From Our Own Correspondent: Old Enemies Unite
Nick Thorpe explores the history of Szigetvar, where Hungarians, Croatians and Turks recently gathered to remember a great battle and the Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
Suleiman the Magnificent was one of the Ottoman empire's most renowned sultans - and led several of its military expansions. In Szigetvar, Hungary, Nick Thorpe recently witnessed a commemoration of the great siege and battle between Ottoman and European forces which took place there 450 years ago. The ceremony revealed much - not just about history, but also about current alliances and tensions in the region, as Hungarian, Croatian and Turkish delegations all showed up. But whose military band shone brightest?
Photo: Statues of the rival military leaders of the 16th century Ottoman Sultan Suleiman (R) and his opponent Miklos Zrinyi (L) at the Hungarian-Turkish friendship park in Szigetvar, Hungary, September 2, 2016. (ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/GettyImages)
Last on
Broadcast
- Thu 15 Sep 2016 15:23GMT麻豆社 World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa