Eastern Thrace

Quick Facts: Who was Eastern Thrace?

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Eastern Thrace

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Geographical region of Turkey in Southeast Europe, historically significant for trade and conflict.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

East Thrace or Eastern Thrace, is the part of Turkey that is geographically in Southeast Europe. Turkish Thrace or also known as European Turkey accounts for 3% of Turkey's land area (an area of 23,764 km2) and 12% of the population. Asian Turkey, called Anatolia or Asia Minor, has an area of 755,688 km2 (97% of the country). The two are separated by the Dardanelles, Sea of Marmara and Straits of the Bosphorus, a route of about 361 km. The largest city is Istanbul, which straddles the Bosporus between Main region of Europe and Anatolia in Europe.

Career & Major Achievements

East Thrace is of historic importance as it is next to a major sea trade corridor. It is currently also of specific geostrategic importance because the sea corridor, which includes two narrow straits, provides access to the Mediterranean Sea from the Black Sea for the navies of five countries: Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, and Georgia. The region also serves as a future connector of existing Turkish, Bulgarian, and Greek high-speed rail networks. Due to the guest worker agreement with Turkey and Germany, some Turks in Germany originally come from Eastern Thrace, mostly from the Kırklareli Province. East Thrace sometimes refers to the eastern part of the historical region of Thrace.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

It is also used for the part of Thrace that is inside Turkey. The area includes all the territories of the Turkish provinces of Edirne, Tekirdağ and Kırklareli, as well as those territories on the European continent of the provinces of Çanakkale and Istanbul. The land borders of East Thrace were defined by the Treaty of Constantinople (1913) and the Bulgarian-Ottoman convention (1915) and were reaffirmed by the Treaty of Lausanne. Asiatic Turkey, called Anatolia or Asia Minor, has an area of 755,688 km2 (97% of the country). The two are separated by the Dardanelles, Sea of Marmara and Straits of the Bosphorus, a route of about 361 km (224 mi).

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1913: 1913 Milestone — The land borders of East Thrace were defined by the Treaty of Constantinople (1913) and the Bulgarian-Ottoman convention (1915) and were reaffirmed by the Treaty of Lausanne.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Eastern Thrace

True or False: “The current borders of East Thrace were established by the Treaty of Lausanne alone.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The modern borders were defined by a combination of treaties, specifically mentioning the Treaty of Constantinople (1913) and the Bulgarian-Ottoman convention (1915).

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abraham González (governor) — Historical peer (Died in 1913) (1913): Governor of Chihuahua and key Maderista leader during the Mexican Revolution.
• Ahmad Tajuddin — Historical peer (Born in 1913) (1913): The 27th Sultan of Brunei, advocating for political autonomy.
• A. A. K. Niazi — Historical peer (Born in 1915) (1915): Pakistani general who commanded Eastern Command during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
• Abba Eban — Historical peer (Born in 1915) (1915): Israeli diplomat, politician, and scholar of Arabic and Hebrew languages.

Frequently Asked Questions about Eastern Thrace