Why Are Turkish Flags Hanging in This Village in Italy?

Moena is a small village in the north of Italy. Fascinating Located in the heart of the Dolomites and located in Catinaccio, Sassolungo, Monzoni and Latemar The Turkish flag is waving in the region surrounded by mountains.

Although the existence of such a village in Italy stuns us all, this situation has a historical background. A history dating back to the Ottoman period, gave birth to a people who today accept themselves as Turks. Let’s break the curtain on the past of this Turkish Village, which we come across while browsing through the dusty pages of history.

How does the history of Moena Village date back to the Ottoman Empire?

This startling story is about a wounded man, thousands of kilometers from his homeland, alone in a country he never knew. with the Ottoman Janissaries started. According to rumors, a janissary named Hasan was appointed as an intelligence officer in the Ottoman army thanks to his knowledge of Russian, Italian and German.

By Orhan Yeniaras “El Turco” According to his book, Janissaries, disguised as a Christian priest, visited Venice, Vienna, Berlin and Rome many times to gather information. But the Ottoman grand vizier Kara Mustafa Pasha Second Siege of Vienna in 1683 Hasan’s life would change completely when he asked him to gather information about 12 Ottoman agents who disappeared before he set out for the mission.

As the Grand Vizier delayed the attack during the siege, Ottoman victory became increasingly impossible. In the face of this situation, the janissary Hasan criticized the grand vizier for his wrong decisions.

At that time, it was not for every brave man to oppose the decision of a pasha. Of course, Hasan’s brave exit also cost him dearly. It was not appropriate for a janissary to question the decisions of a pasha in the Ottoman army. Pasha gives the order to cut off Hasan’s head. The janissaries had already gone about 200 kilometers to reach a safe place. The place he reached was Moena, as we would guess.

The people of Moena opened their doors to the wounded Ottoman janissaries. Hasan, whom the locals call ‘El Turco’, became a member of the village and married an Italian woman over time.

Continuing the Ottoman traditions here, with a sword on his waist and a turban on his head, the soldier soon became one of Moena’s wealthy people. But peace soon German overlords will be corrupted by Derebeys plunder the village, in the face of this situation, the janissaries rebelled against the unjust tax system of the Duchy of Ausburg, turning this unjust order in their favor and attracting the villagers to their side.

This exit of Hasan led the people of Moena to fight the Germans and he became the hero of the town. El Turco bringing justice to MoenaAccording to the information given, he lived in this small village until the end of his life. Since then, the village of Moena has also been known as La Turchia, or Rione Turchia.

This story, handed down from generation to generation, is now identified with Moena. The Turkish flag in the village causes Hasan to be commemorated every day.

The generation after the Janissary Hasan kept his memory alive in this small Italian town. The story of this Ottoman soldier Moena Turkish FestivalIt continues to be celebrated in This festival is celebrated in the first week of August every year. Even the people celebrate this day with their janissary clothes.

The people of Moena have been living the same way for a very long time, from the Ottoman period to the present. live like a turk. Thus, they keep alive the Ottoman traditions that have been lost and forgotten over time.