Срби у Турској Srbi u Turskoj | |
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Total population | |
165,401 (1965)[1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Istanbul, Gallipoli | |
Languages | |
Turkish and Serbian | |
Religion | |
Sunni Islam, minority Serbian Orthodox Christian |
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Serbs |
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The Serbs in Turkey are Turkish citizens of Serbian descent or Serbia-born people who reside in Turkey.
During the age of the Ottoman Empire most of Serbia and the Balkans were under Turkish control, and many Serbs moved to Istanbul and Anatolia for reasons ranging from economic to forceful relocation. On 28 August 1521, the Belgrade Fortress was captured by Suleiman the Magnificent, using 250,000 Turkish soldiers and over 100 ships. Subsequently, most of the city was razed to the ground and its entire Orthodox Christian population was deported to Istanbul[2] to an area that has since become known as the Belgrade forest.[3]
Many Janissaries were of Serbian descent and were taken as children from their homes and educated in Turkey. Some Serbs achieved political prominence and several Grand Viziers were born as Serbs.