MALATIA (MALATIEH or Asvuzu), the chief town of a vilayet in Asia Minor, on the Samsun-Sivas-Diarbekr road, alti tude 2,900 ft., situated about Io m. S.W. of the junction of the Tokhma Su (med. Kubakib) with the Euphrates, near the south end of a fertile plain, and at the northern foot of the Taurus. Pop. (1927) 75,11o. It was rebuilt since the earthquake of 1893, and is noted for its fruit orchards. Eskishehr or Old Malatia (Meli tene), 5 m. N.E. and 3 rn. from the mediaeval bridge (Kirkgeuz) over the Tokhma Su, has large gardens and many ruined mosques, baths, etc., relics of Mansur's city. The earliest site was possibly Arslan Tepe about 2 TM south of Eskishehr where two "Hittite" stelae, representing hunting scenes, were found.
Under Titus Melitene was the seat of the 12th legion; Trajan raised it to a city. Lying in a very fertile country at the focus of important routes, it grew in size and importance, and was the capital of Armenia Minor or Secunda. Justinian, who completed the walls commenced by Anastasius, made it the capital of Ar menia Tertia; it was then a great place (Procop., De aed., iii. 4).
The town was burnt by Chosroes after his defeat there in 577. Taken by the Saracens, retaken and destroyed by Constantine Copronymus, it was recovered to Islam, and rebuilt under Mansur (A.D. 756). It again changed hands more than once, being reckoned among the frontier towns of Syria (Istakhry, pp. 55, 62). At length the Greeks recovered it in 934, and Nicephorus II., finding the district much wasted, encouraged the Jacobites to settle in it. A convent of the Virgin, and the church which bears his name, were erected by bishop Ignatius. Malatia became a great seat of the Jacobites, and was the birthplace of their famous maphrian Barhebraeus (or Abulfaragius). At the time of the first crusade, the city, being hard pressed by the Turks was relieved by Bald win. The city returned to the Turks in 1102 and subsequently became part of the realm of Kilij Arslan, sultan of Iconium.