The name "Elbistan" was pronounced similarly in Byzantine and Islamic sources. Elbistan was known as Plasta and Plastentia (Greek: Πλαστεντία) in antiquity. Elbistan was known as Ablasta (Armenian: Աբլաստա) according to Armenian historians in the early 11th century. According to Baldric of Dol the city was known as "Ablistan" till 15th century. Egyptian-Mamluk historian Muhammad ibn Iyas wrote the city's name as "Albistan". Alaüddevle Bozkurt Bey from Dulkadirids used the name "Elbistan" in the official documents. After Dulkadirids were conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, the current name became prevalent. Among the rural people of Elbistan it is pronounced as "Albıstan". Albistan means "the orchard" in Arabic.[6]
History
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The settlement of the Elbistan plain around the town of Elbistan goes back to prehistoric times. In 1947, an important Anatolian hieroglyphic inscription stele was discovered near the village of Karahüyük (Elbistan), which is located 9 km northwest from Elbistan town. This stele is believed to be from the 12th century BC.[7]
In the mid-10th century, modern settlement of the area begins. The town seems to have been settled first by Armenian immigrants.[8] By the end of the 11th century, the town had become the most important one in the Elbistan plain, was fortified against Turkish raiders and was seat of an Armenian bishop.[8] When the army of the First Crusade passed through Anatolia recovering land for the Byzantine Empire in 1097, Peter Aliphas was installed as governor of Plastentia.[9]
In 1277 the Mamluks led by Baybars defeated a Mongol army in the Battle of Elbistan. Thereafter, Elbistan and the region around it became part of the Mamluk northern frontier.[10] In 1337 Zeyneddin Karaca Bey captured the town from the Mamluks and established the Beylik of Dulkadir with the region around Elbistan and Marash as its center.[11] Nevertheless, Dulkadirids continued to pay homage to the Mamluks and fought with the Karamandids to defend Mamluk interests though they sought for more autonomy.[10] The Dulkadirids controlled the region for 178 years until the Ottomans finally conquered it in 1515.[11]
Pınarbaşı Pond in ElbistanCeyhan River.Pınarbaşı park in Elbistan
Elbistan became then known as "vilayet-i Türkmân" in the Ottoman documents.[12]Evliya Çelebi's Seyahatnâme from the 17th century gives information about the region that in the mountains and towns mostly reside Turkmens who originally migrated from Bukhara.[13][14] It seems that some local chiefdoms were given varying degrees of autonomy, notably around the localities of Haticepınar and Kasanlı.
Elbistan has a fairly dry climate with cold winters and hot, dry summers. Elbistan's climate is classified as a dry-summer continental climate (Köppen: Dsa).[21]
It is said that air pollution in Turkey from the nearby coal-fired power stations also affects Elbistan, as well as smoke from landfill.[23] In late 2020 the oldest plant Afşin-Elbistan A, was said by opposition MP Ali Öztunç to be still operating without filters.[24]
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