The Gagauz of Edirne

The environment provides by Pax Ottomana across the vast geography of the Ottoman Empire encouraged the coexistence of diverse ethnic and religious communities which contributed to the development of a culture of coexistence and created a legacy whose traces are still felt. The Gagauz people were a part of the region’s rich Ottoman cultural heritage. However, their absence from records complicates researching their past. This study, which was designed in the form of cultural analysis, aims to identify and map the pre-migration Gagauz settlements in Edirne region. The research data includes official records, archives and bibliography and the examination of accessible maps to determine the settlements of the Gagauz community. The data were thematically transformed into findings, summarized and interpreted according to their characteristics. As part of the study, charts and maps were produced to document the former and current names of the historical Gagauz settlements in Edirne region.