Edirne

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"Adrianopolis" redirects here. For other uses, see Adrianopolis (disambiguation).

Edirne

City

Selimiye Mosque and The Statue of Architect Sinan - panoramio.jpg

Meriç Köprüsü ve Nehri, Edirne.jpg AliPaşaÇarşısıEdirne (4).JPG

TreatyOfLausanneMonumentEdirne (2).JPG KaraağaçRailwayStation.JPG

Nagymecset - Edirne, 2014.10.22 (13).JPG Edirne - 2014.10.22 (4).JPG Orientexpresstrain.jpg

From top down, left to right: Selimiye Mosque, Meriç Bridge, Ali Pasha Bazaar, Treaty of Lausanne
Monument and Museum, Trakya University (formerly Karaağaç railway station), Old Mosque, Town Hall,
Historical Express

Official logo of Edirne

Emblem of Edirne Metropolitan Municipality

Edirne is located in TurkeyEdirneEdirne

Location in Turkey

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Coordinates: 41°40′37″N 26°33′20″ECoordinates: 41°40′37″N 26°33′20″E

Country Turkey

Region Marmara

Province Edirne

Government
• Mayor Recep Gürkan (CHP)

• Governor Dursun Ali Şahin

Area[1]

• Province 6,098 km2 (2,354 sq mi)

• City 844 km2 (326 sq mi)

Elevation 42 m (138 ft)

Population

• Density 196.7/km2 (509/sq mi)

• Province 407,763

• City 165,979

Time zone UTC+3 (TRT)

Postal code

22000

Area code(s) (+90) 284

Licence plate 22

Edirne (US: /eɪˈdɪərnə, ɛˈ-/,[2][3] Turkish: [eˈdiɾne]), historically known as Adrianople (/ˌeɪdriəˈnoʊpəl/;
Latin: Hadrianopolis; founded by the Roman emperor Hadrian on the site of a previous Thracian
settlement named Uskudama)[4] is a city in Turkey, in the northwestern province of Edirne and East
Thrace, close to Turkey's borders with Greece and Bulgaria (3.24 miles or 5.22 kilometers from the
Greek border at the closest point).[5] Edirne was the capital city of the Ottoman Empire from 1369 to
1453,[6] before Constantinople became the empire's capital. The estimated population in 2019 was
185,408.

Contents

1 Names and etymology

2 History

2.1 Antiquity
2.2 Medieval period

2.3 Modern period

3 Ecclesiastical history

4 Geography

4.1 Climate

5 Points of interest

6 Culture

7 Economy

8 Education

8.1 Universities

8.2 High schools

9 Gallery

10 Quarters

11 Twin cities

12 Notable people

13 See also

14 References

15 Further reading

16 External links

Names and etymology

See also: Names of Edirne in different languages

The city was founded as Hadrianopolis (Ἁδριανούπολις in Greek), named after the Roman emperor
Hadrian. This name is still used in the modern Greek language (Αδριανούπολη, Adrianoúpoli). The
Ottoman name Edrine (‫ )أدرنة‬derives from the Greek name. The name Adrianople was used in English
until the Turkish adoption of the Latin alphabet in 1928, upon which Edirne became the internationally
recognized name. Bulgarian: Одрин, romanized: Odrin (pronounced [ˈɔdrin]), Romanian and Aromanian:
Odrina, Albanian: Edrenë, Slovene: Odrin and Serbian: Једрене, romanized: Jedrene, are all adapted
forms of the name Hadrianopolis.
History

Selimiye Mosque exterior. Sinan the Architect called the Şezade Mosque in Istanbul his apprentice work,
the Süleymaniye his journeyman’s work, and the Selimiye his masterpiece. He was 85 when he finished
it.

Historical population

Year Pop. ±%

1400s 70,000 —

1500s 105,000 +50.0%

1700s 35,000 −66.7%

1800s 33,000 −5.7%

1900s 68,661 +108.1%

1927 34,528 −49.7%

1965 78,161 +126.4%

1970 84,531 +8.1%

1975 94,449 +11.7%

1980 105,503 +11.7%

1985 120,663 +14.4%

1990 124,361 +3.1%

2000 140,830 +13.2%

2010 152,993 +8.6%

2014 165,979 +8.5%

The area around Edirne has been the site of numerous major battles and sieges, from the days of the
Roman Empire. The vagaries of the border region between Asia and Europe gives rise to Edirne's historic
claim to be the most frequently contested spot on the globe.[7]
Antiquity

The city was refounded by the Roman Emperor Hadrian on the site of a previous Thracian settlement
known as Uskadama, Uskudama, Uskodama or Uscudama.[4] Hadrian developed it, adorned it with
monuments, and changed its name to Hadrianopolis (which would later be pronounced Adrianopolis,
Anglicised as Adrianople). Licinius was defeated there by Constantine I in 324, and Emperor Valens was
killed by the Goths there during the Battle of Adrianople in 378.

Medieval period

Historical image of Cihannüma Kasrı (Panoramic Pavilion), part of Edirne Palace complex

In 813, the city was temporarily seized by Khan Krum of Bulgaria who moved its inhabitants to the
Bulgarian lands north of the Danube.[8]

During the existence of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, the Crusaders were decisively defeated by
the Bulgarian Emperor Kaloyan in the Battle of Adrianople (1205). In 1206 Adrianople and its territory
was given to the Byzantine aristocrat Theodore Branas as a hereditary fief by the Latin regime.[9]
Theodore Komnenos, Despot of Epirus, took possession of it in 1227, but three years later was defeated
at Klokotnitsa by Emperor Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria.

In 1362, the Ottoman Empire under Sultan Murad I invaded Thrace. Murad captured Adrianople,
probably in 1369 (the date is disputed). The city became "Edirne" in Turkish, reflecting the Turkish
pronunciation.[10] Murad moved the Ottoman capital to Adrianople. Mehmed the Conqueror (Sultan
Mehmed II) was born in Adrianople, where he came under the influence of some Hurufis dismissed by
Taşköprüzade in the Şakaiki Numaniye as "Certain accursed ones of no significance", who were burnt as
heretics by Mahmud Pasha.[11]

The city remained the Ottoman capital for 84 years until 1453, when Mehmed II took Constantinople
(present-day Istanbul) and moved the capital there.

Edirne is famed for its many mosques, domes, minarets, and palaces from the Ottoman period.
Modern period

Edirne in the first quarter of the 20th century.

Under Ottoman rule, Adrianople was the principal city of the administrative unit, the eponymous Eyalet
of Adrianople, and after land reforms in 1867, the Vilayet of Adrianople.

Sultan Mehmed IV left the palace in Constantinople and died in Adrianople in 1693.

During his exile in the Ottoman Empire, the Swedish king Charles XII stayed in the city during most of
1713.[12]

Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, lived in Edirne from 1863 to 1868. He was exiled there by
the Ottoman Empire before being banished further to the Ottoman penal colony in Akka. He referred to
Adrianople in his writings as the "Land of Mystery".[13]

Adrianople was a sanjak centre during the Ottoman period and was bound to, successively, the Rumeli
Eyalet and Silistre Eyalet before becoming a provincial capital of the Eyalet of Edirne at the beginning of
the 19th century; until 1878, the Eyalet of Adrianople comprised the sanjaks of Edirne, Tekfurdağı,
Gelibolu, Filibe, and İslimye.

Adrianople was briefly occupied by imperial Russian troops in 1829 during the Greek War of
Independence and in 1878 during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. The city suffered a fire in 1905.
In 1905 it had about 80,000 inhabitants, of whom 30,000 were Turks; 22,000 Greeks; 10,000 Bulgarians;
4,000 Armenians; 12,000 Jews; and 2,000 more citizens of unclassified ethnic/religious backgrounds.
[citation needed]

Adrianople was a vital fortress defending Ottoman Constantinople and Eastern Thrace during the Balkan
Wars of 1912–13. It was briefly occupied by the Bulgarians in 1913, following the Siege of Adrianople.
The Great Powers–Britain, Italy, France, and Russia–attempted to coerce the Ottoman Empire into
ceding Adrianople to Bulgaria during the temporary winter truce of the First Balkan War. The belief that
that government was willing to give up the city created a political scandal in the Ottoman government in
Constantinople (as Adrianople was a former capital of the Empire), leading to the 1913 Ottoman coup
d'état. Although it was victorious in the coup, the Committee of Union and Progress under Enver Pasha
was unable to stop the Bulgarians from capturing the city after the fighting resumed in the Spring.
Despite relentless pressure from the Great powers (Russia, Britain, France) the Ottoman empire never
officially ceded the city to Bulgaria. Edirne was swiftly reconquered by the Ottoman empire during the
Second Balkan War under the leadership of Enver Pasha (who would proclaim himself the "second
conqueror of Adrianople", after Murad I) following the total collapse of the Bulgarian military might in
the region.

The entire Armenian population of the city was deported during the Armenian genocide on 27–28
October 1915 and 17–18 February 1916, ending up in Syria and Mesopotamia. Their property and
businesses were sold at low prices to Turkish Muslims.[14]

It was ceded to Greece by the Treaty of Sèvres in 1920, but recaptured and annexed by Turkey after the
decisive Greek defeat at the end of the Greco-Turkish War, also known as the Western Front of the
larger Turkish War of Independence, in 1922. During the Greek administration, Edirne (officially known
as Adrianople) was the capital of the Adrianople Prefecture.

Adrianople became known in Western languages as "Edirne" circa 1930.[15] From 1934 onwards Edirne
was the seat of the Second Inspectorate General, in which an Inspector General governed the provinces
Edirne, Çanakkale, Tekirdaĝ and Kırklareli.[16] The Inspectorate Generals governmental posts were
abandoned in 1948,[17] but the legal framework of them was only abolished in 1952, under the
government of the Democrat Party.[18]

According to the 2007 census, Edirne Province had a population of 382,222 inhabitants. The city is a
commercial centre for woven textiles, silks, carpets and agricultural products.

Ecclesiastical history

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An example of Ottoman architecture in Edirne

Adrianople was made the seat of a Greek metropolitan and of an Armenian bishop. Adrianople is also
the centre of a Bulgarian diocese, but not recognized and deprived of a bishop. The city also had some
Protestants. The Latin Catholics, foreigners for the most part, and not numerous, were dependent on
the vicariate-apostolic of Constantinople. At Adrianople itself were the parish of St. Anthony of Padua
(Minors Conventual) and a school for girls conducted by the Sisters of Charity of Agram. In the suburb of
Karaağaç were a church (Minor Conventuals), a school for boys (Assumptionists) and a school for girls
(Oblates of the Assumption). Each of its mission stations, at Tekirdağ and Alexandroupoli, had a school
(Minor Conventuals), and there was one at Gallipoli (the Assumptionists).

Around 1850, from the standpoint of the Eastern Catholic Churches, Adrianople was the residence of a
Bulgarian vicar-apostolic for the 4,600 Eastern Catholics of the Ottoman vilayet (province) of Thrace and
after 1878 - of the principality of Bulgaria. They had 18 parishes or missions, 6 of which were in the
principality, with 20 churches or chapels, 31 priests, of whom 6 were Assumptionists and 6 were
Resurrectionists; 11 schools with 670 pupils. In Adrianople itself were only a very few United Bulgarians,
with an Episcopal church of St. Elias, and the churches of St. Demetrius and Sts. Cyril and Methodius. The
last is served by the Resurrectionists, who have also a college of 90 pupils. In the suburb of Karaağaç, the
Assumptionists have a parish and a seminary with 50 pupils. Besides the Eastern Catholic Bulgarians, the
above statistics included the Greek Catholic missions of Malgara (now Malkara) and Daoudili (now
Davuteli village in Malkara), with 4 priests and 200 faithful, because from the civil point of view
belonged to the Bulgarian Vicariate.

Later however, the Roman Catholic diocese was discontinued, and exists only in name as a titular
metropolitan archbishopric, under the full name Hadrianopolis in Haemimonto to distinguish it from
several other titular sees named Hadrianopolis.

In 2018, archaeologists discovered remains of a Byzantine church. The church was built around 500 AD
and it was an early Byzantine period building.[19]

Panoramic view of the city from Selimiye Mosque.

Geography

Climate
Edirne has a borderline humid subtropical (Cfa) and hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa) in the
Köppen climate classification, and a temperate oceanic climate (Do) in the Trewartha climate
classification. Edirne has hot, moderately dry summers and chilly, wet and often snowy winters.

Climate data for Edirne (1991–2020, extremes 1930–2020)

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Year

Record high °C (°F) 20.5

(68.9) 23.3

(73.9) 28.0

(82.4) 33.5

(92.3) 37.1

(98.8) 42.6

(108.7) 44.1

(111.4) 41.9

(107.4) 39.9

(103.8) 35.8

(96.4) 28.0

(82.4) 22.8

(73.0) 44.1

(111.4)

Average high °C (°F) 7.1

(44.8) 10.2

(50.4) 14.3

(57.7) 19.8

(67.6) 25.5

(77.9) 30.1
(86.2) 32.7

(90.9) 33.1

(91.6) 27.9

(82.2) 21.0

(69.8) 14.4

(57.9) 8.4

(47.1) 20.4

(68.7)

Daily mean °C (°F) 2.8

(37.0) 4.8

(40.6) 8.3

(46.9) 13.2

(55.8) 18.5

(65.3) 22.9

(73.2) 25.3

(77.5) 25.4

(77.7) 20.6

(69.1) 14.8

(58.6) 9.3

(48.7) 4.4

(39.9) 14.2

(57.6)

Average low °C (°F) −0.4

(31.3) 0.7

(33.3) 3.5
(38.3) 7.3

(45.1) 12.1

(53.8) 16.1

(61.0) 18.2

(64.8) 18.3

(64.9) 14.2

(57.6) 9.9

(49.8) 5.4

(41.7) 1.2

(34.2) 8.9

(48.0)

Record low °C (°F) −19.5

(−3.1) −19.0

(−2.2) −12.0

(10.4) −4.1

(24.6) 0.7

(33.3) 6.0

(42.8) 8.0

(46.4) 8.9

(48.0) 0.2

(32.4) −3.7

(25.3) −9.4

(15.1) −14.9

(5.2) −19.5

(−3.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 65.8

(2.59) 53.3

(2.10) 52.8

(2.08) 44.0

(1.73) 57.5

(2.26) 46.0

(1.81) 39.6

(1.56) 24.0

(0.94) 39.2

(1.54) 66.1

(2.60) 66.4

(2.61) 70.5

(2.78) 625.2

(24.61)

Average precipitation days 10.50 9.57 11.57 11.23 11.70 9.90 6.47 4.57 6.40
8.90 10.00 11.47 112.3

Mean monthly sunshine hours 68.2 98.9 130.2 171.0 229.4 255.0 288.3 279.0 198.0
136.4 87.0 58.9 2,000.3

Mean daily sunshine hours 2.2 3.5 4.2 5.7 7.4 8.5 9.3 9.0 6.6
4.4 2.9 1.9 5.5

Source: Turkish State Meteorological Service[20]

Points of interest

Grand Synagogue of Edirne

Administrative building backside of the Grand Synagogue of Edirne

Treaty of Lausanne Monument and Museum in Edirne

Situated 7 km (4.3 mi) from the Greek and 20 km (12 mi) from the Bulgarian borders, Edirne is famed for
its many mosques, domes and minarets. The Selimiye Mosque, built in 1575 and designed by Turkey's
greatest master architect, Mimar Sinan (c. 1489/1490–1588), is one of the most important monuments
in the city. It has the highest minarets in Turkey, at 70.90 m (232.6 ft) and a cupola 3 or 4 ft (0.91 or 1.22
m) higher than that of Hagia Sophia, the former Byzantine Orthodox Cathedral (now mosque, museum
from 1935-2020) in Istanbul. Carrying the name of the then reigning Ottoman Sultan Selim II (r. 1566–
1574), this mosque futures Turkish marble handicrafts, and it is covered with valuable tiles and fine
paintings. Other notable mosques are Eski Cami (Old Mosque),[21] and Burmalı Cami (Serpent Mosque),
aka Üç Şerefeli Mosque.[22]

Edirne has three historic covered bazaars: Arasta, next to Selimiye Mosque, Bedesten next to Eski Cami
and Ali Paşa Çarşısı (Ali Pasha Bazaar).

Besides the mosques, there are visitor attractions in Edirne, all reflecting its rich past. The most
prominent place being the Edirne Palace (Ottoman Turkish: Saray-ı Cedid-i Amire for "New Imperial
Palace") in Sarayiçi quarter, built during the reign of Murad II (r. 1421–1444). Although the buildings of
the palace and its bath (Kum Kasrı Hamamı) are in ruined form, the palace gate and the palace kitchen
facility are restored. The Kasr-ı Adalet ("Justice Castle"), built as part of the palace complex, stands intact
next to the small Fatih Bridge over the Tunca river.[23]

Another notable building in the area is the Complex of Sultan Bayezid II, an important monument with
its complex construction comprising many facilities used in those times.

The Balkan Wars Memorial Cemetery is located close to the Edirne Palace, with an unknown soldier
monument featuring an Ottoman soldier in front of its entrance.[24]

The historic Grand Synagogue of Edirne, abandoned and ruined, was restored and re-opened in March
2015.[25][26][27] A Roman Catholic and two Bulgarian Orthodox churches are found in the city.

Edirne has several historic arch bridges crossing over the rivers Meriç and Tundzha, which flow around
west and south of the city.
There are caravansaries, like the Rustem Pasha and Ekmekcioglu Ahmet Pasha caravansaries, which
were designed to host travelers, in the 16th century.

The historic Karaağaç railway station hosts today, after redevelopment, the Trakya University's Faculty
of Fine Arts in Karaağaç suburb of Edirne.[24] Next to it, the Treaty of Lausanne Monument and
Museum are situated.[28]

Culture

Oil-wrestling at Kırkpınar

The traditional oil-wrestling tournament called Kırkpınar, is held every year in late June or early July.[29]
Kakava, an international festival celebrating the Roma people is held on 5 May each year.[30]

A cultural partnership with Lörrach, Germany began in 2006. The goal is to exchange pupils and students
to improve their cultural skills and understanding.

Edirne is well known for local dishes. "Ciğer tava" (breaded and deep-fried liver) is often served with a
side of cacık, a cool dish of diluted strained yogurt with chopped cucumber. Also, locally-made marzipan,
which has a different recipe from standard marzipan, is one of Edirne's traditional desserts.

Handmade brooms with a mirror in them are one of the cultural images of the city and a central
marriage tradition. Miniature versions are still sold in gift shops.

Economy

[icon]

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Ali Paşa Çarşısı (Ali Pasha Bazaar).

Edirne's economy largely depends on agriculture. 73% of the working population work in agriculture,
fishing, forests and hunting. The lowlands are productive. Corn, sugarbeets and sunflowers are the
leading crops. Melons, watermelons, rice, tomatoes, eggplants and viniculture are important.

The through highway that connects Europe to Istanbul, Anatolia and the Middle East passes through
Edirne.

Historic buildings and events have elevated tourism's role in the economy.

Industry is developing. Agriculture-based industries (agro-industries) are especially important for the
city's economy.

Education

Main building of Trakya University

Faculty of Fine Arts building of Trakya University, originally built as Karaağaç railway station.

Universities

Trakya University, which is linked with Loerrach University through the Erasmus programme of the EU.

High schools

Beykent Educational Institutions

80th Year of Republic Anatolian High School (80. Yıl Cumhuriyet Anadolu Lisesi in Turkish)

Edirne Anatolian Teacher Training High School (Edirne Anadolu Öğretmen Lisesi in Turkish: It has been
transformed into Edirne Social Sciences High School)

Edirne Anatolian Technical High School (Edirne Anadolu Teknik Lisesi in Turkish)

Edirne Beykent High School of Science (Özel Edirne Beykent Fen Lisesi)

Edirne Beykent High School of Anatolian (Özel Edirne Beykent Anadolu Lisesi)
Edirne High School (Anatolian High School) (Edirne Lisesi in Turkish)

Edirne Ilhami Ertem High School (Edirne İlhami Ertem Lİsesi in Turkish)

Edirne Industrial Vocational High School (Edirne Endüstri Meslek Lisesi in Turkish)

Edirne Milli Piyango Trade Profession High School (Edirne Milli Piyango Ticaret Meslek Lisesi)

Edirne Suleyman Demirel Science & Maths High School (Edirne Fen Lisesi in Turkish)

Edirne Yildirim Anatolian High School (Edirne Anadolu Lisesi - Yıldırım Anadolu Lisesi in Turkish)

Edirne Fine Arts High School (Edirne Güzel Sanatlar Lisesi in Turkish)

Gallery

Interior view of the Grand Synagogue of Edirne

Interior view of the Selimiye Mosque, Edirne

View of the Selimiye Mosque, Edirne

View of the Selimiye Mosque, Edirne

A house in Edirne from the Ottoman period

Interior of Eski Cami

A historic elementary school building

Meriç Bridge

Edirne Main Street

IV.Mehmet Hunting Kiosk