Edirne in Balkan Wars

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Thesis Type: Postgraduate

Institution Of The Thesis: Gazi Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Turkey

Approval Date: 2008

Student: TOGAY SEÇKİN BİRBUDAK

Supervisor: NECDET HAYTA

Abstract:

Balkan Wars is the second of the three big wars that quickened the collapse process of the Ottoman State. The Ottoman State lost all of his European land except East Trace with this war which broke up just after the Trablusgarp (Libia) War. The Ottoman army lost in all of the fronts in a short time in the wars done with Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia and Montenegro. Under siege during the Balkan wars, the cities of Edirne Işkodra and Yanya showed a great of heroism and although the impossibilities withstanded for a long period. Edirne, under the command of Mehmet Şüktü Pasha was under the siege of Bulgarian and Serbian army just after the Balkan Wars broke out. This city which knows how to defend itself against all the assaults has become one of the important actors in the truce period. Resisting for 155 days the city of Edirne had to surrender in May 26 1913 after all of the defence possibilities had gone out. The captivity of the city under the occupation of the Bulgarians didn't last long, it came back to the control of Turks in July 23 1913 with the forward operation done by the Ottoman army after the II. Balkan War broke out.