"Kastamonu" İlinin Kültürel, Sanatsal, Folklorik Ve Edebi Zenginliğinin "Milli Mücadele" İle "İstiklâl Yolu" Bağları

Abstract (The Cultural, Artistic, Folkloric, and Literary Richness of Kastamonu Province and its Connections to the "National Struggle" and the "Independence Road") This study examines Kastamonu's role as a logistical corridor during the War of Independence, within the context of the Independence Road, focusing on its socio-cultural and literary dimensions, and its role in the construction of cultural memory and collective consciousness. Through literature review and document analysis, the study analyzes how the region's cultural codes and literary discourse structured the intellectual and spiritual legitimacy of the War of Independence. Despite not being occupied during the War of Independence, Kastamonu, due to its strategic location on the Independence Road, became the most critical logistical base of the War of Independence. This article goes beyond the city's military and logistical achievements, examining the cultural, artistic, folkloric, and literary dynamics behind this historical role. The study analyzes the traces of the epic struggle waged along the rear lines stretching from İnebolu to Ankara, as reflected in Kastamonu's local identity, folk narratives, and literature. The culture of self-sacrifice symbolized by heroes like Şerife Bacı, the national consciousness echoed in the Kastamonu press of the time (especially the Açıksöz newspaper), and the elements of folk literature that nourished this spirit form the main axis of the article. The article has a unique quality by making visible the folkloric and artistic spiritual elements that supported the material and military logistical successes of the Independence Road. Furthermore, it provides a more comprehensive and holistic perspective to the literature by revealing the power of local cultural elements to shape macro-historical processes. In this research, a qualitative research methodology was chosen to examine in detail the functions and effects of Kastamonu's cultural, artistic, and folkloric elements within the context of the National Struggle and the Independence Road. The research design is based on "historical case study" and "cultural analysis" approaches, which allow for the evaluation of historical processes and social phenomena within their natural contexts. Multiple sources were used in the data collection process; Within this framework, a literature review, archival documents, the Kastamonu press of the period (especially issues of the Açıksöz newspaper), and oral culture products (folk songs, laments, couplets) were examined as historical documents. The analysis of the collected data consisted of two stages. In the first stage, written press texts and literary products were analyzed using the "qualitative discourse analysis" technique to reveal the dominant ideological structure of the period, the processes of national consciousness formation, and social motivation strategies. In the second stage, folk songs and folk narratives specific to Kastamonu were evaluated using "content analysis" and "document analysis" methods, taking into account the thematic codes in their content (e.g., separation, sacrifice, martyrdom, and national belonging). This multi-faceted analysis and data triangulation approach increased the validity and reliability of the findings; thus, it objectively and holistically revealed the relationship between local dynamics and broader historical processes. In conclusion, Kastamonu; With its deep-rooted cultural heritage, literary productivity, and unwavering love for the homeland, it played a foundational role in the achievement of Turkish independence, not only as a transit route for ammunition but also as the intellectual and spiritual arsenal of the National Struggle. [1-62] Key Words: Kastamonu, Culture, Art, Folklore, Literature, National Struggle, War of Independence, Independence Road