When speaking of Ottoman-Hungarian relations, most minds turn to battles, sieges, and Mohács. Yet this relationship had a far less known, astonishing side: Hungarian leaders who resisted Habsburg pressure and, when defeated, sought refuge in the Ottoman Empire. For them, Ottoman lands were not an enemy territory but a sanctuary. Two names are the heroes of this story: Imre Thököly and Francis II Rákóczi. Today their memory is kept alive in museums in Izmit and Tekirdağ.
Imre Thököly: King of Central Hungary
In the second half of the 17th century, Imre Thököly (Tökeli İmre in Turkish sources) led Hungarian nobles in rebellion against Habsburg rule. With Ottoman support, he became recognized as "King of Central Hungary." However, the Vienna debacle of 1683 and subsequent defeats changed the fate of him and his supporters. Following the 1699 Treaty of Karlowitz, Thököly, his family, and approximately two thousand members of his household were settled in the interior regions of the Ottoman Empire.
The Ottomans granted him an estate near Izmit. Thököly died in 1705, at age 48, in his mansion known as "Çiçek Meydanı Estate" and was buried in the Armenian Cemetery in Izmit. His wife Ilona Zrínyi's remains were transferred to independent Hungary in 1906, along with his. Today, an memorial house dedicated to him stands in Izmit.
Francis II Rákóczi: The Prince of Rodosto
The second figure in this story is Thököly's stepson, Francis II Rákóczi. A prince of Transylvania, Rákóczi led a major independence war against the Habsburgs in the early 18th century. When this struggle too ended in defeat, he also sought refuge in the Ottoman Empire and from 1717 onward was settled in Tekirdağ (called Rodosto at that time). Accompanying him were a loyal household and the renowned letter-writer Kelemen Mikes.
Rákóczi spent his final years in Rodosto until 1735. Today, his residence in Tekirdağ has been restored with contributions from the Hungarian government and converted into a museum and memorial house. Rákóczi's remains were likewise transferred, in 1906, to Kassa in Hungary (present-day Košice in Slovakia).
Why Did the Ottoman Empire Protect Them?
This protection was more than a matter of mercy; it was also pragmatic policy. Supporting Hungarian resistance against the Habsburgs meant a balancing force in Europe for the Ottoman Empire. Yet the human dimension was equally real: hosting defeated, exiled leaders and their households for years, granting them land and income, created a loyalty relationship that transcended diplomatic convention of the era. Today these two names are revered as national heroes in Hungary; in Turkey, the memorial houses stand as tangible witnesses to this extraordinary friendship between two nations.
For those curious about Ottoman and Turkish traces in Hungary, our article on Ottoman-era Muslim cemeteries and Gül Baba in Budapest offers complementary reading.
A Bridge of Friendship Between Two Nations
The stories of Thököly and Rákóczi form the foundation of today's special bond between Turkey and Hungary. In Hungary, these two names are revered as national heroes in the struggle for freedom against Habsburg oppression. That they found sanctuary in Ottoman lands is the source of a centuries-old sentiment of sympathy and kinship between the two peoples. Indeed, even today in Hungary, "Turkish-Hungarian brotherhood" is a frequently invoked concept.
The concrete traces of this bond are preserved both in Turkey and Hungary. The Thököly Memorial House in Izmit and the Rákóczi Museum in Tekirdağ, arranged with contributions from the Hungarian government, are spaces that showcase the shared heritage of the two nations. Tekirdağ, under its name "Rodosto" in Hungarian history, holds a special place; each year visitors from Hungary come to see this house. Commemorative events held in certain years keep this friendship alive.
Throughout history, the Ottoman Empire's embrace of European refugees was not limited to these two figures. Hungarian and Polish refugees of 1848, various political figures who sought Ottoman refuge in different periods, were all part of this tradition. The Ottoman attitude, both a strategic policy of balance and an example of hospitality that transcended diplomatic convention of the era, remains remarkable. Today, visiting these memorial houses means seeing not only the legacy of two leaders but also the intersecting fates of two peoples.
For those wishing to explore Turkey and Hungary together, these two memorial houses offer a wonderful way to see the intertwining history of the two nations. Located in Izmit and Tekirdağ, these spaces stand as monuments not to wars and treaties, but to human solidarity and friendship. For a leader, after being driven from his homeland, to live for years as a guest of another state, and to have his memory preserved to this day, is a friendship story rarely encountered in history.
These stories remind us that history is not merely wars and rivalry; friendships, refuges, and unexpected solidarity are also part of history's narrative. Thököly and Rákóczi are two bridges that live on in the hearts of two nations centuries later. The memorial houses standing in their honor speak not of the wounds of the past but of the power of the bonds created.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Imre Thököly and where is he buried?
He was a Hungarian leader who resisted the Habsburgs and was recognized by the Ottoman Empire as "King of Central Hungary." He died in Izmit in 1705; his grave was transferred to Hungary in 1906.
Why did Rákóczi live in Tekirdağ?
After his independence war against the Habsburgs ended in defeat, he sought refuge in the Ottoman Empire and lived in Tekirdağ (Rodosto) from 1717 to 1735. His house is now a museum.
Can I visit these memorial houses?
Yes. The Thököly Memorial House in Izmit and the Rákóczi Museum in Tekirdağ are open to visitors and tell the story of the historical bond between the two nations.
