Edirne, during the Ottoman Empire period, was a province known as the “Pasha” Sancağı, (Sancak: administrative unit / region) and it was under the jurisdiction of the Rumelia Beylerbeyi (Beylerbeyi: Governorate). The center of this Beylerbeyi was located in Sofia.
Edirne was recognized as the university city of the empire. The city, which became one of the largest in the world in the 17th century, entered a period of decline in the 18th century. Two major fires in 1745 and 1751 largely destroyed Edirne.
On August 22, 1829, the entry of the Russians into the city and their stay for a few months marked the first occupation disaster for Edirne. Edirne witnessed subsequent occupations, including a 13-month occupation by the Russians on January 20, 1887, a four-month occupation by the Bulgarians on March 26, 1913, and two years of occupation by the Greeks in the 1920s. Today, the city of Edirne, which has border crossings opening to Europe via land routes, was liberated from enemy occupation on November 25, 1922 (during the Independence War of Turkey against allied forces).
LIBERATION OF EDIRNE
When we talk about the Liberation of Edirne, two different historical events are actually understood.
The first is the Ottoman “Eastern Thrace Operation”, which refers to the Ottoman forces losing Edirne in the Edirne Battle against Serbian and Bulgarian forces during the First Balkan War, and the city being handed over to the Kingdom of Bulgaria at the London Conference. It was later recaptured by the Ottoman Army, commanded by Minister of War (Defense Minister) Enver Pasha and the General Commander of the Ottoman Army (current Chief of General Staff) Ahmet İzzet Pasha during the Second Balkan War on July 21, 1913, along with the recovery of Kırklareli.
The second event is the occupation of Edirne by Greek forces on July 25, 1920, after the Armistice of Mudanya during World War I. It was later taken over by the forces of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, on November 25, 1922, in accordance with the Treaty of Mudanya. Today, November 25 is celebrated as the “Liberation of Edirne.”
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