Turbessel

Tilbeşar (also Tell Bashir, Turbessel ) is a medieval fortress in southeastern Turkey. Other names are Seraser Hissar, Hissar and Seleser Kızıl Hissar. It is identified with the Aramaic Bishri ( Tiglath- pileser I. ).

Location

Tell Bashir is located south of Gaziantep, on a tributary of the Euphrates. The medieval castle stands on a hill settlement (tell) of 6-hectare (180 x 320 m), which has been inhabited since the Halaf. The lower town has in the south, east and west gates.

Today's ruin played a significant role at the beginning of the Crusades and in the County of Edessa. It is located on the right bank of the Euphrates and is of strategic importance because of its proximity to the ford at Carchemish.

History

At the beginning of winter 1097 Turbessel was conquered by Baldwin of Boulogne, where he at the turn of the offer of the Thoros of Edessa got to adopt him and use as heirs - Armenian Orthodox Christian Thoros Baldwin needed help in the defense of Muslims. Baldwin wanted more than just serve as mercenaries. After Thoros death, to which he was not disinterested and the subsequent establishment of the County of Edessa in 1099 the fortress was an important outpost against the Seljuks.

Baldwin of Bourcq named after Baldwin I, Count of Edessa, he had become in 1100 the King of Jerusalem, and his cousin, Joscelin of Courtenay commander of Turbessel, which underlines the importance of the fortress again.

When the County of Edessa to the Euphrates, and thus also the capital of Edessa, was lost to Zengi in 1144, Count Joscelin II fled to Turbessel, from where he defended the west of the Euphrates lying remains of the county.

In 1149 failed the Second Crusade, Joscelin II was captured by Nur ad -Din, in 1159 where he also died. His wife sold the remains of the county, especially the fortress Turbessel, the Byzantine emperor Manuel I Comnenus, but she lost already in July 1151 after a prolonged siege of Nur ad - Din. The castle was destroyed in 1263 by the Mongols.

History of Research

BB Charles described the settlement mound already in 1905. He identified gates in the east and west, and held him for wall - blocks of black basalt, for a Hittite system. In the east gate of the tomb of Kara Baba was (black father). The first survey found by Hans Henning von der Osten in the twenties instead. 1994-1995 led Christine Kepinski - Lecomte in a survey of the environment. It took place in Castle Hill shards and other materials that reveal a use since the Ubaid and Halaf. Especially pottery of the Middle Bronze Age is well represented.