General Information About Uşak

It is understood that Uşak and its surroundings have been inhabited since 4000 BC, with settlements becoming more widespread during the Bronze Age. In 2000 BC, during the Hittite period, Uşak and its surroundings came under Hittite rule, as they established the first political unity in Anatolia. By 1000 BC, Uşak formed the western boundary of the Phrygians but was more influenced by Ionian culture than by the Hittites or Phrygians.

In the 7th century BC, King Gyges incorporated much of Uşak's territory into the Lydian Kingdom. By 620 BC, Uşak was fully under Lydian control. Lydia, renowned as the wealthiest kingdom of its era and the first to mint and use coins, ruled Uşak until 546 BC. During this period, the Royal Road was built, beginning in Ephesus and passing through the borders of Uşak Province, including Güre village and the cities of Uşak-Keromon-Agora, following the Gediz (Hermos) River.

In 546 BC, after the war between the last Lydian King Croesus and Persian King Cyrus the Great, Lydia was destroyed, and the region came under Persian control. Persian rule lasted until 334 BC, when Alexander the Great's Anatolian campaign brought the region, like all of Anatolia, under Macedonian rule. After Alexander's death, the region was assigned to his general Antigonus. Later, Uşak became part of the Pergamon Kingdom and, in 189 BC, came under Roman rule under the protection of Consul Montius. After the Migration Period and the division of the Roman Empire, Uşak remained under Byzantine control until the 12th century AD.

Following the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, Uşak frequently changed hands between the Seljuks and Byzantines. In 1176, after the Battle of Myriokephalon (Kumdanlı) between Seljuk Sultan Kilij Arslan II and Byzantine Emperor Manuel Komnenos, the region permanently came under Seljuk control.

Sultan Kilij Arslan II expanded Seljuk territory to Denizli by 1182, incorporating Uşak during his campaigns. However, a power struggle among his 11 sons in 1185 allowed the Byzantines to retake the Kütahya-Uşak region. Byzantine rule lasted until 1233, after which the area permanently came under Turkish control.

During the 13th century, Uşak fell under the rule of the Germiyanid Beylik. The Germiyanid tribe, originally based near Malatya and serving the Anatolian Seljuks, was likely settled in the Kütahya-Uşak region after the suppression of the Baba Ishak Rebellion in 1241. Their active role in the Cimri (Alaaddin Siyavuş) incident of 1277 suggests that the tribe had already settled in this area by then. During this event, the Germiyanids were under the command of the Sahip Ata sons. Subsequently, the Germiyanids became the most powerful beylik in Western Anatolia.

As a result of the efforts of the secret society, a unit detached from the Salihli Front, reinforced by troops from Eşme, entered Uşak on July 17, 1919, and gained control of the city. Subsequently, Kuva-yi Milliye (National Forces) organizations were established in Gediz and Simav. The National Forces' takeover in Uşak was misreported to Istanbul and the occupying forces as "attacks on the Christian population by the National Forces." The enemy forces pressured the Istanbul Government to restore order in Uşak. The government planned to send the 23rd Division, consisting of 1,500 soldiers stationed in Afyon, to Uşak. However, General Milne refused, fearing that the division might join the National Forces.

İbrahim Tahlakılıç (Dalkılıç), a former member of the Committee of Union and Progress, did not join the secret society Müdafaa-i Hukuk Heyeti Milliyesi (National Committee for the Defense of Rights). Concerned that the society might cause harm, he established the Redd-i İlhak (Rejection of Annexation) society on July 30, 1919. This society, under İbrahim Bey’s leadership, not only prevented the National Forces from harming the public but also helped expand the National Forces' movement in Uşak.

During these developments in Uşak following the occupation of İzmir, the Alaşehir Congress, aimed at uniting Western Anatolia, convened on August 15–16. Representatives from Balıkesir, Manisa-Alaşehir, Sındırgı, Buldan, Gördes, Uşak, Ödemiş, Bozdağ, İnegöl, Denizli-Nazilli, Akhisar, and Ayvalık attended the congress. Hacım Muhittin Çarıklı was elected as chairman, while İbrahim Bey, representing Uşak, was chosen as vice-chairman.

Although there is limited information about a congress held in Uşak in October following the second and third Balıkesir Congresses, it is known that the Alaşehir Central Committee, established at the Alaşehir Congress, held its first meeting on September 14, 1919. Later, following the provision in its by-laws allowing it to relocate its headquarters, the committee moved to Uşak. Its first meeting in Uşak was chaired by İbrahim Bey.

Despite the decision at the Sivas Congress to unite all committees under the Anatolia and Rumelia Defense of Rights Association, the Uşak committee retained the name Hareket-i Milliye Redd-i İlhak Cemiyeti Heyeti-i Merkeziyesi (Central Committee of the National Movement for Rejection of Annexation). This name suggests that the Redd-i İlhak Society previously established in Uşak merged with the Central Committee.

The Uşak Central Committee's role extended beyond recruiting soldiers for the front. It also worked diligently to meet the logistical needs behind the front lines.

Following the Sivas Congress, Greek forces began moving, making the İzmit, Eskişehir, and Konya regions the most critical areas. The Istanbul Government sought to prevent the establishment of National Forces organizations in these areas, while the Representative Committee aimed to strengthen its influence by forcing the Istanbul Government to resign.

In this context, Ali Fuat (Cebesoy) Pasha was appointed as the commander of the Western Anatolian National Forces, Atıf Bey as the commander of the Eskişehir region, and Ömer Lütfi Bey as the commander of the 23rd Division. War Minister Mersinli Cemal Pasha reorganized the Western Front and attached the 23rd Division to the 12th Corps in Konya. However, the Representative Committee managed to bring the 23rd Division under its own control.

The 68th Regiment of the 23rd Division, minus one battalion, was stationed in Uşak. On January 8, 1920, Aşir Bey was appointed as the commander of the 23rd Division, which also included a militia division. The Uşak Assault Battalion, established at the request of İbrahim Bey, became part of this militia division in January 1920.

On June 22, 1920, the Greeks launched an offensive to forcibly impose the Treaty of Sèvres on the Ottoman Empire. One Greek force advanced toward Bursa, while another moved eastward from İzmir. On August 29, Uşak was occupied. Upon entering Uşak, the Greek forces looted the homes of many prominent townspeople and villagers. Additionally, numerous civilians were killed by Greek soldiers during the occupation, without any legal justification or trial. Following the occupation, the Greeks seized several homes for their use. To suppress the local population, they deported influential residents to prison camps in Athens and the Greek islands. Approximately 300 citizens were exiled, spending 10–12 months in captivity. They were accused of trivial offenses, primarily due to their involvement with the Kuva-yi Milliye.

Uşak, occupied on August 29, 1920, was liberated on September 1, 1922, after two years and two days of Greek occupation.

Despite suffering significant material and moral losses during the War of Independence, Uşak became one of the first cities to initiate industrial development in the Republic of Turkey.

During the Ottoman era, Uşak was a district (kaza) of the Kütahya Sanjak under the Hüdavendigar Province. Following the administrative reorganization under the 491st Article of the Teşkilat-i Esasiye Kanunu (Constitutional Law) on April 20, 1924, Uşak remained a district of Kütahya Province. Under the Republic of Turkey's new administrative structure, the subdistricts (nahiyes) of Banaz, Sivaslı, Karahallı, and Ulubey were attached to Uşak District. On July 9, 1953, Uşak became a province under Law No. 6129, with the district of Eşme transferred from Manisa Province. The subdistricts were subsequently elevated to district status.