BELGRADE TURK dkb/br. C, ARABIAN, 1712
| Color: dkb/br
In the summer of 1717 Prince Eugene of Savoy led an attack on Belgrade, Serbia which had been occupied by the Turks. During the seige the horse, later called the Belgrade Turk, was captured from the Bashaw of Belgrade by Claudius Florimund, Count of Mercy, who was a general under the command of the French Prince. The count sent him to the Prince de Craon, who in turn presented him to Leopold, Duke of Lorraine (from 1690 to 1729). Leopold`s father, Charles 5th and Duke of Lorraine from 1675 to 1690, had earlier taken part in the seige of Vienna, during which the Byerley Turk was probably captured.
Leopold`s son, Francis, Duke of Lorraine and later Emperor of Germany, had been schoolmate and friend to Edward Coke, of Longford Hall, Derbyshire, the first English owner of the Godolphin Arabian. Together they attended Luneville Academy and were hunting companions. In 1716 Cary, the daughter of Edward Coke`s older brother, had married Sir Marmaduke Wyvill. These connections probably led to the purchase of the Belgrade Turk by Sir Marmaduke, although Cheny notes that the broker was Baron de Brogue (possibly spelled de Broglie), Lorraine`s London minister. Since Francis did not become Duke of Lorraine until 1729 there is speculation that the Belgrade Turk may have entered England somewhat later than 1719, the traditional date given for his importation.
In any case Belgrade Turk entered the stud of Sir Marmaduke Wyvill in Constable Burton, near Bedale, Yorkshire, and there left a son and two daughters who made contributions to the stud book. Belgrade Turk is said to have died around 1740, still in the possession of Sir Marmaduke Wyvill.
Comes from Balkan, Today`s Serbia, capital of Serbia is Belgrade
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