Qaramanlı

The Qaramanlı (also spelled Karamanlı) were a Turkish-speaking Orthodox Christian people who primarily inhabited the Karaman region of Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). They are distinct due to their use of the Turkish language written in the Greek alphabet, a practice known as Karamanlidika.

History and Culture:

The origins of the Qaramanlı are debated, with theories ranging from Turkified Orthodox Christians to descendants of Turkic groups who converted to Christianity prior to the Seljuk conquest. Regardless of their specific origins, they maintained a distinct identity within the Ottoman Empire.

Their primary language was Turkish, and while they identified as Orthodox Christians and were under the jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople, they lacked fluency in Greek. Consequently, religious texts, literature, and administrative documents were often produced in Turkish using the Greek alphabet. This created a unique cultural expression.

Religion and Identity:

Religion played a central role in Qaramanlı identity. Their adherence to Orthodox Christianity set them apart from the predominantly Muslim Turkish population of Anatolia. However, their reliance on Turkish as their primary language and their cultural assimilation into the Turkish-speaking environment distinguished them from the Greek Orthodox population, who largely spoke Greek.

Decline and Population Exchange:

Following the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922) and the Treaty of Lausanne (1923), the Qaramanlı were subject to the population exchange between Greece and Turkey. As Orthodox Christians, they were forcibly relocated to Greece, regardless of their inability to speak Greek and their strong Turkish cultural ties. This effectively ended the presence of the Qaramanlı community in Anatolia and led to their assimilation into Greek society, though memories of their unique cultural heritage persist within their descendants.

Legacy:

The Qaramanlı left behind a significant literary legacy in the form of Karamanlidika texts. These texts provide valuable insights into the language, culture, and religious beliefs of this unique community. The study of Karamanlidika is an important field within Turkish and Greek studies, shedding light on a lesser-known aspect of Anatolian history and the complex interactions between language, religion, and identity in the Ottoman Empire.