Bursa is in the south of the Marmara region and in the north-west side of Uludag Mountain. It was the capital city of the ancient Bitinia. Bursa was founded by the king of Bitinia Prusias II.in the 2^nd century (BC) and named as Prusa. The king of Bitinia Nikomede Philapator left Bursa and its surrounding to Romans in 74 (BC) before his death. Since, the Roman Empire divided into two, this region was taken by Byzantine Empire. Bursa had developed in the age of Justinianus in the 6^th century (AD). In Roman times Cekirge Thermal Springs were very famous. Bursa and its surrounding began to be dominated by the Byzantine Empire from 1113, from the 14^th century the city was attacked by the Ottomans continuously. Osman Bey besieged Bursa after just after he captured Iznik. The siege took eight years and the city no longer could defend and after the death of Osman, Orhan Gazi captured the city. Ottomans transferred Bursa in to the capital city of their state. The city had been developed very fast. Bursa had been revived and renovated many time by Sultans came after Orhan Bey. The city became more beautiful with the monumental architecture. After the Battle of Ankara that was fought in 1402 Bursa was captured by Timur and ruled by him for a short time. After Timur had returned to Mongolia, the Ottomans took the city again. Green Mosque and Green Tomb, are the most beautiful monuments erected in time of Celebi Mehmed. Sultan Murad II had built a mosque and gave his own name, also he built a medrese (Moslem University), imarethane (hospice). When Sultan Bayazid II ascended, his brother Cem Sultan lived in the city for 18 days and printed coins in his name to protest his brother’s accession. The corpse of Cem Sultan was brought to Bursa from Europe to be buried into his tomb in Muradiye. After the conquest of Istanbul, Bursa and its surroundings was administrated by the Anatolia Beylerbeyligi (Governor of Anatolia). Bursa was attacked and intended to be captured in the World War I, in 9^th July, 1920 but, it was recaptured in 12^th September,1922 by the Turkish Army.

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