Yeni-Kale ( uk, Єні-Кале; russian: Еникале; tr, Yenikale; crh, Yeñi Qale, also spelled as ''Yenikale'' and ''Eni-Kale'' and ''Yeni-Kaleh'' or ''Yéni-Kaleb'') is a
fortress
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
on the shore of
Kerch Strait in the city of
Kerch.
History
Yeni-Kale was built by
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks ( tr, Osmanlı Türkleri), were the Turkic founding and sociopolitically the most dominant ethnic group of the Ottoman Empire ( 1299/1302–1922).
Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks remains scarce, ...
in 1699–1706 on the
Kerch peninsula that belonged to the
Crimean Khanate. The name ''Yenikale'' means ''New Castle'' in
Turkish
Turkish may refer to:
*a Turkic language spoken by the Turks
* of or about Turkey
** Turkish language
*** Turkish alphabet
** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation
*** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey
*** Turkish communities and mi ...
(''yeni'' - new, ''kale'' - castle). The fortress was built under the guidance of
Goloppo, who was an
Italian convert to
Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
. Several
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
engineers also took part in the construction.
Yeni-Kale was armed with powerful
cannons and took an important strategical place on the coast of
Kerch Strait. The fortress occupied area of 25,000 m² and had two powder-magazines, arsenal, water reservoir, living houses,
bath-house
Public baths originated when most people in population centers did not have access to private bathing facilities. Though termed "public", they have often been restricted according to gender, religious affiliation, personal membership, and other cr ...
and
mosque. About 800 Turkish and 300
Crimean Tatar soldiers were garrisoned in Yeni-Kale. The weak spot of the fortress was a lack of
drinking water in the area, so an underground water-pipe was made to bring water from a source located several kilometres away from the fortress. Yeni-Kale also served as a residence of the
pasha.
During
the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774 the Russian Army invaded
Crimea in the summer of 1771. Though reinforcements from the
Ottoman Empire had arrived beforehand, the Turks decided to abandon Yeni-Kale. Russian units under command of general
Nikolay Borzov entered the fortress on 21 June 1771.
"Крепость Ени-Кале", www.kerch.com.ua
/ref> Abaza Muhammad Pasha who was a commandant of Yeni-Kale fled to Sinop and the sultan
Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
sentenced him to death for the number of military failures.
After the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca in 1774, Kerch and the fortress of Yeni-Kale were ceded to Russia. The fortress became a part of the Kerch-Yenikale city municipality of the Taurida Governorate.
In the 19th century the fortress was used by Russians as a military hospital. Since the 1880s Yeni-Kale was completely deserted.
Today ruins of Yeni-Kale are often visited by tourists. The neighboring district of Kerch also is named Yeni-Kale.
Gallery
File: Yenikale fortress in Kerch.jpg, Yenikale fortress in Kerch. Crimea, Ukraine
Image:Eni Kale.jpg, Southern gate of Yeni-Kale
Image:Kerch Enikale Upper.sea.jpg, Yeni-Kale's northern wall
Image:Kerch Enikale Sea.sea.jpg, Yeni-Kale, coast side
Image:Крепость Ени Кале в Керчи.jpg, Turkish fortress
File:Yenikale Eastern Gate.jpg, Eastern Gate
References
External links
Yenikale Fortress, Castles in Ukraine
{{Use dmy dates, date=March 2017
Buildings and structures in Kerch
Ottoman fortifications
Crimean Khanate
Castles in Ukraine
Government buildings completed in 1706
Infrastructure completed in 1706
Tourist attractions in Crimea
Forts in Ukraine
1706 establishments in the Ottoman Empire
1706 establishments in Ukraine
Cultural heritage monuments of federal significance in Crimea