Hısnıkeyfâ

Hısnıkeyfâ (Hısn-ı Keyfâ / Hasankeyf) is a historical castle-city located in the el-Cezîre region. It is mentioned among the prominent cities of the region in Islamic period geographical literature.

In Geographical Sources

El-Umerî, in the context of mentioning Fenek Kalesi near Cezîretu İbn Ömer and its ruler Husameddin el-Kürdî el-Beşnevî, writes that the emirs of Hısnu Keyfâ, Cezîre, Botan, Suruç, and Nusaybin declared their allegiance to the regional governor (Cilt 2, s. 64). Ebü’l-Fidâ, on the other hand, defines the el-Cezîre region by dividing it into two, one northern and one southern, and lists Hısnu Keyfâ along with Meyyafarikin among the cities of the region (Cilt 2, s. 65).

Artukid and Ayyubid Period

Hasankeyf was one of the important centers of Artukid and Ayyubid rule. Üsâme b. Münkız, after falling into disagreement with Nûreddîn Mahmûd Zengî, left Dımaşk in 552/1157 and settled with Fahreddîn Karaarslan, the Artukid Emir of Hasankeyf, where he remained until 570/1174 and, making good use of this period, found the opportunity to write some of his works on literature and history (Cilt 1, s. 153). The Ayyubid State, whose foundations were laid by Selâhaddîn-i Eyyûbî, despite losing a significant portion of its territories as a result of political and military crises in the mid-13th century, maintained its rule in Hasankeyf until 866/1462 (Cilt 1, s. 151).