The Harsh Exile of the Powerful: The Princes’ Islands in History

The Princes’ Islands, a picturesque archipelago in the Sea of Marmara, today seem like an idyllic escape from bustling Istanbul. However, their serene beauty conceals a much more tumultuous history. For centuries, these islands served as a place of banishment for powerful figures who fell from grace, from Byzantine emperors to Russian revolutionaries.

The Byzantine and Ottoman Exile

The practice of exiling members of royalty to these islands began during the Byzantine Empire. Being easily accessible by sea and sufficiently isolated from Constantinople (present-day Istanbul), they were the perfect place to confine political rivals and disgraced empresses. Nuns and monks were often sent to the islands’ convents, and some of the most notable exiles include:

· Zoe Porphyrogenita: An empress, known for her power and court intrigues, who was sent to Büyükada Island in the 11th century.

· Anna Dalassena: The powerful mother of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos, who retired to a convent on the island to escape the pressures of the court.

· Leon Trotsky: The prominent revolutionary and co-founder of the Red Army, who was expelled from the Soviet Union by Stalin and lived in exile on Büyükada Island between 1929 and 1933, where he wrote key works against the Stalinist regime.

· Ignatius I of Constantinople: This patriarch of Constantinople was exiled in the year 857. His exile was particularly harsh, as he was tortured on the island for ten years. However, his story took a turn, as he was re-elected patriarch in the year 867.

The tradition of using the islands as a place of exile continued under the Ottoman Empire, although notable cases are not as abundant as in the Byzantine era.

The Case of Zoe Porphyrogenita

The most extraordinary moment of her life came in 1042, when her adopted son, Michael V, betrayed her and exiled her to a convent. This act unleashed a massive popular insurrection in Constantinople. The people loved Zoe, the last of her dynasty, and rose up to restore her to the throne.

Michael V was deposed and blinded. For a brief period of two months, Zoe ruled jointly with her sister Theodora, marking a unique moment in Byzantine history in which two women from the same family reigned over the Empire.

The Case of Anna Dalassena

Anna Dalassena is a complex figure. On one hand, she was instrumental in stabilizing and strengthening the Byzantine Empire during a turbulent period. Her political sagacity helped her dynasty to endure. On the other hand, her ambition and hostility toward her daughter-in-law’s family, the Doukas, caused constant tensions at court.

Anna Dalassena retired from public life around the year 1100 and became a nun in the convent she herself had founded. Her legacy is that of a powerful matriarch who, without wearing the crown, led the Byzantine Empire with a firm and secure hand.

The Case of Leon Trotsky

The most famous modern-day exile on the islands was undoubtedly Leon Trotsky, one of the most important leaders of the Russian Revolution. After losing the power struggle against Joseph Stalin, he was expelled from the Soviet Union in 1929. Trotsky found refuge on Büyükada, the largest island, where he lived in the Yanarós Mansion for four years.

During his time on the island, Trotsky did not remain inactive. Despite his isolation, he wrote prolifically, producing key works such as The History of the Russian Revolution and other texts that harshly criticized Stalin’s regime. His stay on the island, however, was not a peaceful exile; he faced the constant threat of Soviet agents and political intrigues from abroad. In 1933, he was forced to leave again, seeking refuge in France and, finally, in Mexico, where he was assassinated in 1940.

Today, the mansion where Trotsky lived is a silent reminder of this period. The Princes’ Islands have transitioned from a place of confinement to a paradise for visitors, but their past as a refuge for imperial and revolutionary exiles remains a fascinating part of their identity.