ALASEHIR

town, western Turkey. It lies in the Kuzu River valley, at the foot of the Boz Mountain. Founded about 150 BC by a king of Pergamum, it became an important town of the Byzantine Empire. It was not taken by the Ottomans until after all other cities of Asia Minor had surrendered to Ottoman rule. Conquered by Timur (Tamerlane) in 1402, it was recaptured under the Ottoman sultan Murad II (reigned 142151). A part of the city was burned down during the Turkish War of Independence (191922). Alasehir lies along the Afyon KarahisarManisaIzmir railway. The surrounding area's products include tobacco, raisins, and fruits. A mineral spring yields a heavily carbonated water that is in great demand in Izmir. Pop. (1985) town, 29,484.