bosman
2 Aug 2010
History / Polish-Turkish alliance. Is it mistake, joke or real love? [35]
<offtopic>
Cześć!
This is my first post on the forum, although I'm a long time reader.
Yeah, my nickname is dedicated to the best beer in the world: BOSMAN :)
</offtopic>
The thing between Poland and Turkey is something way more bigger than an alliance.
Let's get a quick review.
<if-you-do-not-like-to-read-long-posts-you-can-skip-this-part>
************************
In 1414, Hungarian king asked military support from Polish King Jagiello against Turks. By that time Hungary was holding a strategic importance for both Polish Kingdom and Ottoman Empire. But instead of giving military support. King Jagiello sent two ambassadors to Turkey.
And this was the first contact between two nations. Unlike what's known, we had our first contact via diplomatic relation, not war. For the first 30 years, Turks and Poles try to solve their issues by sending ambassadors to each other.
1444, we had our first war. The young King of Poland and King of Hungary, Władysław Warneńczyk III had started an unofficial crusade (it was not fully supported in Lechia) against Turks, which later be named as Crusade of Varna. With Warneńczyk on the lead some Polish Knights join the Hungarian army, but got defeated by Turks.
In 1456 the diplomatic relations started again, and relations improved with some trade agreements. In 1497-1501, during the time of Jan I Olbracht there were some battles again, but no winning side.
In 1501 Turks and Poles signed a peace treaty. This treatment lasted more than 100 years. This is what I'm like about Poles, they honor their words. If they say peace, it's peace. you can safely turn your back :)
In these peaceful times relations gets more and more stronger. Turks started to teach Polish to their diplomats while Poles teaching Turkish.
During the time of Zygmunt I Stary and Suleiman the Magnificent the bonds got very very stronger and they signed an eternal peace treatment. Until one of them die, the two nations will remain in peace. This is important because it's the first and only eternal peace treatment signed by an Ottoman Sultan.
After the dead of Zygmunt, Roxelana (the beloved wife of Suleiman) sent a letter to his son Zygmunt II August. In her letter she was saying that "Your father and Suleiman were just like brothers. So now he's going to treat you just like his son. etc." (you can find the full text, search on google)
In 1620, Tatars and Cossacks living in Poland started to attack Turkish border towns. They even burn a few cities near Anatolia. These events were destroying 100 year hold peace. There were some small battles near border but nothing big.
In 1683, Battle of Vien, famous story. Jan III Sobieski helped the Holy League and won a successfull victory over Turks. (I personally adore Sobieski.. such a great warrior, such a great king!)
In 1686 Poland signed a peace treaty with Russia (Pokój wieczysty) and this treaty ends the Turkish-Polish peace times. (I also think this treaty was bad for Poles.. starting point of the road of collapsing :()
In 1699 Poland and Turkey had their last battle! Result was a decisive Polish victory, Poland gained the control of Ukraine.
At the end of this "Great Turkish War", Treaty of Karlowitz signed. And that's it. No more wars between two nations.
Diplomatic relations just started again in 1720! The war times forgotten really fast, but unfortunately it was not good times for Polish Kingdom. In 1790 the last Polish King, Stanisław II August Poniatowski asked Ottomans for a military alliance against Russians. Before Ottomans prepare an army for Russian campaign, it was too late for Polish. In 1792 Russians invade Poland and in 1795 Poland divided in three pars between Prussia, Russia and Austria.
************************
</if-you-do-not-like-to-read-long-posts-you-can-skip-this-part>
Turkey was the only country in the world who never acknowledged the partitions of Poland!
For 123 years, Turkey always waited for Polish Ambassador. It's not a legend :)
In every event organized by Ottomans, there was always one empty seat reserved, with one empty plate and one empty glass. If somebody asks for it, they reply: "It's for Polish Ambassador!"
Or during meetings with foreign diplomats, ambassadors, Sultan always asks for the Polish ambassador to his grand vizier and he replies like this "The Ambassador from Poland is on his way to here, but he faced with some problems on the road so he's going to be a little bit late"
Turks opened their borders to Polish immigrants, statesmen, soldiers who are running away from Russians. And probably you know the story of the Polish village in Istanbul.
Polonezköy:
polonezkoy.com/history.html
After failed uprisings in 1831, 1848 and 1863 most of the Polish leaders came to Turkey.
But the bad thing is, Ottoman Empire was losing power too.. They were losing lands, losing battles against Russia. Before and after every battle Russians always ask for "give us the Polish refugees, nobles, leaders! or you will face consequences!"
At the end of the 19th century Ottomans nearly lost all of their lands in Balkans. Even in some battle Russian make their ways through Istanbul, and once again they demand for Polish refugees! Abdülmecit I replied them like this: "I can give you my crown, I can give you my head, but I'm not giving any people that refuge in my land!"
During that years there are many Polish served in Ottoman army.
In 1869, Konstantyn Borzecki, a Polish general in Turkish army wrote a book titled "Ancient and Modern Turks". This book later praised by our forefather Atatürk. He said that Borzecki deserves a golden statue! Atatürk later used Borzecki's ideas and suggestions in his revolutions for the Turkish Republic.
After Turkish War of Independence (1919-1922) a new Turkish state has born. The modern day Turkey, "Republic of Turkey". And guess what? Poland is the first European country that officially recognizes the new Turkish state :)
During the WWII, Turkey also played an important role for Polish brothers. Bank Polska transferred most of the Polish gold through Turkey. Again like in history, Turkey accepted Polish refugees, diplomats. Polish pilots, diplomats use Turkey to travel to UK and France. Polish postal mail, messages go through Turkey.
Third Reich was threatening us, there was a war going on near our borders, Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria. But we do not turn our backs to Polish brothers. :)
Another interesting story;
Nazi Ambassador in Turkey, Von Papen made an official request to Turkey that "Due to Anschluss Agreement between Czechoslovakia and Germany, the Czechoslovakia Embassy building must be belong to Germany. And simply we want that building" The Turkish goverment gave the building to Nazi's. And Van Papen, started to work in there. Polish Embassy is just 100 meters from his window!
After invasion of Poland, they made the same request for Polish Embassy. İsmet İnönü, President of Turkey declined the offer and said:
"We have a very strong friendship with Poland. In history, we waited nearly 150 years for the Polish Ambassador! Now for a very short of time (he states that Poland will be independent again in a few years!) we cannot turn our backs to Polish brothers. So the Republic of Turkey declines your request!"
So Von Papen always watched beautiful Polish flag from his window!
This is a very long post for a first post.. I know I missed a lot good things, but these are all I can remember now :)
Although there 1500kms between our borders, Poland is a true friend for Turkey, and she always be! Turkey has no other friendship like this, even with Turkic or Muslim states.
Poland is special ;)
<offtopic>
Cześć!
This is my first post on the forum, although I'm a long time reader.
Yeah, my nickname is dedicated to the best beer in the world: BOSMAN :)
</offtopic>
The thing between Poland and Turkey is something way more bigger than an alliance.
Let's get a quick review.
<if-you-do-not-like-to-read-long-posts-you-can-skip-this-part>
************************
In 1414, Hungarian king asked military support from Polish King Jagiello against Turks. By that time Hungary was holding a strategic importance for both Polish Kingdom and Ottoman Empire. But instead of giving military support. King Jagiello sent two ambassadors to Turkey.
And this was the first contact between two nations. Unlike what's known, we had our first contact via diplomatic relation, not war. For the first 30 years, Turks and Poles try to solve their issues by sending ambassadors to each other.
1444, we had our first war. The young King of Poland and King of Hungary, Władysław Warneńczyk III had started an unofficial crusade (it was not fully supported in Lechia) against Turks, which later be named as Crusade of Varna. With Warneńczyk on the lead some Polish Knights join the Hungarian army, but got defeated by Turks.
In 1456 the diplomatic relations started again, and relations improved with some trade agreements. In 1497-1501, during the time of Jan I Olbracht there were some battles again, but no winning side.
In 1501 Turks and Poles signed a peace treaty. This treatment lasted more than 100 years. This is what I'm like about Poles, they honor their words. If they say peace, it's peace. you can safely turn your back :)
In these peaceful times relations gets more and more stronger. Turks started to teach Polish to their diplomats while Poles teaching Turkish.
During the time of Zygmunt I Stary and Suleiman the Magnificent the bonds got very very stronger and they signed an eternal peace treatment. Until one of them die, the two nations will remain in peace. This is important because it's the first and only eternal peace treatment signed by an Ottoman Sultan.
After the dead of Zygmunt, Roxelana (the beloved wife of Suleiman) sent a letter to his son Zygmunt II August. In her letter she was saying that "Your father and Suleiman were just like brothers. So now he's going to treat you just like his son. etc." (you can find the full text, search on google)
In 1620, Tatars and Cossacks living in Poland started to attack Turkish border towns. They even burn a few cities near Anatolia. These events were destroying 100 year hold peace. There were some small battles near border but nothing big.
In 1683, Battle of Vien, famous story. Jan III Sobieski helped the Holy League and won a successfull victory over Turks. (I personally adore Sobieski.. such a great warrior, such a great king!)
In 1686 Poland signed a peace treaty with Russia (Pokój wieczysty) and this treaty ends the Turkish-Polish peace times. (I also think this treaty was bad for Poles.. starting point of the road of collapsing :()
In 1699 Poland and Turkey had their last battle! Result was a decisive Polish victory, Poland gained the control of Ukraine.
At the end of this "Great Turkish War", Treaty of Karlowitz signed. And that's it. No more wars between two nations.
Diplomatic relations just started again in 1720! The war times forgotten really fast, but unfortunately it was not good times for Polish Kingdom. In 1790 the last Polish King, Stanisław II August Poniatowski asked Ottomans for a military alliance against Russians. Before Ottomans prepare an army for Russian campaign, it was too late for Polish. In 1792 Russians invade Poland and in 1795 Poland divided in three pars between Prussia, Russia and Austria.
************************
</if-you-do-not-like-to-read-long-posts-you-can-skip-this-part>
Turkey was the only country in the world who never acknowledged the partitions of Poland!
For 123 years, Turkey always waited for Polish Ambassador. It's not a legend :)
In every event organized by Ottomans, there was always one empty seat reserved, with one empty plate and one empty glass. If somebody asks for it, they reply: "It's for Polish Ambassador!"
Or during meetings with foreign diplomats, ambassadors, Sultan always asks for the Polish ambassador to his grand vizier and he replies like this "The Ambassador from Poland is on his way to here, but he faced with some problems on the road so he's going to be a little bit late"
Turks opened their borders to Polish immigrants, statesmen, soldiers who are running away from Russians. And probably you know the story of the Polish village in Istanbul.
Polonezköy:
polonezkoy.com/history.html
After failed uprisings in 1831, 1848 and 1863 most of the Polish leaders came to Turkey.
But the bad thing is, Ottoman Empire was losing power too.. They were losing lands, losing battles against Russia. Before and after every battle Russians always ask for "give us the Polish refugees, nobles, leaders! or you will face consequences!"
At the end of the 19th century Ottomans nearly lost all of their lands in Balkans. Even in some battle Russian make their ways through Istanbul, and once again they demand for Polish refugees! Abdülmecit I replied them like this: "I can give you my crown, I can give you my head, but I'm not giving any people that refuge in my land!"
During that years there are many Polish served in Ottoman army.
In 1869, Konstantyn Borzecki, a Polish general in Turkish army wrote a book titled "Ancient and Modern Turks". This book later praised by our forefather Atatürk. He said that Borzecki deserves a golden statue! Atatürk later used Borzecki's ideas and suggestions in his revolutions for the Turkish Republic.
After Turkish War of Independence (1919-1922) a new Turkish state has born. The modern day Turkey, "Republic of Turkey". And guess what? Poland is the first European country that officially recognizes the new Turkish state :)
During the WWII, Turkey also played an important role for Polish brothers. Bank Polska transferred most of the Polish gold through Turkey. Again like in history, Turkey accepted Polish refugees, diplomats. Polish pilots, diplomats use Turkey to travel to UK and France. Polish postal mail, messages go through Turkey.
Third Reich was threatening us, there was a war going on near our borders, Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria. But we do not turn our backs to Polish brothers. :)
Another interesting story;
Nazi Ambassador in Turkey, Von Papen made an official request to Turkey that "Due to Anschluss Agreement between Czechoslovakia and Germany, the Czechoslovakia Embassy building must be belong to Germany. And simply we want that building" The Turkish goverment gave the building to Nazi's. And Van Papen, started to work in there. Polish Embassy is just 100 meters from his window!
After invasion of Poland, they made the same request for Polish Embassy. İsmet İnönü, President of Turkey declined the offer and said:
"We have a very strong friendship with Poland. In history, we waited nearly 150 years for the Polish Ambassador! Now for a very short of time (he states that Poland will be independent again in a few years!) we cannot turn our backs to Polish brothers. So the Republic of Turkey declines your request!"
So Von Papen always watched beautiful Polish flag from his window!
This is a very long post for a first post.. I know I missed a lot good things, but these are all I can remember now :)
Although there 1500kms between our borders, Poland is a true friend for Turkey, and she always be! Turkey has no other friendship like this, even with Turkic or Muslim states.
Poland is special ;)