Historically, Thessaloniki is one of the most important cities in Europe, though it's probably never been quite as prominent as its importance should have warranted because it's generally would up being overshadowed somehow. Founded in the fourth century BC by Macedonian King Cassander, it rose in stature to become the most important city in Macedon...shortly … Continue reading Today in European history: the Siege of Thessaloniki ends (1430)
Tag: ottoman empire
Today in Middle Eastern history: the Fall of Baghdad (1917)
The First Battle of Kut was virtually a total Ottoman victory, and it stands as one of the lowest points for the British military not just in that war, but ever. Following the disaster, the British army replaced its commander in Mesopotamia, Lt. General Percy Lake, with the newly arrived Lt. General Frederick Stanley Maude. It was … Continue reading Today in Middle Eastern history: the Fall of Baghdad (1917)
Today in Middle Eastern history: the Massacre at the Citadel (1811)
Egypt’s Mamluk Sultanate was ushered to its end by the invading Ottomans in 1517. But while their sultanate ended, the Mamluk elite really didn’t go anywhere. The distinction has to do with the unique nature of the sultanate, so even if this is something you’ve read about before, we should review. The Mamluk ruling class grew out of the … Continue reading Today in Middle Eastern history: the Massacre at the Citadel (1811)
Today in European history: the Siege of Candia (finally) ends (1669)
The Ottoman Empire in the 17th century is a land of contrasts. I know that sounds like the opening to a bad high school essay, but it’s not wrong. The 17th century ended with the Ottomans signing the first truly disadvantageous treaty they’d ever signed, and while reports of Ottoman decline in this period can … Continue reading Today in European history: the Siege of Candia (finally) ends (1669)
Today in European history: the Battle of Saint Gotthard (1664)
The Battle of Vienna in 1683 is generally regarded as the Ottoman Empire’s high water mark, since it put the empire on the defensive and eventually led to the 1699 Treaty of Karlowitz, the first truly disadvantageous treaty the Ottomans ever concluded with other European powers. If you look at the 1664 Battle of Saint Gotthard, … Continue reading Today in European history: the Battle of Saint Gotthard (1664)
Today in Middle Eastern/European history: the Ottomans get started (1299, or 1302)
Today in European history: the Siege of Belgrade ends (1456)
Mehmed II earned the epithet Fatih or “the Conqueror” when he captured Constantinople in 1453, and it’s lucky for him that he did, really. If he didn’t already have a slick nickname by the time of his failed effort to capture Belgrade, I can imagine he might have been saddled with a much less flattering one instead. … Continue reading Today in European history: the Siege of Belgrade ends (1456)
Today in European History: the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca (1774)
The Treaty of Karlowitz (1699) marked the end of the Ottoman Empire’s tenure as the heavyweight military power in Eastern Europe. Then passed several decades where the Ottomans won some, probably lost more, but still sort of held their own. But the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca, signed on this date in 1774, marked the point where European … Continue reading Today in European History: the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca (1774)
Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Ankara (1402)
July 20, 1402: the Central Asian conqueror Timur defeats the young Ottoman Empire so decisively that the Ottomans are thrown into chaos for the next 11 years.
The History of Turkey’s Diyanet
Kristin Fabbe and Kimberly Guiler, at The Washington Post's "Monkey Cage" blog, looked at the proliferation of conspiracy theories surrounding last week's attempted coup in Turkey. In their piece, they made a point about a Turkish institution that probably deserves more explanation than they were able to give it, the Diyanet: Turkey’s self-avowed secularists also … Continue reading The History of Turkey’s Diyanet
The Foreign Exchanges Companion 