Heraclea Pontica e̝ˈraklia pontiˈke̝], known in Byzantine and later times as Pontoheraclea, was an ancient city on the coast of Bithynia in Asia Minor, at the mouth of the river Lycus.
Trabzon, historically known as Trebizond, is a city on the Black Sea coast of northeastern Turkey and the capital of Trabzon Province.
Both republics had merchant colonies within the city – Leonkastron and the former "Venetian castle" – that played a