each of these beams can be rise to the top of the plateau, in the city .Therefore, on the north side to protect the city on the edge of the plateau was built a long defensive wall with strong towers, which blocks access to the city.
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History.
The fortress Mangup.
Mangup was well fortified fortress.What mention travelers who visited the Crimea . Among researchers there is no consensus about the time of this city. Some believe that the city and its fortifications appeared in V-VI centuries . Others believe that the city was founded in the X-XI centuries .
Archaeological research has shown that in the first century AD on the plateau near Cape Mangup Chufut Cheargan -breaker there was a settlement . In VI-II century. there was not much of a fortress on the promontory Teshkli -breaker . In IX-X centuries. the construction of a large city. In the XI-XIII centuries . of Mangup no mention .
The Principality of Theodoro.
The time of the principality is not precisely determined , but it certainly existed before the Tatar invasion, was one of the largest in south-western Crimea. Its borders in the north- east of the river reach Cachi in the west - to the Chersonese and to the south for some time belonged to the principality of the whole coast from Alushta to Balaklava.
During the Tatar invasion Mangupsky Principality has managed to maintain their independence , it has survived , however, losing some territory in which the Tatars settled . And the Genoese in the XV century. captured some coastal possessions , including the area from the current strength of Balaklava Cembalo .
From the beginning of the XV century. until the time of death ( in 1475) Is the time of his Duchy of greatest political and economic recovery. This period was highlighted by some written sources. It is believed that the first rulers were descended from noble Theodoro natives of Trebizond , who belonged to the Armenian race velmozhnomu Gavras , which appear in the Crimea in XII century.As the Byzantine governors.
In the early XV century. Principality of Theodoro rules and intelligent energetic Prince Alexei. He stood at the head of the principality until 1434 , probably before his death. When it was carried out intensive serfdom , palace and church building , growing foreign trade .For this he had to fight for access to the sea , it was necessary to revive the existing still in the early medieval period the fortress Kalamita .
After the death of Chersonese Calamita became the main commercial harbor south- western Crimea . Possession of it brought the benefits of Theodoret and led to an even more bitter struggle with the Genoese .Alex managed to take away from the Genoese fortress Cembalo , which passed into the possession Mangupsky principality.
The actions have caused a stir by Alexei in Genoa.To restore its prestige and regain the strength , the Italians have equipped a squadron of 20 galleys, with six thousand naval and land troops under the command of the famous Genoese commander Carlo Lomellino and went to the shores of Taurica . The Genoese broke into the Cembalo , captured and burned Kalamita . Taken prisoner 's son Prince Alexei.After that, the Genoese were moved along the coast to the east , plundering villages , destroying fortresses of local feudal lords and leading to obedience of those who tried to resist.
It fails over to the lords of Theodoro struggle for Cembalo fortress . Calamita yet again been returned and restored the principality .Soon after these events, Alex died, and his sons ruled the principality of Alexei II (1434-1456 gg.) , Which returned the Genoese freedom Olubi (1456-1471 gg. ), Isaac (1471-1475 gg.) . In 1471 , Prince Isaac visited Cafu and concluded with the Genoese alliance . Principality of Theodoro in this period had important political connections in the northern Black Sea coast .Grand Prince of Moscow Ivan III was going to intermarry with Mangup princes - to marry his son to the daughter of Prince Mangupsky Isaac. Previously this was negotiating the Russian ambassador NV Baklimishev in 1474 Marriage prevent the invasion of the Turks in the Crimea in 1475
The Turkish part of the story Mangup .
In the summer of 1475Ottomans landed their troops on the Crimean coast. They seized Cafu and a number of fortresses along the coast. Tatars sided with the Turks. Mangupsky principality remained one face of a formidable and powerful enemy.
In July, numerous Turkish army approached the capital of the principality of Theodoro .The attackers were armed with advanced for that time firearms, including guns removed from ships . Theodoret , deprived of all these advantages could only count on an impregnable fortress but to his own courage .
Six months were Turks in an impregnable fortress , five times they went on the attack.It was only after the city ran out of food supplies , disease broke out , the defenders were forced to Theodoro surrender the city. The Turks , taking Mangup, he was subjected to looting. Surviving inhabitants, including the prince's family, taken away into slavery.
But after this defeat at Mangup life went on.The Turks turned the city into their citadel . Mangup was declared the property of the Sultan. The names of Mangup Turks have added the word feces , which means fortress . Here to the XVIII century . was a Turkish garrison . After the annexation of Crimea to Russia Mangup left the last of its inhabitants . Once out of the new public road , he kept almost nobody visited.So ceased to exist a great medieval city.
Architecture .
donjon , or main tower , which served as housing or feudal chief of the fortress, had three floors. Middle and upper , obviously, is housing, and the lowest layer , which was a basement room , first served, probably arsenal.But during the Turkish rule there was a prison , where he was kept of the most important and noble captives.
On the exterior facade of the tower had no windows. There emerged a narrow loopholes . From inside the fortress palace was building character.This confirms the wide ornate entrance, large windows framed by intricate carved architraves. Probably , this was the main residence of the rulers of Theodoro.
Across the eastern edge of the cliff promontory stretching numerous cave structures, which are clearly visible from the old wheel road leading to the main gate of the city.Several of these structures is on the western cliff of the cape. Cave served as the casemates and arranged on the cliff, the better to strike the enemy from above. Closer to the tip of the cape was a cave church , called the garrison . The approaches to the plateau controlled watch tower , beneath it was an underground prison , arranged in a cave.There is stairs . In a large cave in the middle of the bottom is four-sided pillar that supports the arch. The blow to her heard sound like a drum battle , hence the name of the cave - Drum- Koba. Here, individual cells were located , the room for the guards , the place of interrogation and torture .In doorways visible traces of grooves for the wooden door boxes, and the outside of the visible grooves for bolts .
In addition to cave structures throughout the Cape Teshkli -breaker were above-ground structures . They guessed at the ground and humps protruding from the clutches of the earth . In the north- western edge of the promontory , near the walls of the citadel , there is a deep well that supplied the citadel with water.It is a vertical shaft depth of 24 m , pierced to the source of the water out of the cave under the cliffs of the cape. As well you can go down the wooden stairs .
At the foot of the citadel are the ruins of the main gate of the fortress. Through the gate on the road from the ravine Kapu Dere could climb into the city. In the XVI century .the main gates were fully intact . This is evidenced by Martin Bronevsky visited while here . He saw some kind of inscription under them , carved on a stone slab . According to him , the gates were decorated with marble.Go to the gate on the west side bordered on the defensive wall , built of large , well -fitting to each other and well hewn rectangular sides. Apparently, it was built in the early Middle Ages . Masonry of small stones , the superstructure - the later period .Near the gate are the remains of a small octagonal church with apse , built around VIII century. Perhaps it was a princely chapel .
During excavations in 1912 on a plateau Mangup found the remains of the palace last lords of Theodoro. It was a great edifice of rectangular , almost square , measuring 40x35 m. Judging found during the excavation of architectural details and pottery , the palace was built in the XIV century. But at the end of the XIV century.or at the beginning of the XV century. was destroyed by fire , traces of which were found during excavations. In 1425 , Prince Alexei restored and updated the palace , adding new buildings and re- erected tower.In one of the walls of this tower was walled plate with the inscription, was built this tower along with the palace in the fortress of the blessed , which is visible now in the days of Alexis, Bishop of Pomerania and Theodoro ....
It is believed that the palace was a two-story . This confirms the thickness of the walls , plenty of towers in the middle of the spacious hall .The upper floor was a living , its walls covered with plaster fresco painting , and the openings of doors and windows were decorated with marble architraves. Entrance was probably in the north wall . Here, inside the tower, were traces of a spiral staircase.On the south side of the palace, between the two side rooms, there was an entrance through an elegant arcade in the spacious hall, which was separated from the main room with two pass-through gallery hollow chambers. One of the chambers was obviously a storeroom. The main room of the palace - main hall - was divided into three parts by two graceful arcades on the twenty-four pillars.
The excavations yielded a rich and varied material , among which the roof tiles of large size , all sorts of dishes, both locally produced and imported. All these findings suggest the richness of the princely house and the extensive trade relations with the Principality of Theodoro distant overseas countries . This is evidenced by the appearance of the palace.At first , when the principality of Theodoro was still weak , it quite suited the rulers of the citadel. However, during the heyday of political and economic stronghold ceased to satisfy owners Mangup . So was built the palace , which became the residence of the prince. Here, presumably were receiving guests and ambassadors of foreign countries.The State emphasizes the importance of this building inscription on a stone slab with the emblem of the Prince Mangupsky ( double-headed eagle, Byzantine ).
north-west of the palace are the remains of the basilica - a Christian church built in honor of Saints Constantine and Helen. As shown by archaeological sites, the Basilica rebuilt in the XIV - early XV century.on the other site , which was built earlier.
Links .
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