Although the bull statue in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district center, which has fascinated those who see it as different from the extraordinary statues in our country in recent years, has become the most important symbol of the district today, it was actually made to show the power of the French who defeated the Germans in the Alsace-Lorraine region years ago. The story of his coming to us is quite interesting.
Unfortunately, when sculpture is mentioned in our country in recent years, we all think of sculptures erected in different provincial centers and looking quite strange. While discussing these extraordinary sculptures, everyone agrees on the beauty of the bull statue in the center of Istanbul’s Kadıköy district. today now The bull statue, which has become the symbol of Kadıköy district, Coming here was not easy.
The bull statue, which was made to symbolize the power of the French who defeated the Germans in the Alsace-Lorraine region before the First World War, took its place in Kadıköy today as a result of a rather complicated chain of events. That leaves you astonished and makes you think from where to where. To the interesting story of the Kadıköy bull statue And let’s take a closer look at his historical journey.
For years, the waters did not calm down in the Alsace-Lorraine region:
You must have seen the name Alsace-Lorraine in history books. This small region between France and Germany, It is a place that both states want to have and therefore have fought many times. The first war for the region was fought in the 1860s, and the French were victorious and took over the region.
As a result of the Frankfurt Peace Treaty made shortly after, the Alsace-Lorraine region was accepted as the territory of the German Empire, but a small part was ceded to France. After the First World War, the region, albeit briefly, Alsace-Lorraine Soviet Republic became an independent state.
With the Treaty of Versailles, Alsace-Lorraine became France again. During the Second World War, the area was briefly recaptured by the Germans, but After the defeat of the Nazis rejoined France. The Alsace-Lorraine region is today a French territory. So, what does all this have to do with the bull statue in Kadıköy?
The winner of the first war in the Alsace-Lorraine region, which is the biggest dispute between the states of Germany and France, To show the power of France A sculptor named Isidore Bonheur made the bull sculpture in question in the 1860s. However, the Germans soon captured both the site and the bull statue.
The gift of friendship between Germany – Union and Progress:
pioneer of modernization in the Ottoman Empire. There were close relations between the Committee of Union and Progress and the German Empire. In fact, it is said that we participated in the First World War just for this reason. In order to celebrate both this alliance and this friendship, the German Emperor II. Wilhelm gifted the bull statue in question to the Committee of Union and Progress in 1917.
The Committee of Union and Progress, on the other hand, decorated this statue, one of the most powerful names of the party. He gave it to Enver Pasha. The bull statue was first placed in the garden of the Beylerbeyi Palace and then in front of the large greenhouse in the Yıldız Palace Şale Mansion. When Enver Pasha went abroad after the First World War, the bull statue remained in the Bilezikçi Farm of Enver Pasha and Naciye Sultan for a while.
The bull statue was forgotten in a corner for many years:
The occupation of the Ottoman Empire, the War of Independence, the opening of the parliament, the collapse of the empire, the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, the bull statue; It was forgotten in Bilezikçi Farm for about 50 years. When remembered, it was first placed in front of the Lütfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Center and then in Taksim Gezi Park for a short time.
In the 1970s, the bull statue was placed in front of the building that is today the Kadıköy History, Literature and Art Library. Statue Although it entered Kadıköy, it was not immediately placed in its present location. Finally, in 1987, it was placed in Altınyol, which is known as the heart of Kadıköy, where it is today, and became the symbol of the district.
There is another view regarding the story of the statue:
As far as we know, this is the story of the Kadıköy bull statue, but there is another rumor. A true hunting and animal sculpture enthusiast. Sultan Abdulaziz, sculptor Rouillard and his team had a sculpture collection made of 24 animals. Kadıköy bull statue may be one of the sculptures in this collection. However, there is no conclusive evidence for this rumor.
The meaning of the Kadıköy bull statue today:
The bull statue, which has survived many wars and has come to where it is today, It has become the symbol of Kadıköy district and Fenerbahçe team whose stadium is in that district. If you are going to meet with your friends in Kadıköy, you will meet there at the bull statue, if Fenerbahçe becomes the champion, you will celebrate there, even if you are from Galatasaray, you will have a photo taken in front of the bull statue in a uniform. In other words, a statue made in Alsace-Lorraine has become an important value of our country today.
made to show the power of the French but tell the story of the bull statue, which has become the symbol of Kadıköy today. We talked and talked about the journey that brought the statue to where it is today. You can share your thoughts about the Kadıköy bull statue in the comments.