History

Tuşba, a long since capital of Urartu State, was supposed to be the first settlement in Van... Urartus were said to name the city as Van. From 9 BC onwards, Urartus called here Biani land whereas Asuris called Nairi land. Biani was spelled as Waini, which is supposed to become Van in the course of time.

Hurri people used to live in the region in 3000 BC. They were the majority of citizens in Urartu State. Med people ended Urartu Rule. The Byzantine Empire later invaded Van in AD 395. Mid 7th century marked the beginning of Arabian Rule in Van, which continued until AD890.

Anatolian Seljuks ruled Van in AD 2. It was in 1534 that Suleyman, the Magnificent, invaded Van, which was later invaded by the Russian and Armenian in 1915. Van was regained in April 7, 1918.