Selimiye as a Commemorative Monument in Modern Turkey

Abstract

Selimiye, an Ottoman dynastic mosque, became a contested site of memory in the 20th century. As the Ottoman Empire disintegrated, Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey all had ambitions and even temporary control over Edirne during the first decades of the 20th century. Its unique location at the crossroads of nation-states provides fertile ground for investigating the role of architectural heritage in the formation of a nation's collective memory, with a consideration of transnational influences. This article investigates the development and reception of commemorations involving the monument through close readings of newspaper reports from Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria, as well as international media. It reveals the transnational dimension in forming a national frame of remembrance for the liberation of Edirne.