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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Hereke Kalesi |
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Type:
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Fortification |
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Plan Type:
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Year of Costruction:
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13th c. |
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Phase:
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Middle |
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Investigation Method:
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Altitude:
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13 |
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Region:
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Marmara |
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Province:
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Kocaeli |
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District:
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Hereke |
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Village:
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Antique Name:
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Kharaks |
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| It lies on a hill which has an altitude of 30 m overlooking the sea approximately 100 m far from the sea shore at the center of the Hereke District in Kocaeli. It was first seen and referred by the traveler Sadeddin, and then C. Foss investigated the fortress during his survey in the region. Although it was badly dilapidated, C. Foss described its general outline [Foss 1996a:59-61, pl. VII]. It has a square plan with a wall dimensions of 150 x 80 m, fortified by round and square shaped bastions on the seaside. There are remains of an inner citadel with a trapezoid plan to the north of the fortress. The construction phase of the castle of Charax is clearly mentioned in the Latin chronicles [Villehardouin 1938-39:460-481]. The Byzantine sources mentions how the castle was captured by the Emperor Vatatzes in 1241[Akropolites 1903:59]. The inelaborate masonry indicates that the castle was built with a hasty work using whatever material were at hand. Although Foss claims that the fortress was built by the Latins after 1207, he didn't rule out the possibility that it may have been built during the reign of the Palaeologian Dynasty, or even early Ottoman Period. According to C. Giros, the walls of Hereke were built during the Latin Empire Period [Giros 2003:61]. The fortress is just south of Sümerbank Housing Project on the Cumhuriyet Avenue in Haci Akif Quarter [TAYEx 21.08.2008]. |
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| Destruction: Some parts of the fortress were demolished during road construction. The gates of the building projects around were made by demolishing its walls. There is modern housing on the skirts of the hill where it is situated at and on the inside [TAYEx 21.08.2008]. |
