Symposium Topics

Following the Battle of Manzikert (1071), large groups of Turks migrated to Anatolia and gradually adopted it as their homeland. After maintaining a semi-nomadic lifestyle for a certain period, the Turks who settled in Anatolia eventually transitioned to a fully sedentary way of life. During this process, the Turkmen sustained themselves through various economic activities such as agriculture, animal husbandry, craftsmanship, and trade. At the same time, they produced a considerable number of scholars and religious figures from among their ranks.

Individuals associated with Sufism—referred to as baba, dede, ata, sheikh, and dervish—played significant roles in regulating the relationship between the state and society in Anatolia. Particularly from the 13th century onwards, the lodges (tekke) and convents (zaviye) established across Anatolia not only contributed to the spiritual cultivation (âbâd) of the regions in which they were founded, but also played a crucial role in the establishment of new villages and towns, as well as in the development of existing settlements.

These groups, embodying the typology of the “Gazi Dervish,” contributed both to the conquest of Anatolia and to the stabilization and securitization of the regions they inhabited by enlivening (şenlendirmek) their surroundings. Rooted in the intellectual and spiritual traditions of Turkestan and Khorasan, these groups consolidated this heritage in Anatolia and later facilitated its transmission to the Balkans. From the 13th century onwards, they significantly shaped the social and cultural life of Anatolia.

In order to understand the profound social transformations that took place in Anatolia from the medieval period onwards and to reconstruct the history of settlement in the region, it is essential to closely examine the activities and influence of Sufis affiliated with the Yesevi tradition. In this context, Hüseyin Gazi stands out as one of the most prominent figures. Featured in numerous manuscripts and hagiographical narratives, Hüseyin Gazi is associated with tombs and pilgrimage sites located throughout Anatolia.

Among these, the Hüseyin Gazi Complex, located near the district of Alaca in Çorum and dated to the early 13th century, occupies a primary position. Consisting of a tomb, soup kitchen (imaret), guesthouse, fountain, and pool, this complex represents one of the earliest surviving examples of Turkish-Islamic architecture in the region. The fact that Alaca was known as Hüseyinâbâd during the Ottoman period clearly demonstrates the profound impact of Hüseyin Gazi and his complex on the historical and cultural fabric of the region.

Within the scope of the “IIIrd International Symposium on the Tradition of Wisdom from Turkestan to Anatolia: Hüseyin Gazi,” to be held on 17–18 April 2026 and hosted by Hitit University, a wide range of topics will be comprehensively addressed. These include, foremost, the historical and legendary personality of Hüseyin Gazi, his contributions to the settlement of the region, and the religious, social, and cultural history of Çorum and its surroundings, as well as the history and architecture of the Hüseyin Gazi Complex.

Bringing together scholars from various disciplines both from Türkiye and abroad, this symposium aims to provide a comprehensive and multidimensional examination of Çorum and its environs—particularly within the context of the Hüseyin Gazi Complex—in terms of religious, administrative, social, economic, demographic, cultural, and architectural perspectives.

The main topics to be discussed at the symposium are listed below.

A. The History of Hüseyinabad, Alaca, and Çorum

1. The Historical Development of Alaca

2. The Social and Demographic Structure of Alaca during the Ottoman Period

3. Topics Concerning the Religious, Social, and Cultural History of Çorum and Its Surrounding Region

4. The Place and Significance of the Trade Route, Caravanserais, Zaviyes, and the Settlements of Hüseyinabad, Alaca, and Çorum

B. The Historical Personality of Hüseyin Gazi, Marifet, Zaviye, Tekke, His Successors, and Their Influences

1. The Hüseyin Gazi Settlement in Alaca in the Context of Folk Beliefs

2. Marifet Communities Settled around Hüseyin Gazi and the Alaca Hüseyin Gazi Shrine from the Perspective of Alevi Communities

3. The Socio-Economic Structure of the Hüseyin Gazi Complex (Its Waqfs)

4. The Historical Process Experienced by the Complex during the Republican Period

5. The Historical Development of the Hüseyin Gazi Complex

6. The Relations of the Hüseyin Gazi Complex with the Political and Social Environment

7. Hüseyin Gazi and His Influence on the Turkish-Muslim Society in Anatolia

8. The Influence of Hüseyin Gazi and Battal Gazi in the Region (Çorum and Alaca)

9. Historical Figures Associated with the Hüseyin Gazi Complex

10. The Hüseyin Gazi Complex from the Perspective of Art History

11. The Hüseyin Gazi Complex from the Perspective of Social Anthropology

12. The Architectural Fabric of the Hüseyin Gazi Settlement

13. The Historical and Legendary Identity of Hüseyin Gazi

14. The Historical and Legendary Identity of Battal Gazi

15. Hüseyin Gazi and the Hüseyin Gazis

16. The Descendants of Hüseyin Gazi by Lineage and Spiritual Succession, and the Breadth of His Sphere of Influence