Evaluation of Içerişehir (Beyşehir) Settlement in Context of Historical Urban Pattern

Abstract

Eşrefoğulları Principality founded 734 years ago in Beyşehir by Eşrefoğlu Seyfettin Süleyman Bey, who is one of the Anatolian Seljuk State’s border princes, ruled for 46 years. Süleyman Bey, the founder of the principality, enabled Beysehir’s development from the date of foundation until his death- 22 year period- and the city was referred to as "Süleymans’s city”. Beyşehir, located on one of the trade routes that cross Anatolia in the north-south direction and connects it with other production centers during the Seljuk period, completed the spatial development in the İçerişehir region under the leadership of Eşrefoğulları Principality. In the study, the urban pattern of İçerişehir was handled in the context of spatial objects forming the Anatolian city pattern. It was determined that İçerişehir included features of Seljuk city in terms of socio-cultural and economic characteristics and with castles, complexes (mosque, bedesten, tomb, bath and mosque). Also it has been revealed that Eşrefoğlu social complexes (külliye), constituting the spine and focus point of the historical city, points to the civilization and cultural level of the Eşrefoğulları Principality.