Belek Ghazi

Belek Ghazi (Nuruddevle Belek or Balak) was a Turkish bey in the early 12th century.

Early life

His father was Behram and his grand father was Artuk, an important figure of the Seljuk Empire in the 11th century. He was a short-term governor of Suruç (now a district center in Şanlıurfa Province of Turkey). During the First Crusade, the crusaders captured the city in 1098. He took part in the Seljuk expedition to Antakya which was recently lost to Crusaders. But the campaign ended in failure.

Beylik in Harput

In 1112 Belek captured Harput (an ancient city near to present day Elâzığ in Turkey) from Mengüceks. He founded a beylik. This beylik is now known as the Harput branch of the Artukids (the other two being the Hasankeyf branch of Sökmen and Mardin branch of Ilghazi). Next year he married to Ayşe Hatun, widow of the late Anatolian Seljuk sultan Kılıç Arslan I . By this prestigious marriage, he formed family ties with the Seljuk family.

In 1120, Belek together with Danishmends defeated a coalition of Mengüceks and Constantine Gabras of the Byzantine Empire. Two years later, after the death of Ilghazi, Belek became the leader of the Artukids. In 1122 he defeated the forces of Countship of Edessa and took Joscelin I as captive. Next year Baldwin II of Jerusalem too was enslaved by Belek. These two victories gained Belek fame both in Muslim countries and in Europe.

Belek

Belek is a township with own municipality in Serik district in Turkey's Antalya Province. The local population varies between 750 and 10,000 in low and high season, respectively.

Belek is one of the centers of Turkey's tourism industry and is as such home to more than thirty four-star and five-star hotels and many other accommodation, services and entertainment facilities.

The town and the surrounding area are famous for their spas and mineral waters received from seven springs.

Belek is a developing golf center. In 2012 it hosted the Turkish Airlines World Golf Final and in 2013 it hosted the Turkish Airlines Open.

The Kurşunlu Waterfall is a place in Belek. There are over 100 bird species living by this natural wonder. The hidden cave at the back of the waterfall is a popular place for visiting. Near Belek there is the Hellenistic city of Perge, which is rated second after Ephesus and the great amphitheater of Aspendos that still today can hold over 15.000 spectators.

The ancient Aspendos amphitheatre holds 20,000 people, is over 2000 years old and still hosts open- air classical, ballet and opera festivals today. The Roman ruins at Perge are some of the best preserved archaeological sites in Turkey. Side is one of the best known classical sites in Turkey.

Belek (disambiguation)

Belek may refer to