Adapazari
Adapazari is a city in the Ilayet of Bithynia, within the Ottoman Empire, on the Sakarya River about 25 miles east of Nicomedia and about 75 miles east of Constantinople. Near the head of the delta plain of the river, there is a small lake and some swampy land near the town. Adapazari has brisk winters and warm summers. The average rainfall varies between 26 and 32 inches per year.
Dating from 378 BC, the original Persian city quickly adopted Greek culture. Seleucid authority gave way to Nicomedia, which became a part of Pontus in 91 BC. Thereafter, it remained a part of Byzantium until its transfer into Ottoman hands. It is located on the old trade route between the Bosporus Straits and the Levant, which also served as a military road. Under Ottoman rule, Adapazari has flourished as a regional center of commerce and agriculture, benefiting from its advantageous position, which allows for the transport of goods to the larger markets of Nicomedia and Constantinople. While the marshlands to the south can be treacherous during heavy rains, much of the surrounding land is fertile, producing wheat, barley and an abundance of fruits, including grapes, figs and mulberries. The town is well known for its silk production, owing to the cultivation of mulberry trees for sericulture, which feeds a network of weavers and dyers who supply silk fabrics to markets as far away as the imperial capital.
The Town
This is composed of winding streets lined with wooden houses, some with elaborately carved facades, their eaves extending over the narrow lanes. While many of the buildings reflect Ottoman architectural influences, remnants of older Greek and Byzantine structures remain, particularly in the form of old stone foundations and cisterns. The town's central mosque, built in the early 16th century, is modest in size but richly decorated with Iznik tiles and calligraphic inscriptions, a testament to the growing prosperity of the town. Several smaller mesjids (prayer halls) and dervish lodges serve the local population, many of whom follow the teachings of the Halveti and Mevlevi Sufi orders.
Commerce is conducted in the town's bustling bazaar, which occupies a series of covered streets near the main caravanserai. Merchants sell grain, spices, textiles and crafted goods, while traders from the countryside arrive with livestock, dairy products and timber from the nearby forests. The blacksmiths, tanners and potters of Adapazari are well regarded, producing tools, leather goods and earthenware for both local use and export. Additionally, the town's strategic location along a military route ensures a steady demand for horses, arms and supplies, with Ottoman officials frequently requisitioning goods for campaigns in Anatolia and beyond.
The population of Adapazari — 10,498 — is diverse, comprising Turks, Greeks, Armenians and Jews, each maintaining their own places of worship and community institutions. Greek Orthodox churches, though modest in scale compared to those of Nicomedia, serve the Christian minority, while the Jewish community maintains a small synagogue and is engaged in trade and finance. Relations between the various groups are generally peaceful, though periodic disputes over trade, taxation or religious matters sometimes require the intervention of the town's qadi, or judge.
Environs
The Sakarya River, though not navigable for large vessels, plays an important role in the transport of goods, with small boats ferrying produce and supplies downriver. The marshlands at the river's mouth, though a source of mosquitoes and occasional illness in the summer months, provide rich fishing grounds. Local fishermen catch eels and carp, which are commonly sold in the market alongside dried and salted fish from the Black Sea.
A number of khans (roadside inns) and hamams (public baths) serve the needs of travelers, merchants and local townsfolk alike. The hammams, built in the classic Ottoman style with domed ceilings and marble interiors, provide a place for socialisation and relaxation. The local governor's residence, a stone-built konak with high walls and an inner courtyard, overlooks the town, and his authority is reinforced by a small garrison of Janissaries stationed nearby.
Beyond the town, dense forests of oak, chestnut and pine extend into the hills, providing timber and fuel. These woods also harbor brigands and outlaws, making travel along the less-patrolled roads hazardous, especially for lone travelers or unarmed merchants. To combat this threat, local authorities occasionally dispatch patrols, though the problem remains persistent, particularly in times of political unrest.
