Karpe

Karpe
Kerpe, Kocaeli

Karpe (ancient Kalpe/Κάλπη, medieval Carpi/Κάρπη, modern Kerpe) was an important town with a natural harbor on the Black Sea coast of Bithynia, now in the district of Kandıra in Kocaeli. It was an important port on the Black Sea trade routes. The ruins of a Byzantine castle can be found on the jagged rocks of a sharp cliff on the northern shore of Kerpe’s harbor.

Kalpe is described by Xenophon as a port located halfway between Byzantium and Heraclea. The nearby Kalpes River (Turkish Sarısu Dere) is also noted by several ancient authors. It was an emporion in Late Antiquity and was later known for its good port in Portulan charts. Karpe is also mentioned by the Russian traveler Ignatius of Smolensk in the 14th century. It plays a key role in the account of Ruy González de Clavijo, who sought shelter at Carpi after nearly being shipwrecked on his way to the court of Timur in 1404. He also mentions the Genoese using the harbor of Karpe. As the Genoese began to dominate the Black Sea trade following a treaty with the Byzantines in 1261, it is possible that the Genoese temporarily occupied the nearby Kefken Island and used the harbor of Karpe.

Natural Harbor of Kerpe Bay

From Ignatius of Smolensk

Opposite the city of Amastris we began the fast for St. Peter's Day. On Tuesday we passed Pontic Heraclea, but on Wednesday a contrary wind arose and we returned to Pontic Heraclea where we remained for nine days. The Church of St. Theodore Tyro is there. His tomb is inside [the church], since this is the place of his martyrdom. We left there for Constantinople in caiques on the Nativity of St. John the Baptist on Friday morning we passed the city of Diospolis, and on Saturday we lunched at the mouth of the river Sangarius. On Sunday we passed the city of Daphnousias, Karphia, and arrived at the city of Astrabike where the metropolitan stopped to get news of Murad, since Murad had attacked the Serbian Prince Lazar. There was news too: both Murad and Lazar had been killed in the encounter. Fearing a disturbance, since we were in the Turkish state, the metropolitan dismissed the monk Michael; Bishop Michael [dismissed] me, Ignatius; and Sergius Azakov [did the same] with his monk. We left Astrabike [Astravija] on the Sunday before St. Peter's Day; the next morning we left Chile, passed Rheba, and arrived at the mouth [of the Bosporus]. We passed the lighthouse, and with a very good wind, to our unspeakable joy we reached Constantinople.

From Ruy González de Clavijo

In the middle of the night they entered the great sea, and their course was close to the land of Turkey. At the third hour, being under sail with a fair wind, the mast was sprung; and they went on under oars, close in shore, until they had fished the mast. A little after noon, next day, they were off a small castle, on the top of a rock, in the land of Turkey, and almost surrounded by the sea. It is called the castle of Sequello. As it was near the hour of Ave Marias they put into a port, in a small island belonging to the Genoese, called Finogia. The governor of the city of Pera had sent two armed vessels to this sea, to watch for the Venetian ships, which would have to come from the sea of Tana, laden with merchandize; and which would be unsuspicious, as their captains did not know of the war. One of these Genoese vessels was at anchor off this island of Finogia.

On Friday they intended to sail, but the wind was foul, and they had to remain. This island of Finogia is a small island, and uninhabited, and two miles from the coast of Turkey. As this port was not safe, they intended to make for the port of Carpi, about six miles distant, where the other Genoese carrack was waiting for the Venetian ships; but the boatswain said that it was better to remain where they were, than to go to Carpi, so they went a little closer in. In the middle of the night the wind rose, and the sea got up; and the boatswain, thinking they would be safer under the lee of the carrack, got the vessel under weigh, and tried to reach the carrack by means of oars; but they could not, for the wind increased to a gale; so that when they tried to return to the position which they had left, they could not. When they saw that they could neither reach the carrack nor the port, they let go two anchors. The gale still increased, and the anchors came home, so that the galliot was drifted close to the rocks; but it pleased our Lord God that the anchors at length found holding ground, so that the vessel did not touch the rocks; for if she had touched, she would have gone to pieces.