Abstract:

Prince of Bavaria IV of Germany. In the sixteenth century, Wilhelm ordered a work to Albrecht Altdorfer, one of the most mastery artists of the time, to make himself immortal. Based on this order, Albrecht Altdorfer completed his work "Die Alexanderschlacht" (the battle of Alexander) between 1528-1529. Albrecht Altdorfer, in his work on order, described the challenge battle carried out by the Great Alexander against the Persian Emperor Darius. Originally, this challenge, which took place in 333 BC in the Tarsus region of Anatolia and was the subject of the artist's painting, took place between the Persians and the Greeks. Nevertheless, in Altdorfer's work, the Persians, like an Ottoman soldier, showed their soldiers in the army of Alexander in blue and white clothes, the colors of Bavaria. The conflict between the east and the west was adapted to the current events of the east and the fourth. It was a propaganda that Wilhelm would win the Ottoman. It is one of the important examples of Islamophobic speeches in the sixteenth century, which still exists today. It also contains prejudices that are frequently shown in the West, such as "bad, cruel, barbaric Turkish". Images that trigger similar prejudices can be an example of the Eastern fear that the West possesses. This study was aimed at revealing the images used in Albrecht Altdorfer’s work ‘Die Alexanderschlacht’ to spread the Turkish fear that existed in Europe at the beginning of the sixteenth century. In addition, it aims to keep light on what kind of concern can be found in the origins of the prejudices that the West today has about Turkey and Turks and thus contribute to intercultural communication.

Keywords:

Abstract:

During the sixteenth century the Bavarian prince of Germany Wilhelm IV ordered a painting by the most masterful artist of its time to make himself immortal. According to this order Albrecht Altdorfer completed an amazing work between 1528-1529 and named it ‘Die Alexanderschlacht’ (The Battle of Alexander at Issus). In this painting Altdorfer painted Alexander the Great's pitched battle against the Persian Emperor Darius. This battle, which originally took place in the Tarsus region of Anatolia in 333 BC took place between the Persians and the Greeks. However, Altdorfer showed the Persians as Ottoman soldiers, and his soldiers in the army of Alexander in blue and white clothes which were the colors of Bavaria. In his artwork the historic conflict between east and west was adapted to current events of that period and propaganda was made that Wilhem would prevail over the Ottomans. This work, which can be shown as an important example of Islamophobic discourses in the sixteenth century, which still exists today. It also includes prejudices exhibited in the west such as “bad, ruthless, barbarian Turk”. Through the work of Albrecht Altdorfer's "Die Alexanderschlacht" this study aims to make visible the images used to spread the fear of Turks, which was common in Europe at the beginning of the sixteenth century. Beyond that it tries to shed light on the roots of what kind of anxiety lies under the prejudices of the west about Turkey and the Turks. Further it aims to make the intercultural communication much easier.