According to historical sources, Edirne, which is believed to have hosted the Thracian civilization for the first time, was reconstructed by Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD and began to be called by his name.
Hadrianopolis, experiencing a prosperous period in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, became the scene of many wars from the 4th century onwards. Despite internal conflicts and invasions by the Goths, Huns, and Bulgars, the city remained under Byzantine rule, and it was conquered by the Turks in 1361.
Sultan Murad I changed the city’s name to Edirne, and in 1365, it became the second capital after Bursa. Serving as the capital of the Ottoman Empire for nearly a century, Edirne rapidly developed. After the capture of Istanbul in 1453, Edirne transferred the capital title to Istanbul and later became the second center of the Empire, continuing its development as a city of science, culture, and art.
Following the capital transfer to Istanbul, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent initiated the Belgrade campaign from Edirne, and waterways were constructed in the city during this period. In the reign of Sultan Selim II, the famous Selimiye Mosque, which became a symbol of the city, was built.
Although centuries passed in a period of peace, disturbances began in the 19th century. After the Ottoman-Russian wars of 1828–29 and 1877–78, Edirne experienced occupations. In the Balkan War of 1912–1913, it suffered destruction under Bulgarian occupation, and in 1920, it faced devastation during the Greek occupation.
This period of occupation and destruction, marked by sieges, came to an end with the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923. Edirne, positioned as Turkey’s western border and gateway to Europe, reached its present status.
Edirne, with its magnificent Ottoman past, is a living Ottoman city. With its historical urban fabric that carries the legacy of the Empire, such as mosques, caravanserais, bridges, and madrasas, Edirne is like an open-air museum. When you first enter the city, the magnificent minarets of the Selimiye Mosque greet you. Having served as the capital of the Ottoman Empire for about 100 years, during which important activities in science, culture, and art took place, the city provided unique examples in architecture, calligraphy, and decorations. Known in history by various titles such as the “Border City” and the “Gate of Happiness” (Der-i Saadet), Edirne witnessed all the magnificent celebrations of the Empire, including victory celebrations, circumcision festivities, and wedding ceremonies before and after the conquest of Istanbul.
EDİRNE TARİHİ
Edirne, Trak uygarlığına ev sahipliği yaptığına inanılan bir şehirdir. MS 2. yüzyılda Roma İmparatoru Hadrian tarafından yeniden inşa edilen, onun adıyla anılmaya başlanan ve Hadrianopolis olarak bilinen şehir, 1361’de Türkler tarafından fethedilmiştir. Sultan Murad I tarafından adı Edirne olarak değiştirilen şehir, yaklaşık bir yüzyıl boyunca Osmanlı İmparatorluğu’nun başkenti olarak hizmet vermiş ve 1453’te İstanbul’un fethinden sonra İstanbul’a başkent unvanını devretmiştir.
Edirne, Osmanlı döneminde önemli bir gelişim göstermiş ve bilim, kültür, ve sanat alanlarında bir merkez haline gelmiştir. Kanuni Sultan Süleyman’ın Belgrad seferini başlattığı ve su yollarının inşa edildiği bir dönemde, ünlü Selimiye Camii inşa edilmiştir.
19. yüzyılda, Osmanlı-Rus savaşları ve Balkan Savaşı gibi çatışmalar sonucunda işgaller ve tahribatlar yaşayan Edirne, 1923’te imzalanan Lozan Antlaşması ile işgal ve yıkım dönemini sona erdirmiştir. Bugünkü konumuyla Türkiye’nin batı sınırında ve Avrupa’ya giriş kapısı olarak tanımlanan Edirne, muazzam Osmanlı geçmişiyle yaşayan bir şehirdir. Şehir, Osmanlı İmparatorluğu’nun önemli kutlamalarına, zafer şenliklerine, sünnet ve düğün törenlerine tanıklık etmiş ve tarihi kentsel dokusuyla açık hava müzesi niteliği taşımaktadır.
