The Mongolian raids that lasted for a short period
in 1241 caused to the migration of Turks in this region toward the more south fields. In
the 13th century, there were some Turks that had come from the south in this region. The
Seljuk Turks under the leadership of Konya Seljuk Sultan, İzzettin Keykavus and his
uncle, Sarı Saltuk settled in this region within the surrounding of Babadağ that was
called as Kavurna country in the years of 1263-64 DC. These people converted to
Christianity upon the pressures of the Byszantine pursuant to the death of Sarı Saltuk.
It has been anticipated that the name of Dobruca came from Dobrotiç, a person with Kuman
roots that was enthroned for the post of ruler of this state. Turkish historians have
mentioned about this region as Dobruca land since this century. The borders of the Altin Ordu State expanded
towards the Danube River since the middle of 13th century and until the end of 14th
century. Upon this expansion, some of Tatar Turks that lived in Kipchak Steppes came to
Dobruca Region and settled in it.
Pursuant to several
marauds organised by Aydınoğulları Beyliği (Bey governorship) towards Dobruca Region
in the 14th century, a new era was initiated in the Balkans that would last for centuries.
Eflak (Valahya) that accepted to pay tax to Ottomans in the year of 1391 was totally
conquered by the Ottoman dominion pursuant to Niğbolu Victory won by Yıldırım Bayezid
in the year of 1397. The dominion was established upon Moldavia pursuant to the conquests
of Kili (Kila) and Akkirman by Beyazıt II in the year of 1484.
When the Ottomans set
foot in Roumelia, they encountered with Kuman, Pecenek, and Oguz Turks in this reigon.
These people have played an important role in the advance of Ottomans within the Roumelia
and their established dominion for a long time.
Pursuant to the
conquests of Eflak and Moldavia, they were administered as an autonomous princedom that
was entitled with significant rights and privileges. Ottoman Laws were not applied in this
region and any governor of a province or a Muslim judge was not commissioned in this
region either. However, there had always been a military organisation by means of the
foundation of castles in the forefronts and borders.
Pursuant to the
conquest of Dobruca by Beyazıt II, Tatars who were invited from the north of the Black
Sea and the Turks most of whom led a nomadic life in Anatolia were settled in Dobruca.
Pursuant to the subjection of the Crimea to the Russians in 1783, some of the Crimean
Turks immigrated to Dobruca.
After the
Ottoman-Russian War in 1877-78, Romania attained its independency. After this period,
Dobruca Turks started to immigrate to Anatolia that they called as “Ak-Topraklar”
(White Lands) rushing and surging in crowds. These frequent migrations continued until the
year of 1910. Dobruca was nearly evacuated by the Turks upon the migrations between the
years of 1935-37. In the period of communism that started on the date of 23rd.08.1944,
some Turks immigrated to Anatolia as a result of the pressures imposed upon especially
wealthy and intellectual people. As a consequence of all these migrations, the Turkish
population that was nearly 250 thousands of people in 1920s has decreased to today’s
figures gradually.
As it can be observed,
Dobruca has been the much-frequented place of several Turkish tribes. Some of these tribes
converted to Christianity and they were assimilated among the Romanians. Some of them were
mixed among each other and they have survived their existence until nowadays. It has been
stated in the resources that the ancient Turkish tribes played an important role in the
formation of the Romanian nation. Various Turkish names that still exist among Romanians
are the most vital indicators of this fact. It has been reckoned that there was a
community called as “Çangıy” and “Sakuy” that lived in Sibiu City where most of
Hungarians live today. These people spoke with an ancient Turkish among themselves and it
has been estimated that these people were the Kuman Turks that adopted the Catholicity and
became Hungarians in the course of time.
Tatar Turks classify
themselves in three groups as Tat, Keriç-Çongar and Nogay people. Those who had come
from the environs of Bahçesaray speaking a language that resemble to Anatolian Turkish
were called as Tat; those who first settled in Dobruca speaking with a dialect that
resembled to the Northern Turkish were called as Nogay; and those who had come to the
region after the years of 1860 and constituted the majority of the Crimean Turks in
Dobruca were called as Keriç-Çongar people. Turks that we call as Evlad-ı fatihan
(Fatih’s children) speak with a typical Roumelian Turkish. Apart from these people,
there are the Gipsies considered as a nation that invigorates the Turkish language in a
vivid manner. This community is the first group that had adopted the Islam religion in the
period of Ottomans and learned Turkish. This community that consider themselves as Turks
cast their votes in favour of the Turkish members of parliament.
Union of Turks
and Tatars
Turks have existed as a minority that was faithful to the
unity and integrity of Romania without causing any problems. Through the societies that
they establish, Turks try to get the benefit of their constitutional rights that they were
entitled to. Turks who had possessed several societies before communism established the
“Democratic Turk-Muslim Union of Romania” on the date of 29th.12.1989 pursuant to the
collapse of the socialist regime. But unfortunately, this union is dissolved/forced to
dissolve upon its division into two unions such as the Democratic Union of Romanian Turks
(Uniunea Democrata Turca Din Romanıa) and the Democratic Union of Romanian Tatar-Turk
Muslims (Uniunea Democrate a Tatarilor Turk-Müsluman din Romania). These two
organisations were united under the name of the Federation of Turko-Tatar Unions on the
date of 30th.07.1994 as a result of the initiatives
The End
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