The first community living in Rize, Kolkhis people. In 765 BC, Rize was conquered by the Urartu State. And then Rize was used as a city by Urartians after that date.
In the following years, many kingdoms tried to conquer Rize. Rize, Kimmer's, Scythians, Meds were conquered respectively. Then, Rize began to be ruled by the Pontus state.
But after the collapse of the Pontus state, Rize was conquered by the Roman Empire. And Rize was ruled by the Romans for many years.
In 1080, Rize, which was under the control of Georgian kingdom, was conquered by the Turks. But then the Byzantines conquered Rize. But the Turks continued to settle around Rize and its surroundings. And in 1470 Rize was conquered by the Ottoman Empire. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Rize has been a city of the Republic of Turkey.