Ahi Evren

Who was Ahi Evren?

Ahi Evren, real name Sheykh Nasreddin Ebul Hakayik, Mahmud Bin Ahmed El-Hoyi, was a Turkish Muslim preacher who came to Trabzon during the Empire of Trebizond and extended Islam in the region. His grave in Boztepe is considered to be sacred and is visited by many people. He was born in Hoy, Iran in December 1169. He grew up in Azerbaijan, moved to Kayseri, Turkey and established the Ahi guild. He was killed by Mongols in Kırşehir on 1 April 1261. The grave in Boztepe might belong to someone else, such as a clan leader or a Greek metropolitan who accepted Islam.

According to Sakir Sevket, in 1863 the Muslim preacher Seyh Haci Hakkı Efendi was inspired to build a place near Ahi Evren's grave. When he died in 1890, he was buried near this place and the government built a tomb and mosque at the site.

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