TRABZON [Trabzon] or Trebizond , city (1990 pop. 144,805), capital of Trabzon prov., NE Turkey, a port on the Black Sea. A commercial and transportation center with renovated port facilities, it exports food products and tobacco. Iron, lead, and copper are found nearby. Known in ancient times as Trapezus, the city was founded in the 8th cent. BC by Greek colonists from Sinop. It grew in importance after its conquest (1st cent. BC) by Mithradates VI and after its incorporation (1st cent. AD) into the Roman Empire. Although it suffered from invasions by barbarians after the 3d cent., it again became a prosperous port under the Byzantine Empire.