Nakoleia (Greek:Νακώλεια[1] and Νακόλεια[2]) also known asNakolaion (Νακώλαιον),[1]Latinized asNacolia orNacolea, was an ancient and medieval city inPhrygia. It corresponds to present-daySeyitgazi,Eskişehir Province in theCentral Anatolia region ofTurkey.
It was a town ofPhrygia Salutaris, taking its name in legend from thenymph Nacole (Νακώλη[1] and Νακόλη[2]), and had no history in antiquity.[3]
The area was known for its fertility in late Roman times, thanks to the river Parthenios (Seyit Su), and was wooded in the late 4th century (it is now deforested).[4] It was there thatValens defeated the usurperProcopius in 366 AD (seeBattle of Thyatira); underArcadius it was occupied by a garrison ofGoths underTribigild who revolted against the emperor in 399 AD.[4] As many towns in the region, the town venerated especially thearchangelMichael and at least one church is attested to him in the town.[5]
During theByzantine-Arab wars in the 8th century, the town became a frequent target for Arab raids and was besieged several times. In 782, the town wastemporarily captured by theAbbasid Caliphate in 782.[3][4] Pantoleon the Deacon relates a story in theMiracula S. Michaelis in which attacking Arabs are forced to abandon their siege of the town by the intervention of the archangel after offending him by shooting with a catapult at his church.[6]
The armies of theFirst Crusade most likely passed by this town in 1097.[7] The town was permanently conquered by theSeljuk Turks in the late 12th century who called itKala'-i-Mashihya, the Christian Castle.[8]
At first asuffragan ofSynnada, the see of Nakoleia became important in the early 8th century, when its bishop Constantine became one of the leading proponents ofByzantine Iconoclasm underLeo III the Isaurian (ruled 717–741) and was later condemned as anheresiarch at theSecond Council of Nicaea (787).[3][4] Nakoleia was elevated to the rank of anarchbishopric between 787 and 862, and eventually to ametropolitan see between 1035 and 1066, when its incumbent appears in the last place among the metropolitans attending a council.[3][4] The see continued in existence as a metropolis, without suffragans, until the 14th century.[4] Nakoleia is included, with archiepiscopal rank, in theCatholic Church's list oftitular sees[9] and has been left withouttitular bishops since 1973.[10]
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39°26′44″N30°41′38″E / 39.44556°N 30.69389°E /39.44556; 30.69389
