Atlılar (formerly ''Sadiye'') is a neighbourhood in the municipality and district of
Toroslar
Toroslar is a municipality and district of Mersin Province, Turkey. Its area is 1,075 km2, and its population is 319,711 (2022). It covers the northern part of the city of Mersin and the adjacent countryside.
Geography
The district of Akd ...
,
Mersin Province
Mersin Province (), formerly İçel Province (), is a Provinces of Turkey, province and Metropolitan municipalities in Turkey, metropolitan municipality in southern Turkey, on the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean coast between Antalya Province, A ...
,
Turkey
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
. Its population is 155 (2022). It is a high-altitude village in the
Taurus Mountains
The Taurus Mountains (Turkish language, Turkish: ''Toros Dağları'' or ''Toroslar,'' Greek language, Greek'':'' Ταύρος) are a mountain range, mountain complex in southern Turkey, separating the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean coastal reg ...
. Distance to Mersin is .
The village inhabitants are mostly of
Circassian (Adyghe) origin. Following
Russian–Circassian War
The Russo-Circassian War, also known as the Russian invasion of Circassia, was the 101-year-long invasion of Circassia by the Russian Empire. The conflict started in 1763 ( O.S.) with Russia assuming authority in Circassia, followed by Circa ...
in 1864, Adyghe people were expelled from
Caucasus
The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region spanning Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is situated between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, comprising parts of Southern Russia, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The Caucasus Mountains, i ...
, their homeland, to the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...
where they were settled in various regions in the Ottoman Empire. The earlier settlement of Circassians in Mersin was
Mezitli
Mezitli is a municipality and district of Mersin Province, Turkey. Its area is 371 km2, and its population is 225,824 (2024). It covers the westernmost part of the city of Mersin and the adjacent countryside. The Mayor of Mezitli is Ahmet Ser ...
at the
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern Eur ...
side. But they asked for cooler and high-altitude places and finally they were settled in this village. They named the village after Sadiye, a Circassian born female member of the Ottoman palace who helped them to find their new home.
Circassian page
In the earlier years of Turkish Republic the village was specialized in horse breeding and accordingly it was renamed ''Atlılar'' ("Horsemen"). Presently Atlılar economy depends on cherry farming and cattle breeding.
References
External links
Video show by Murat Han
Images by Kansav Şahin
{{DEFAULTSORT:Atlilar, Mersin
Neighbourhoods in Toroslar District