Apalanka (Turkish pronunciation:[paˈɫaŋka]), also known asparkan in Southern Hungary andpalanga,[3][4] was a woodenfortification used by theOttoman Empire extensively in certain regions ofSoutheast Europe, includingHungary, theBalkans and theBlack Sea coast against rival states, especially theArchduchy of Austria and theKingdom of Hungary.[5][6] Such wooden forts could be built and expanded quickly, and usually contained a small garrison. These fortifications varied in size and shape but were primarily constructed ofpalisades. Palankas could be adjacent to atown[7] and later they could be replaced by a more formidable stone fortress as in the case ofUyvar.[8] Palankas could also be built as an extension of the main fortress.[9] Many Ottoman forts were a mixture of palanka type fortifications andstonework.[10] Evliya Çelebi describes the word palanka also as a technique oftimbermasonry.[1][9]
Some palankas developed into larger settlements and wordpalanga has been also used to describerural settlements which originates from palankas inErzincan,Eastern Anatolia.[6]
The word comes from Hungarianpalánkvár, which itself comes fromMiddle Latinpalanca meaninglog, which is derived fromAncient Greekphálanks orphalang (φάλανξ,φαλαγγ) also meaninglog.[11]
Typical palanka had a rectangular plan and its entrance could be guarded by a watchtower calledağaçtan lonca köşkü. Walls of a palanka could be made of a single palisade as well as two rows of stockade, creating a gap in between which is filled with earth which might be acquired from theditch dug around the fortification, calledşarampa, thus creating a protected walkway.[7][1] The inner and outer palisades were held together by transverse beams, whose ends were fixed to the outer walls by wooden pins, to counter the pressure of earth filling.[10] In order to increase resistance against cannon fire, wooden walls could be strengthened by applyingmortar in a technique calledhorasani palanka.[2] After that, military buildings such asbastions whichcannons are placed,towers,barracks and civilian buildings such asinns,marketplaces,mosques,cisterns could be added. Lastly, a stockade could be constructed around the palanka as a secondary fortification.[5][1]
Palankas were the basis of Ottoman frontier defence system in Europe[5] and their purpose was to protect military and riverine routes, which had strategic value, and travellers, who were passing through these routes, againstplunderers. These routes connected palankas, thus leading to creation of a defense network.[1] They also allowed effective communication between strategic areas.[12] When Ottoman reached the limit of their conquests in Europe, they used these structures to stabilize the frontier.[4]
Although palankas were not indestructible on their own, they were interconnected structures, and if anarmy too strong to resist attacked, the forces of the other palankas would come to their aid.[5] Woodenwalls of palankas were difficult to ignite since they were filled with earth; and stakes used to build them were damp.[7] Most of the troops in palankas wereazaps[13] and a palanka functioning in the frontier could have a higher ratio of cavalry troops compared to a fortress defended by cannons.[14]
Palankas showed similarities to Romanlimes system. In the pre-Ottoman period, there used to be fortifications, where palankas were constructed, and after the conquests these fortifications were rebuilt with remarkable Ottoman characteristics. Due to their makeshift aspect few palankas survive today but researches show that this kind of structures were used between 14th and late 19th century.[12]
Havale, which is the fortification that palanka was inspired by, acted as a base for troops andartillery duringsieges of the early Ottoman era. 15th century Ottoman historianAşıkpaşazade mentions that this kind of fortresses were built during theSiege of Bursa (1326). Havale type forts were also built during the Siege of Sivrihisar in Karaman, and inGiurgiu during the campaign to Hungary (1435–36) byMurad II.[1]
