Serbs in Turkey

Turkish Serbs
Срби у Турској
Srbi u Turskoj

Total population
(15,000 (2010))
Regions with significant populations
Istanbul, Gallipoli
Languages
Turkish and Serbian
Religion
Sunni Islam and Serbian Orthodox

The Serbs in Turkey is a Turkish citizen of Serbian descent or Serbia-born person who resides in Turkey.

History

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 different reasons, ranging from economic to forceful relocation. 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 Serbs.

Demographics

In the 1965 Census 6,599 Turkish citizen spoke Serbian as a first language and another 58,802 spoke Serbian as a second language.

Notable people

• Zagan Pasha, Ottoman Grand Vizier from 1453 to 1456
• Mahmud Pasha Angelović, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire from 1456 to 1466, and 1472 to 1474
• Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, Ottoman Grand Vizier from 1565 to 1579
• Sokolluzade Lala Mehmed Pasha, Ottoman Grand Vizier from 1604 to 1606
• Damat Melek Mehmed Pasha, Ottoman Grand Vizier from 1792 to 1794
• Yavuz Ali Pasha, Ottoman Governor of Egypt from 1601 to 1603
• Meylişah Hatun, Consort to Sultan Osman II
• Ivana Sert, famous Serbian-Turkish television personality, socialite, presenter, model, fashion designer, entrepreneur, businesswoman, beauty pageant titleholder, author, and occasional actress

See also

• Gallipoli Serbs