TURUL (TUĞRUL) BIRD SYMBOLISM IN THE HUNGARIAN CHRONICLES AND SETTLEMENT COAT OF ARMS

Öz

There is certainly at least one sacred animal determined as a symbol or iconography with a deep meaning in most of the societies that exist today. For Hungarian nation this is the mysterious bird of prey which is called Turul by them and Tuğrul by Turks. Although it is not exactly known what kind of a bird it was, there is almost a consensus that it was either an eagle or a hawk in both Hungarian and Turkic sources. Turul bird not only has taken its place in Hungarian mythology and legends, but also had enormous influence on the coat of arms, flags and many other cultural items of Hungarians throughout history while it still shows its presence on clothing, statues, songs as well as national pride within them and continues to affect them. In Hungarian chronicles the Turul bird is a recurring and prominent motif. The legend of Turul is included in many chronicles in detail; from Gesta Ungarorum, known as the first Hungarian chronicle, to Chronica Hungarorum, known as the last chronicle of the Hungarians while Chronicon Pictum (Képes Kronika), written in the 14th century, contains this motif in its miniatures. In addition, the Turul bird finds its place in the coats of arms of many Hungarian cities, towns and villages, thus allowing the people to reflect their collective subconscious through this symbolism. The aim of this study is to show the depiction and expression of Turul mainly in Chronicon Pictum (Képes Kronika) as well as other chronicles and sources, how it is used and described in various coats of arms of different residential areas along with its consequent presence and effect that is reflected to current day, starting from its etymology and origin. This myth, which is generally said to be related to Hungarian (Finno-Ugor) and Turkish mythology, also takes place in many societies with different names such as Anka, Phoenix or Hüma. However, it is known that the Tuğrul (Turul) bird, which is seen to have a very crucial place in the mythology and folk legends of the Hungarians, was reflected in the Hungarian chronicles and then on the Hungarian coat of arms, and its influence is felt among the people and in the culture of Hungary even today. The inclusion of the Turul bird in the medieval chronicles and various coats of arms from then until today and how it took its place in the consciousness and lives of the Hungarian people are within the scope of this study. The view of birds of prey as messengers and totems among Turkic peoples is also found in Hungarians, and the legend of the Turul bird and Emeşe, which is based on the tradition of origin and foretells that the glorious kings will emerge from her womb who will take lineage to foreign lands, has been included in the medieval and early medieval Hungarian chronicles like Gesta Ungarorum, Gesta Hungarorum, Képes Kronika and Chronica Hungarorum, unchanged for centuries. The Arpad dynasty, which arose from Emese whom impregnated by Turul, is also linked to the Hun king Attila, and is the common ancestor for both Turkish and Hungarian peoples in these chronicles. In addition, it is not a coincidence that the Turul bird is used in the coats of arms of some settlements in Hungary, and clearly it reflects the common past, memory and collective subconscious of the Hungarian people as well as the characteristics of those regions. Again, the continuous use of this iconography to this day, from statues to stamps, from fashion to various celebrations, reveals the importance of the Turul bird for Hungarians and traditional Hungarian folklore.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Magyar
• Turul
• Coat of Arms
• Chronicles
• Chronicon Pictum

MACAR KRONİKLERİ VE YERLEŞİM ARMALARINDA YER ALAN TURUL (TUĞRUL) KUŞU SEMBOLİZMİ

Öz

Günümüzde var olan tüm toplumların çoğunun folklor ve kültürlerinde mutlaka onlar için derin bir anlamı olan ve kutsal saydıkları en az bir tane sembol ya da ikon olarak belirledikleri hayvan vardır. Macar toplumu için bu hayvan onların Turul, Türklerin ise Tuğrul olarak adlandırdığı dev yırtıcı kuştur. Tam olarak hangi tür bir kuş olduğu kesin bilinmese de kartal ya da doğan olduğu yönünde hem Macar hem de Türk kaynaklarında neredeyse fikir birliği bulunmaktadır. Turul kuşu sadece Macar mitolojisi ve efsanelerinde yer almakla kalmamış aynı zamanda tarih boyunca Macarların armalarına, bayraklarına ve kültürel birçok ögelerine etki etmiş, günümüzde dahi kıyafetlerde, heykellerde, şarkılarda ve milli gurur olarak içlerinde yaşamaya ve onları etkilemeye devam etmektedir. Macar kroniklerinde Turul kuşu tekrarlanan ve ön plana çıkan bir motiftir. İlk Macar kroniği olarak bilinen Gesta Ungarorum’dan Macarların son kroniği olarak bilinen Chronica Hungarorum’a kadar birçok kronikte Turul efsanesi ayrıntılı bir şekilde yer alır ve Chronicon Pictum (Képes Kronika) 14. yüzyılda bu motife içerdiği minyatürlerde yer verir. Bunun yanı sıra Turul kuşu birçok Macar şehir, kasaba ve köyünün armalarında yer almakta ve böylece halkın ortak bilinçaltını sahip oldukları bu sembolizm ile yansıtmalarını sağlamaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı Turul’un etimolojisi ve kökeninden başlayarak Chronicon Pictum (Képes Kronika) başta olmak üzere çeşitli Macar kronikleri ve kaynaklardaki tasvir ve anlatımı, değişik Macar yerleşim bölgesi armalarında nasıl kullanıldığını ve bununla bağlantılı olarak günümüzde hala nasıl yaşatıldığını ve etkisini göstermektir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Macar
• Turul
• Arma
• Kronikler
• Chronicon Pictum

Kaynakça

1. Altınkaynak, Erdoğan, ‘‘Yer Altı Diyarının Kartalı’’, Hacı Bektaş Veli Araştırma Dergisi, C. 9, S. 26, 2003, ss. 147-148.
2. Béni, Alexandra, ‘‘Turul, the Mystical Hungarian Mytological Bird’’, https://dailynewshungary.com/turul-the-mystical-hungarian-mythological-bird/, Erişim Tarihi: 14.1.2024.
3. Cambridge Dictionary, ‘‘Coat of Arms’’, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/coat-of-arms, Erişim Tarihi: 5.1.2024.
4. Csécsei, Nóra, ‘‘Explore the Development of the Hungarian Coat of Arms’’, https://dailynewshungary.com/explore-the-development-of-the-hungarian-coat-of- arms/, Erişim Tarihi: 4.1.2024.