On Polish footprints in İstanbul

Indeed, the history of Turkish-Polish relations dates back to the first quarter of the 15th century. Initial contact between the Ottoman Empire and Poland (then Poland-Lithuania) began in 1414 with a Polish mission sent to Bursa, the empire's first major capital city. The first official diplomatic relations between the two dynasties started in 1439, followed soon by the first trade agreement and the first political treaty in 1489. Moreover, during the following centuries, the two countries signed no less than 27 bilateral peace treaties, the so-called “ahdnames.” Starting in 1444 and ending in 1699, this series of Ottoman-Polish treaties is said to be the longest sequence of documented Ottoman agreements with a European state preserved until today. The treaties' Ottoman copies can be found in part in the Prime Minister's Ottoman Archives (Basbakanlık Osmanlı Arşivi) in İstanbul.

Despite eventual wars that occasionally emerged from territorial conflicts in the Black Sea region, the two countries maintained good relations throughout the centuries. Being in close geographical proximity since the late Middle Ages, they cooperated jointly against the expanding Habsburg dynasty and the emerging Grand Duchy of Muscovy, the later Russia.

Relations have been especially strong since the 18th century. When in 1772 Austria-Hungary, Russia and Prussia signed a treaty to share Poland amongst each other, the Ottoman Empire didn't accept that, and thus, it was the only major power in the world that never recognized the dissolution and partitioning of Poland between the three powers. Moreover, Constantinople (İstanbul) remained the only capital city in the world to maintain a “Polish ambassador” until the end of World War I and the subsequent recreation of Poland.

Consequently, when in the 19th century, many Polish veterans of the Polish November Uprising and the January Uprising against the occupation came to Turkey, the empire expressed special loyalty to the Polish people.

At that time, many Polish officers served in the Ottoman Army. Polish Gen. Marian Langiewicz spent many years in Turkey, fighting in the Ottoman Army. His grave can be found in the Haydarpaşa Cemetery. Polish national poet Adam Mickiewicz spent the last months of his life in İstanbul and died there. The house where he lived was later transformed into the Adam Mickiewicz Museum, in the Beyoğlu district of İstanbul, displaying some manuscripts by Mickiewicz, historical documents and paintings. A crypt where Mickiewicz was temporarily buried for the period of one month is located in the basement.

Polonezköy -- a Polish village in İstanbul

Responding to the wishes of Prince Adam Czartoryski -- the first president of the Polish National Government, who found exile in France -- the sultan granted the growing immigrant community some land for settlement on the Asian side of İstanbul, within the boundaries of today's Beykoz district: “Polonezköy” (Turkish for “the Polish village”) or “Adampol” (“Town of Adam” in Polish) was founded in 1842.

The leadership of the commune was given to Micha? Czajkowski, a representative of Prince Adam and first administrator of the Polish Representative Office in İstanbul who also served in the Ottoman Army. After converting to Islam in 1850, he took the name of Mehmet Sadık Paşa.

In fact, in the beginning, it is documented that there were no more than four inhabitants in the small Polish agricultural colony. Though, over the course of time, the village developed and was soon flooded by hundreds of immigrants who had escaped from Poland during rebellions or later during the Crimean War in 1853. Later on, after the founding of the Turkish Republic, the inhabitants received Turkish citizenship in 1938.

There is still a Polish minority in the village. Around 40 of the roughly 1,000 people in Polonezköy speak Polish fluently. However, Polonezköy has become a very popular tourist attraction and has gained a reputation as a holiday spot for İstanbulites, which during the summertime populate the numerous hotels, pensions and restaurants and enjoy the gorgeous green areas and sport facilities. Nonetheless, it is still worth paying the village a visit and having a look at the place's Polish heritage preserved now for more than 150 years.

Directly at the entrance of the village, a visitor is welcomed by Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, which was built in 1900-1914 as a religious center for the Polish residents. It was renovated in 1918. The Polish Cemetery, located right behind the church, preserves the graves of 92 inhabitants of the village, including Ludwiga S'niadecka, who was a beloved of Polish poet Juliusz S?owacki. It is worth having a look around the well-renovated Memorial House of Zofia Rizi, a Polish female intellectual who promoted the mother tongue and history of Poland among the youth in the village throughout her life. The house of the Rizi family is said to have been one of the most magnificent houses in the whole village and actually played the role of a culture center. Serving as a museum today, it includes the richest collection of Polish literature in Turkey, next to souvenirs, old and new photos, books and documents and historic interior decoration.

Last but not least, the traditional Polonezköy Cherry Festival is organized annually during the second and third weekends of June. With the participation of politicians, local dancers and visitors coming from Poland, it is surely a unique event in İstanbul, including everything from cultural presentations, art and handicraft exhibitions, traditional food, folk dancing, music and many more activities.