In 1492, the Ottoman Navy rescued thousands of Jews expelled from Spain
When the Alhambra Decree forced thousands of Jews to flee Spain in 1492, an unexpected ally in the Ottoman Empire sent a fleet to ensure their safe passage and survival.
In 1492, the same year Columbus set sail, Spain issued the Alhambra Decree, demanding the immediate expulsion of its Jewish population. While many nations closed their doors, Sultan Bayezid II of the Ottoman Empire recognized the immense value of these refugees. He dispatched the Ottoman Navy to rescue tens of thousands, bringing them safely to cities like Thessaloniki and Izmir.
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