The story of Hatay begins with the Paleolitic Age (Early Stone Age). The earliest inhabitants of the region were the Prototigris who later came under the rule of the Akads in the first half of the 3rd millennium B.C. In the 2nd millennium B.C. the Amik Plain was invaded by the Subars, one of a confederation of city-states united by a common language and traditions. Of these, the Yamhat Kingdom, based in Aleppo governed the whole plain.

Towards the end of the 17.th century B.C. the Hittites, as a result of their raids from Anatolia, totally conquered Gaziantep, Aleppo and the Hatay region. Hittite rule in Hatay was brought to an end after 140 years by so called sea-tribes from the west. After the collapse of the Hittite Empire in 1190 B.C., Hittite principalities in the Amik Plain united under the name of Hatina and choose Kanula (present day Catalhoyuk) as their capital. This united principalities continued their independence until 841 B.C.

At this time the Assyrians began their control over the plain. In 538 B.C. the Persians extended their control as far as Issos (present day Yesilyurt - Dörtyol) and brought an end to Assyrian rule and controlled whole Anatolia (Asia Minor). In 333 B.C Alexander the Great brought Persian rule in Hatay to an end by his victory over Darius, the Persian king, at Issos. After Alexander’s death, the conquered lands were divided amongst his generals. One of them, Seleucos, the Satrap of Babylonia, later extended his rule to the whole of the Eastern Mediterranean after defeating Antigonus at Issos in 311 B.C. Seleucos founded the port of Seleucia in the district of present day Samandag. The port grew rapidly and became an important Eastern Mediterranean town and port.

The foundation of ancient Antioch, modern Antakya, was around 300 B.C. Antioch rapidly developed into a major administrative, religious and commercial center. Until the coming of the Romans the city had problems with her neighbors like the Persians, Egyptians and Romans. In 148 B.C. it was almost totally destroyed by an earthquake. The last king of the Seleucid Dynasty, Antiochus XII, ceded his Kingdom to the Pompeian Roman Empire in 64 B.C. and Antioch became a Roman province.

Romans recognized certain rights of Antioch and aided construction in the city; city walls, an acropolis, amphitheater, courthouses, baths and aquaducts were constructed. In 42 B.C. Antioch was one of the largest cities in the world after Rome, Alexandria and Ephesus. It became the center of learning and science, religion and commerce in the Near East.

It was in this period that the custom of laying intricate mosaics on the floors of buildings and greatest craftsmen of the world gathered in Antioch to create their masterpieces. There were two great fires, several earthquakes and some riots with extreme violence that caused the death of the majority of her population. In 71 A.D. a big fire totally destroyed the city library, religious buildings and many houses but Emperor Trajan had the city rebuilt. It was in Trajan’s time that the great Temple of Diana at Daphne was built. After Trajan’s death the construction work was continued by Hadrian.

After the death of Christ, one of his apostles, St. Peter came to Antioch to spread the gospel. He soon gathered many new converts even though he was forced to worship in a secret cave known today as the St. Peter’s Grotto. As the number of new devotees grew the cave was extended and tunnels were carved as a protection from enemy attacks. Today this cave is still an important site of pilgrimage for Christians. Christianity spread rapidly and Antioch became one of the most important centers of the faith. It was also here where the followers of Christ were first called “Christian”.

Upon the division of the Roman Empire in 396 A.D. Antioch was made dependent on Eastern Rome (Byzantium). In 638 it was conquered by Muslim Arabs and later by Turks. In 1097, after a siege of nine months the city fell to the Crusaders. Several times Muslim armies tried unsuccessfully to retake the city until it was recaptured by the Mamelukes. In 1260 it was captured by the Mongols but was regained by the Mamelukes seven years later. In 1560 the city was captured by the Ottoman sultan Yavuz Selim whilst he was on his Egyptian campaign and Antioch was added to the Ottoman Empire.

After the Treaty of Montreux in 1918, administration of Antioch passed to the French. On 5th of July 1938, after years of struggle, the Turkish army entered Hatay. After eleven months, by a referendum and vote of Hatay Assembly, on 23rd of July 1939 it joined the Turkish Republic.

sourforce: AllAboutTurkey