Konya Marks the 929th Anniversary of Becoming the Seljuk Capital

Konya Metropolitan Municipality organized the Darülmülk Celebrations and Commemoration Program to mark the 929th anniversary of Konya becoming the capital of the Seljuk State of Türkiye.

Speaking at the ceremony held in the courtyard of Alaaddin Mosque, where the Seljuk sultans are buried, Konya Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Ahmet Murat Koru described Konya as the heart of a civilization that has united its past and present, wisdom and knowledge, scholarship and art, and the traditions of statecraft with spiritual values.

Koru said the municipality has always approached its service to the city with a strong sense of responsibility.

He emphasized that while revitalizing Konya’s historic center, the municipality has restored the city’s architectural heritage and preserved its centuries-old identity for future generations. “Our duty is to safeguard the legacy of Sultan Alaaddin, Kılıç Arslan, Mevlana, and the many distinguished statesmen and spiritual figures who shaped these lands, and to pass this heritage on to our children in an even stronger way,” he said.

Koru also conveyed the greetings of Konya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay, who was recently elected President of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), and congratulated him on his achievement.

Konya Governor İbrahim Akın began his speech by saying that telling the story of Konya means going beyond the boundaries of time.

Referring to the city’s long history, Akın said the remarkable journey that began at Çatalhöyük, where humanity transitioned to settled life, agriculture, and organized society, evolved centuries later into a well-established state tradition. “Konya, which became the capital of the Seljuk State in 1097, served for more than two centuries as a center of science, art, architecture, trade, and governance,” he said.

Akın added that the Seljuk double-headed eagle, the state’s noble symbol, continues to represent the spirit and ideals of Konya.

Following the speeches, the Konya Metropolitan Municipality Turkish Sufi Music Ensemble performed the traditional Nevbe Ceremony. The program concluded with a theatrical performance.