Known for its rich history, Çeşme has been a strategic and cultural hub for centuries. It was an important port city during ancient times, with roots going back to the Ionians, Greeks, and Romans. One of its most prominent landmarks is the historic Çeşme Castle, built by the Ottomans in the 16th century to defend against attacks from the Venetians. The castle now houses a museum showcasing local history and artefacts from the famous Battle of Çeşme (1770), a major naval battle during the Russo-Turkish War.
Çeşme also has remnants of ancient civilizations, with Greek and Roman architectural influences throughout the town. It was historically a gateway between Europe and Asia, thriving with trade and cultural exchanges.
Quick links:
A Brief Chronological History of Çeşme
Ancient Çeşme
The archeological site at Bağlararası discovered in 2001, marks the oldest known settlement of Çeşme, and confirms the town as one of the most important harbours of Anatolia throughout the bronze ages. The enclosed site is at Sk. 1037/1036, 150m southeast of Çeşme Marina.
| c. 6,000 BC | Early bronze age site Çeşme-Bağlararası (Sk. 1037) |
| c. 800BC | Homer was born in Ionia (Chios or Smyrna) |
| 610 BC | Lydian rule |
| 545 BC | Persian rule – Cyrus the Great, destruction of Smyrna |
| c. 700 BC 453 BC 412 BC | Erythrai Ionian city, member of the Pan-Ionian League Erythrai leaves the Delian League Erythrai Revolt from Chios -Peloponnesian War |
| 334 – 301 BC | Ionian independence under Alexander the Great |
| 133 BC | Roman rule – Çeşme named Cyssus |
| 395-1371 | Roman/Greek Byzantine rule |
| 1081-1097 | Admiral Çakabey temporarily captures Izmir, Çeşme & Chios Izmir principality established, then returned to Byzantine |
| 1204-1261 | Greek Byzantine Nicene Empire |
| 1304-1566 | Genoese rule in Chois |
| 1371 | Aydınoğlu Umur Bey recaptures Chios, Çeşme & Izmir |
see also
- Details of the archaeological site at Çeşme-Bağlararası
- Homer & Ionia
- Details of the archaeological site at Erythrai
Ottoman Çeşme
Çeşme was a key harbour both in the rise and decline of the Ottoman Empire from the early exploits of Admiral Çakabey in the C11th through to the destruction of the Ottoman fleet by the Russians at the Battle of Chesme.
| 1371 | Aydınoğlu Umur Bey recaptures Chios, Çeşme & Izmir |
| 1472 & 1501 | Çeşme attacked by Ven |
| 1508 | Sultan Beyazit II (1447-1512, Sultan from 1481) Construction of Çeşme Castle |
| 1528 | Süleyman the Magnificent (1494-1566, Sultan from 1520) Construction of Çeşme Caravanserai |
| 1566 | Grand Admiral Piyale Pasha (1515-1578) Chios capture ends Genoese presence in the Aegean |
| 5–7 July 1770 | Grand Admiral Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Pasha (1713-1790) Battle of Chesme |
| 1780 | İlyaszade fountain (Sk. 2032) earliest existing fountain |
| Mar-Apr 1822 | Greek rebellion in Chios & Ottoman reprisal |
| 1832 | Ayios Haralambos Church (Ataturk Blvd.) |
| 1835 | Osman Ağa Mosque (Sk. 1015) |
| 1842 | Hacı Mehmet Ağa Mosque (Sk. 1013) |
see also
- Çeşme Castle Museum
- The Battle of Chesme
- Fountains of Çeşme
- Ayios Haralambos Church
Turkish Republic Çeşme
During the Greco-Turkish War, it was among the final towns liberated, with the last Greek troops evacuating to Chios on 16th September 1922.
| 1912 | Balkan Wars Turkish refugees settle in Çiftlikköy |
| 30 May 1913 | Treaty of London cedes Chios to newly independent Greece |
| 1919-1922 15 May 1919 13-22 Sept 1922 16 Sept 1922 | Greco-Turkish War / Turkish War of Independence Greece captures Çeşme & Alacati The Great Fahrettin Altay liberates Çeşme |
| 23 July 1923 | Treaty of Lausanne, Greece/Turkey population exchange |
| 1923-1938 30 June 1926 1-8 July 1926 Nov 1937 | First president Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938) Atatürk, İ. İnönü & F. Altay dinner at Rasim Palace, Ilica, Çeşme Atatürk stays one week in Ilica, Çeşme Atatürk second visit to Çeşme on the yacht Lilias |
| 1938-1950 | Second president Mustafa İsmet İnönü (1884-1973) born Smyrna |
| 23 July 1949 | Karaburun–Chios earthquake |
| 2010 | Çeşme Marina opened |