Darülfünun students’demonstr ations for the Balkan War and their journey to Edirne

Year 2004, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 65 - 73, 01.12.2004

Emre Dölen

Abstract

In the prelude of the first Balkan War (1912­13) Gazi Ahmed  Muhtar
Pasha was appointed Grand Vizier. The first action of his cabinet was to remove
the martial law in July 1912. This  provided suitable conditions  for political 
actions  in Istanbul. The Government’s  apathy towards  the war preparations 
undertaken by the Balkan states  to end the Ottoman rule led Darülfünun 
(University) students to make demonstrations in order to urge the government to 
take actions.

As  a result  of these demonstrations, the Government  re­instituted  the
martial law and started to undertake reforms in Rumeli instigated by European 
powers. As  Serbian  and Bulgarian forces entered Ottoman territories on  16th 
October 1912, the Ottoman government declared war the day after. The city of
Edirne was besieged by the Bulgarian army and the city had to survive under
deplorable conditions until 22nd July 1913 when the Ottoman forces reclaimed 
the city in 1913. Right  after the release of the Edirne, Darülfünun  students
initiated an aid campaign and organised a journey to the city in order to convey 
the aid material to its citizens who had much suffered during the occupation.

Keywords

Balkan War, Darülfünun, Edirne, Turkey

Darülfünun Öğrencilerinin Balkan Savaşı Eylemleri ve Edirne Seyahati

Abstract

In the prelude of the first Balkan War (1912­13) Gazi Ahmed  Muhtar Pasha was appointed Grand Vizier. The first action of his cabinet was to remove the martial law in July 1912. This  provided suitable conditions  for political  actions  in Istanbul. The Government’s  apathy towards  the war preparations  undertaken by the Balkan states  to end the Ottoman rule led Darülfünun  (University) students to make demonstrations in order to urge the government to  take actions.

As  a result  of these demonstrations, the Government  re­instituted  the martial law and started to undertake reforms in Rumeli instigated by European  powers. As  Serbian  and Bulgarian forces entered Ottoman territories on  16th  October 1912, the Ottoman government declared war the day after. The city of Edirne was besieged by the Bulgarian army and the city had to survive under deplorable conditions until 22nd July 1913 when the Ottoman forces reclaimed  the city in 1913. Right  after the release of the Edirne, Darülfünun  students initiated an aid campaign and organised a journey to the city in order to convey  the aid material to its citizens who had much suffered during the occupation.

Keywords

Balkan Savaşı, Darülfünun, Edirne, Türkiye

References

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