Extra History Of Sultan Mehmet IV Vahdettin: Sultan Mehmet IV, also known as Vahdettin, stands as one of the most intriguing figures in Ottoman history. Ascending to the throne at the tender age of six, his reign from 1648 to 1687 was marked by both turbulence and triumph. Known as “Mehmet the Hunter” due to his passion for hunting, he witnessed the empire’s fluctuating fortunes, from internal strife and military defeats to a remarkable revival under the Köprülü viziers. This article delves into the lesser-known aspects of his life and reign, shedding light on the complexities and contradictions that defined his rule. Join us as we explore the Extra History Of Sultan Mehmet IV Vahdettin, a ruler whose legacy continues to captivate historians and enthusiasts alike.
Vahdettin, the most controversial subject of Turkish history, was born on January 4, 1861. The fourth son of Abdülmecit to ascend to the throne, Vahdettin was raised by his stepmother Şayeste Hanım since his father died before he came of age and his mother died when he was four. He lived in a mansion in Çengelköy given to him by his older brother Abdülhamid II until he became sultan. He was officially declared heir to the Ottoman throne after the suicide of the heir apparent Yusuf İzzettin Efendi on February 1, 1916. He went to Vienna in 1916 to attend the funeral of the Austro-Hungarian Emperor and to Berlin in 1917 upon the invitation of the German Emperor as the representative of Sultan Reşat. When his older brother Reşat passed away, he ascended to the throne on July 3, 1918 with the title of Mehmet VI. However, he was known by his name rather than his title. Vahdettin, who took office by taking an oath in the presence of the National Assembly when the Ottoman State, which had gone from a tribe to an empire, had no land left to hold on to other than Anatolia, wanted the Talat Pasha government to continue its duties since he had ascended to the throne in the days when the Armistice of Mudros had not yet been signed. However, the Talat Pasha government decided to resign on October 8, 1918. Thereupon, Vahdettin gave the task of forming the new government to Ahmet İzzet Pasha. Ahmet İzzet Pasha, who formed the new government on October 14, 1918, took on the role of Minister of War and also included Rauf Orbay and Fethi Okyar in the cabinet. 15 days after the establishment of the government, the Armistice of Mudros had to be signed. On behalf of the Ottoman State, the Minister of the Navy, Rauf Bey, signed the agreement on the evening of October 30, 1918, on the Agamemnon battleship in the Mudros Port of Limnos Island. The provisions of the agreement foresaw the disbandment and disarmament of the army in order to make it suitable for occupying Anatolia and to legitimize this. Thus, it was accepted that the Ottoman State’s 600-year historical journey had come to an end. Vahdettin, who had become a sultan taken hostage in Istanbul in the fourth month of his accession to the throne, thought that the way out of the difficult situation he had fallen into was to gain the friendship of England and France. For this reason, he tried to fulfill the demands of the Allied Powers without rejecting them.
His First Job Was to Establish a War Criminals Court
The victorious states of World War I first demanded that the Ottoman Empire punish war criminals after the signing of the Armistice of Mudros. The Unionist cadres who took part in the Armenian Deportation in 1915 were at the forefront of those shown as criminals. Vahdettin believed that if he pinned the crimes he wanted to be held accountable on the Union and Progress Society, he would gain the favor of the Allied Powers. He thought that if he did so, he could soften the terms of the peace agreement. However, the leaders of the Union and Progress Party, Enver, Talat and Cemal Pashas, fled the country on November 2-3, 1918. Vahdettin, who held the government responsible for this situation, also requested that the other Unionist ministers in Ahmet İzzet Pasha’s cabinet be changed. Reacting to Vahdettin’s intervention, Ahmet İzzet Pasha resigned with his cabinet on November 8, 1918.
Istanbul was occupied
Since Vahdettin could not find anyone else, he gave the task of forming the government to his 73-year-old son-in-law, Tevfik Pasha. Two days after the formation of the government, on November 13, 1918, the British and French navies entered Istanbul without encountering any resistance. Vahdettin held the Union and Progress administration responsible for the occupation and said that he would work with all his might to maintain friendship with England. He then immediately requested the establishment of an extraordinary court to try the Unionists. Vahdettin approved the establishment of “Martial Courts” instead of the martial law courts that he had declared abolished when he ascended to the throne. This situation caused a conflict between him and the Chamber of Deputies, which had previously been dissolved by his brother. He dissolved the Chamber of Deputies on December 21, 1918, arguing that he had the authority to establish extraordinary courts according to the Constitution. According to the constitution, he postponed the elections that had to be renewed within four months until after the peace on the grounds that the country was under occupation. Vahdettin now had the sole say in the occupied state. Because the thrones of Bulgaria, Germany and Austria-Hungary had been destroyed. After the war was defeated, the Bulgarian king abdicated in favor of his son. The German emperor also abdicated and a republic was established. Since the Austria-Hungary emperor had also abdicated, the Austrian and Hungarian republics emerged. Vahdettin could also abdicate. However, his concern was the abolition of the caliphate and sultanate. According to the reports of the British representatives in Istanbul, he even requested that England seize control of the administration of Turkey. Although he wanted to try the members of the Union and Progress Society in line with the British demands, he was afraid of being overthrown by a coup. For this reason, he assigned his son-in-law Tevfik Pasha to resign his government and form a second government on January 13, 1919. The second Tevfik Pasha government consisted of members of the Freedom and Accord Party. Thus, it could conduct a more comprehensive operation against the members of the Union and Progress Society. Indeed, 30 people on the list of 60 given to the British by the Minister of the Interior, Izzet Bey, were arrested. The British demanded that 23 of them be handed over to them. The French also gave a list of 36 people and demanded their arrest. Thus, both England and France were taking revenge on the Ottoman commanders who fought against them in the First World War. It was not possible for any government to function under these conditions. Indeed, 3.5 months after it was established, the Tevfik Pasha government was forced to resign. The new government was established by Damat Ferit Pasha on March 4, 1919.
Damat Ferit Government Goes on a Hunt for Unionists
Damat Ferit Pasha selected the members of the government from among the members of the Freedom and Accord Party. The first task of the new government was to arrest the prominent members of the Union and Progress Party, including the former grand vizier Sait Halim Pasha, in accordance with the wishes of the British. In the trial held at the Martial Court, also known as the Nemrut Mustafa or Kurdish Mustafa Court, 13 commanders and civil servants held responsible for the 1915 Armenian Deportation were sentenced to death in absentia, including the Governor of Urfa, Nusret Bey, Kemal Bey, who served as the Boğazlıyan district governor of Yozgat, and Hafız Abdullah Avni, who operated a hotel in Erzincan. The sentences of Nusret Bey, Kemal Bey, and Hafız Abdullah Avni were carried out in Beyazıt Square with Vahdettin’s approval. The execution decision, which pleased the foreigners, caused a great public outcry. The public reaction did not cause a change in Vahdettin’s attitude, who trusted England. In the meantime, the occupation of the British and French had spoiled the Greek and Armenian minorities in Anatolia. The protective measures taken against the Greeks by the Turkish people living in Rize, Trabzon, Samsun and the surrounding areas against their spoiling had brought to the agenda the claims that the Greeks were being massacred. The Allied Powers, who wanted to ensure public order in Anatolia, allowed some officers to be assigned to the command of the units in Anatolia. Mustafa Kemal Pasha was also assigned to the Ninth Army inspectorate on April 30, 1919. His duty was to ensure the public order that the British complained about. Mustafa Kemal also received the authority to give orders to the civil and administrative personnel. In addition, his authority was not limited to the Ninth Army region but covered all of Anatolia. The occupation of Izmir by the Greeks accelerated Mustafa Kemal’s departure to Anatolia. Mustafa Kemal, who set foot in Samsun on May 19, 1919, drew a great reaction from the Istanbul government, for intervening in every business of the Allied Powers with the Amasya Circular published on June 22, 1919. The Istanbul government withdrew all its powers and called Mustafa Kemal to Istanbul. In the meantime, Vahdettin sent advisory committees to Anatolia and Rumelia under the presidency of princes to facilitate the occupation of Anatolia by British, French and Greek forces without resistance.
Damat Ferit Pasha Re-established the Government
Despite all the assurances given, Izmir was occupied by Greek soldiers on May 15, 1919. This situation caused great shock to the Turks. The Greeks, who had been under the rule of the Turks for hundreds of years, wanted to be the new rulers of Anatolia. This occupation caused the resignation of the Damat Ferit government. However, Vahdettin gave Mustafa Kemal the task of forming a government for the second time on the day he set foot in Samsun. In the new government that was formed, 10 nationalists who were not affiliated with the parties or the palace were included in the government. The new task of the Damat Ferit government was to release 23 nationalists who were under arrest. In the meantime, the Sultanate Council convened in Yıldız Palace on May 26, 1919. All of those who spoke at the council defended complete independence and the urgent establishment of a national council and the transfer of the nation’s fate to this extraordinary council. The Allied Powers, disturbed by this, deported 67 prisoners from the Bekir Ağa Company to Malta on May 27, 1919. In the meantime, the peace treaty ending World War I had not yet been signed. For this purpose, the Paris Conference was held on January 18, 1919. Representatives of 32 states attended the conference. Separate agreements were signed with Germany, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria, which were defeated in the war. The Ottoman Empire was also invited to the conference on April 22, 1920. The Damat Ferit Pasha government, hopeful about this invitation and wanting to please England and France, began to try and arrest the Unionists again. The Ottoman Empire was represented at the conference by a delegation headed by Tevfik Pasha. Although Vahdettin took part in the resistance, the National Struggle organized by Mustafa Kemal and his friends in Anatolia against the Greek occupation began to spread gradually. The British, who wanted to suppress the increasingly powerful National Struggle, were also trying to bring Mustafa Kemal to Istanbul by putting pressure on Vahdettin and the Damat Pasha government.
Yildiz Palace Burned
In the days when the Ottoman Empire was being divided among the wolves in Paris, a great fire broke out in Yıldız Palace on June 8, 1919. Vahdettin barely escaped with his life. Crown Prince Abdülmecit was disturbed by Vahdettin’s pro-British policies. For this reason, he sent him a letter before the Paris Conference to warn him. The British, who obtained the letter, spread the rumor that the nationalists were preparing a coup against the sultan and that the Yıldız Palace fire was the result of an assassination. In the meantime, Mustafa Kemal issued a circular in Amasya on June 22, 1919, declaring that the fate of the nation could be saved by the organized power of the nation. The occupying forces, disturbed by this call, requested that Mustafa Kemal be removed from his post and recalled to Istanbul. The Istanbul government dismissed Mustafa Kemal from his post on June 23, 1919 and recalled him to Istanbul. The occupying forces, who could not get a result from the request for dismissal, now requested the arrest of Mustafa Kemal Pasha. They conveyed their request to the government with a note. Thereupon, Vahdettin sent a telegram to Mustafa Kemal Pasha in Erzurum asking him to come to Istanbul immediately, conveying that the British had given their guarantee that they would not treat him dishonorably. Following this telegram, he sent a second telegram on the night of July 8-9, 1919, stating that Mustafa Kemal Pasha had been dismissed from his duty as the Third Army inspector and that he should return to Istanbul. Thereupon, Mustafa Kemal Pasha announced that he had resigned from his military service and that he would continue his duty as a civilian for the salvation of the homeland.
Istanbul-Ankara Communications Cut Off
In the days when Mustafa Kemal Pasha was trying to gather the Erzurum and Sivas congresses and make Ankara the center of the National Struggle, Vahdettin was trying to reign as if he were a prisoner of the British. In the days when Anatolia was under siege from all sides, the only person he could trust was Damat Ferit Pasha. Damat Ferit Pasha was also a grand vizier who defended the British mandate. For this reason, he was strongly opposed to the National Struggle in Anatolia. Damat Ferit Pasha, who resorted to every means to prevent the National Struggle, announced on August 9, 1919 that he had Vahdettin sign a decree that Mustafa Kemal Pasha had all his decorations withdrawn and that his honorary sultan’s aide-de-camp rank had also been abolished. As the Istanbul government surrendered to the occupying forces, it disintegrated within itself. Tevfik Pasha, who criticized the government’s pro-British policy, resigned from the government. The Istanbul government, which could not prevent the Erzurum Congress held on July 23, 1919, was also unable to disperse the Sivas Congress that started on September 4, 1919.
Extra History Of Sultan Mehmet Vahdettin
Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who could not stop the Istanbul government from trying to prevent the national movement in Anatolia, announced in a telegram he sent to Istanbul on the night of September 11-12, 1919 that he was severing relations with Istanbul until a “legitimate” government was established in Anatolia. Thus, two governments that had no contact with each other emerged in Ankara and Istanbul. When Vahdettin could not achieve his goal with the Damat Ferit government, he had Ali Rıza Pasha form a new government on October 2, 1919. Ministers who supported the National Struggle took office in the new government. Mersinli Cemal Pasha was appointed as the Minister of War from the Representative Committee determined at the Erzurum and Sivas congresses. The first task of the new government was to reestablish the telegraph connection between Istanbul and Anatolia, which had been closed for 20 days. In addition, the government devoted all its time to reconciling Anatolia and Istanbul. Indeed, in the meetings held in Amasya on October 20-22, 1919, agreements were reached on all issues, especially the elections to the Chamber of Deputies, and a protocol was signed. The British, who were disturbed by the relations between the Ali Rıza Pasha government and Mustafa Kemal Pasha, opened the future of Istanbul for discussion in order to threaten Vahdettin. Their big plan was to remove the Turks from Istanbul. According to the news reflected in the press from the Paris Conference, the British plan was to leave Istanbul as the center of the caliphate and move the capital to Bursa or Konya. This plan frightened Vahdettin. He wanted to meet with the British representatives, but he could not find anyone to talk to. Thereupon, he tried to get the support of the Americans. In an interview he gave to an American agency, he said he wanted peace as soon as possible, because delay was worse than war.
Nationalists Won the Parliament Elections
In the meantime, in the renewed elections for the Chamber of Deputies, the vast majority of those who entered the parliament were supporters of the National Struggle. The occupying forces began to spread rumors that the elections could be cancelled, claiming that the Unionists had won. Vahdettin, expecting mercy from the occupying forces, began to look for a way out by delaying the opening of the parliament. The parliament was reopened on January 12, 1920, as a result of the pressure put on Vahdettin by the deputies who had come to Istanbul. Vahdettin, citing poor health, did not attend the opening meeting of the parliament. Although the British pressured Vahdettin, they were pleased with him. Therefore, they did not want him to be overthrown as a result of a coup. For this reason, they decided to remove Ottoman soldiers from the Topkapı Palace and the surroundings of Hagia Sophia, and to keep Yıldız Palace under surveillance to protect the sultan from a Unionist coup or to prevent him from fleeing to Anatolia. They demanded that the Minister of War Cemal Pasha and the Chief of the General Staff Cevat Pasha, who supported the National Struggle, resign from their posts. They also sent a message to the Sultan, informing him that if the Pashas did not resign, they would be arrested. The government had to announce the Sultan’s acceptance of the Pashas’ resignations the next day. Of course, in the meantime, in line with the expectations of the occupying forces, the Istanbul press was also criticizing the National Struggle, claiming that the national resistance in Anatolia was endangering the future of Istanbul.
The National Pact was accepted
After the nationalist deputies in the Chamber of Deputies gained the majority, the deputies supporting the national movement formed a group called Felah-ı Vatan on February 6, 1920. Before the Grand National Assembly of Turkey opened in Ankara, they accepted the National Pact on February 17, 1920. The increasing strength of the nationalists who made Ankara their base began to worry the palace. British intelligence reports written at the time reported that the view that the nationalists were actually revolutionary was also beginning to prevail in palace circles. This situation caused Vahdettin to be disturbed by the Ali Rıza Pasha government. Therefore, the reinstatement of Damat Ferit Pasha as prime minister came to the agenda. Because the Chamber of Deputies had decided that Damat Ferit Pasha should be tried in the Supreme Court. Representatives of the occupation forces in Istanbul visited the Grand Vizier Ali Riza Pasha on March 1, 1920, and informed him that they could not accept the referral of Damat Ferit Pasha to the Supreme Court, and that they would intervene de facto if he insisted. Due to the excessive pressure from the occupiers, the Ali Riza Pasha government resigned on March 3, 1920. Thereupon, Vahdettin approved the establishment of a new government under the prime ministry of Salih Pasha on March 8, 1920. The occupation forces, which had previously occupied Istanbul de facto, officially occupied it on March 16, 1920, and seized all official institutions. They arrested the nationalist members of parliament who supported independence and exiled them to Malta. In the note he gave to Vahdettin regarding the occupation, the undersecretary of the French High Commission stated that their aim was not to break the power of the palace, but to strengthen it. The note, which stated that the occupation was temporary, noted that these decisions could change depending on developments in Anatolia. The official announcement sent to Anatolia also asked the people not to support the National Struggle. Vahdettin stated that he always wanted to cooperate with the representatives of the occupation forces and that he was comfortable with the arrest of prominent nationalist leaders. He also expressed his appreciation for the guarantees regarding his own authority in the announcement.
Vahdettin Was Afraid of the British
Vahdettin believed that the British were capable of doing anything and was afraid of them. Because he was afraid of their threats, he advised the deputies he accepted to be careful about their speech. Vahdettin, who believed that the people of Anatolia were loyal to him, thought that the British could go to Ankara in a day if they wanted. According to him, the people were like a flock of sheep. He expressed this view to Rauf Bey, who was in the delegation that came to visit him. When Rauf Bey asked Vahdettin not to sign any international document without the decision of the Chamber of Deputies, he said, “Rauf Bey, there is a nation, a flock of sheep! It needs a shepherd to govern it, and that person is me!”
The Extra History of Sultan Mehmet IV (Vahdettin) reveals a ruler whose reign was as complex as it was transformative. From his early ascension to the throne at a young age to his passionate involvement in hunting, Sultan Mehmet IV’s life was marked by significant military campaigns and administrative reforms. Under the guidance of the Köprülü viziers, his reign saw a remarkable revival of the Ottoman Empire’s fortunes. This article delves into the lesser-known aspects of his rule, offering a comprehensive look at the Extra History of Sultan Mehmet IV (Vahdettin) and his enduring impact on Ottoman history.
Damat Ferit Pasha Became Prime Minister Again
The occupying forces wanted to create a rift between the Istanbul government led by Salih Pasha and Ankara. To this end, they asked Ankara to condemn the National Struggle. The Salih Pasha government rejected this demand. Thereupon, it resigned on April 2, 1920. When Kazım Bey, the second president of the Chamber of Deputies, reminded Vahdettin of the dangers of giving Damat Ferit Pasha the task of forming a government, Vahdettin said, “If I want, I can bring the Greek patriarch, the Armenian patriarch, and the chief rabbi!” and gave Damat Ferit Pasha the task of forming a government for the fourth time on April 5, 1920. The new government led by Damat Ferit Pasha resorted to every means to suppress the National Struggle in order to curry favor with the British. While the Chamber of Deputies was being closed on April 11, 1920, British planes dropped fatwas from the air stating that the nationalists who fought for independence were “infidels” and that it was “obligatory” to kill them. In the meantime, the Kuva-yi Disciplinary Forces, also known as the Green Army, were established on April 18, 1920 to disperse the national forces in Anatolia.
The Turkish Grand National Assembly Opened
Despite all the obstacles of the occupying forces and their collaborators, the Turkish Grand National Assembly was opened on April 23, 1920. It was declared that the Turkish Grand National Assembly, which opened in Ankara, was the sole legitimate representative of the Turkish nation. In order to ensure the public’s support for the National Struggle, the TBMM announced that the movement in Anatolia was carried out to rescue the captive sultan. However, Istanbul’s response to this statement was to sentence Mustafa Kemal and five of his friends to death in a martial law court on May 24, 1920. The decision was also signed by Vahdettin.
Signed the Treaty of Sevres
The head of the second delegation representing the Ottoman Empire at the Paris Conference, Damat Ferit Pasha, returned to Istanbul on July 11, 1920 with unacceptable peace terms. Vahdettin convened the Sultanate Council on July 22, 1920 to discuss the proposed conditions. After the evaluations, everyone except Topçu Feriği Rıza Pasha accepted the signing of the treaty. After the palace accepted the proposed conditions, the Treaty of Sevres was signed on August 10, 1920. Ankara reacted strongly to the signing of the treaty, which left the Turks with a handful of lands in Anatolia. In the secret session of the TBMM held on September 25, 1920, it was claimed that Vahdettin could not be considered the legitimate caliph. Mustafa Kemal also accused Vahdettin of betraying the Turkish nation. Meanwhile, the Ankara Independence Court sentenced those who signed the Treaty of Sevres and Damat Ferit Pasha to death on October 7, 1920.
Occupiers Wanted a Government That Would Reconcile with Ankara
The determined continuation of the Anatolian resistance led by Mustafa Kemal Pasha forced the occupying forces to contact Ankara. Therefore, they asked Vahdettin to form a government that would work in coordination with Ankara. Thereupon, Vahdettin appointed Tevfik Pasha as prime minister on October 21, 1920. Tevfik Pasha’s government consisted of people who supported the National Struggle. Vahdettin believed that the resistance in Anatolia was led by the Unionists. His fear of losing Istanbul prevented him from establishing close relations with the National Strugglers. He considered Ankara’s seizure of the country’s administration as a rebellion against him. Despite his constant meetings with representatives of the occupying forces, he considered Mustafa Kemal Pasha a rebel and did not find contact with a rebel befitting the title of ruler. In his memoirs published years later, he recorded that he had sent Mustafa Kemal but that he had openly rebelled, that Damat Ferit Pasha had tried to remove him from his post and bring him to his senses but he had failed, and that he had called Tevfik Pasha to the task to reach a compromise but he had failed too.
The Sultanate was abolished
The successes of the Ankara government against the occupying forces caused the Istanbul government and Vahdettin to become insignificant over time. While Vahdettin was deprived of the power to use his sovereign powers, he became nothing more than a perception. Indeed, when the National Struggle ended in victory and the Lausanne Conference came to the agenda, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey abolished the sultanate on November 1, 1922. The decision taken by the TBMM declared that the caliphate was based on the Turkish State and that the caliph would be appointed by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. While the TBMM decided to abolish the sultanate, Vahdettin married one of his concubines, 19-year-old Nevzat Hanım. During this time, he told Refet Pasha, who notified him of the decision, that even if the existence of such a caliphate without executive authority were accepted, he could not accept it. Although the Grand National Assembly of Turkey abolished the sultanate, it did not make any notification regarding the removal of the sultan from office. At the same time, he did not cut off the office allocation belonging to the caliph. In the meantime, it was decided that the sultan would be tried, but the method of the trial had not been determined. Newspapers were publishing news about the sultan’s treason. While the sultan was being executed in the squares, it was said that he had abdicated his throne and even fled. Three days after the abolition of the sultanate, the Tevfik Pasha government also resigned. However, it did not return the imperial seal that was supposed to be returned to Vahdettin. Vahdettin accused Tevfik Pasha in his memoirs of playing a double game and leaving him alone in his most difficult day by resigning.
The Murder of Journalist Ali Kemal Caused Fear
The lynching of Ali Kemal, the editor-in-chief of the “Peyam-ı Sabah” newspaper, by Nurettin Pasha in Izmit while he was being taken from Istanbul to Ankara to be tried, had a bomb effect in Istanbul. Because Ali Kemal had served as the Minister of the Interior in the government of Damat Ferit Pasha and had written articles that belittled the National Struggle. The lynching of Ali Kemal, who was also one of the founders of the Society of British Friends, caused great fear among Vahdettin supporters. Those who could get a visa escaped, those who could not, took refuge with British soldiers. The sultan, who was overwhelmed by those who came to the palace to provide money to escape, did not leave his harem. Vahdettin, who went to his last Friday prayer service after the abolition of the sultanate on November 10, 1922, was worried about the news published against him by the press and being left alone during the Friday prayer service. Fearing that his life would be in danger if he stayed in Istanbul, he decided to go abroad. After he decided to leave the country, the British made the necessary preparations in response to the request.
Taken to the Island of Malta by the British
His greatest weakness was that he prioritized his personal future over the security of the country and the people. In his meetings with the British representatives, he sought assurance for his personal future if Ankara were successful. Upon his request, the British High Commission in Istanbul decided to take Vahdettin to the Island of Malta first. Vahdettin, who used the title of Mehmet VI, stated through his former brother-in-law and honorary aide-de-camp, Major Zeki Bey, that he expected the protection of his life from England, which had the most Muslim subjects, on condition that he preserved his legitimate and sacred rights over the Ottoman sultanate and the Islamic caliphate, and on November 15, 1922, he informed General Harington, the commander-in-chief of the British occupation forces, that he wanted to leave the country. Harington said that the request would be fulfilled, but he wanted a written application to be made for this. The British also had the sultan’s physician, Reşat Pasha, confirm the matter. Reşat Pasha also confirmed that Vahdettin wanted to leave Istanbul. Harington immediately sent a message to Zeki Bey, informing him that they could kidnap the sultan within an hour or two that same night. Zeki Bey also said that the caliph wanted to go as soon as possible, but preferred Friday morning. Vahdettin wrote the following in a letter he sent to the British on November 16, 1922: “To His Excellency General Harington, Commander-in-Chief of the Occupation Armies in Istanbul, Since I see my life in danger in Istanbul, I request asylum in the imperial state of England and my immediate transfer from Istanbul to the local area.” (November 16, 1922) Vahdettin, who did not use the title of sultan in the letter, signed “Mehmet Vahdettin, Caliph of the Muslims.”
He Left the Country with His Personal Belongings
Vahdettin spent his last night before leaving Istanbul at the Cihannüma Pavilion. He was careful not to take any valuables or jewelry other than his personal belongings. He had many correspondences made during his time burned in the hearth, and left the sacred relics in the palace on the grounds that they were gifts from his ancestors to the Turkish nation. The last ruler of the Ottoman Empire, Vahdettin, was received from Yıldız Palace by the Commander-in-Chief of the British occupation forces, Harington. The sultan and ten people in his entourage were ceremoniously seen off by a British battalion early in the morning. When Vahdettin boarded the ship waiting for him in the Bosphorus, the commander of Britain’s Mediterranean fleet said that he was now on British soil and safe. The commander asked if there was anywhere he particularly wanted to go. When Vahdettin did not make any choices, he was asked whether the island of Malta was suitable, and when he replied that it was, the ship departed for Malta. Vahdettin requested that the announcement to be published when he left Istanbul not state that the destination was Malta. General Harington announced in an official statement published in the afternoon that Vahdettin, seeing his life in danger, requested British protection and transfer to another place as the caliph of all Muslims, and that his request was granted in the morning. Vahdettin, who stated that he had never renounced his right to the sultanate and caliphate, was welcomed by the British governor-general on the island of Malta. An eight-room apartment was prepared for him and his companions in the Pini Barracks on the island.
New Caliph Elected
The day after Vahdettin left Anatolia and came under British protection, the Turkish Grand National Assembly passed a resolution on November 19, 1922, declaring that Vahdettin had been deposed from the caliphate and that Abdülmecit Efendi had been elected in his place. Stating that he did not recognize this decision made by the TBMM, Vahdettin said, “Only my client-in-law can deal with me!” When he read the news about Abdülmecit Efendi in the newspapers, he reacted by saying, “Mecit Efendi finally achieved his wish. They sent an imam’s post to the poor man. He is still pretending not to know and dragging his robe to sit on the throne!” Abdülmecit Efendi, on the other hand, referred to Vahdettin as a “traitor” in a statement he gave to the press on November 20, 1922.
The British Got Bored Quickly
Vahdettin’s escape abroad soon turned into a drama. When the British began to tire of Vahdettin’s spending, whom they viewed as a temporary guest, they began to look for ways to get rid of him. However, the title of caliph he held was very valuable. Therefore, they wanted to send him to a place under their control. Among those who wanted Vahdettin the most was the King of Arabia, Sharif Hussein. Sharif Hussein invited Vahdettin to Mecca. Vahdettin accepted Sharif Hussein’s invitation and left Malta on January 5, 1923 on a British warship and went to Hejaz. King Hussein’s son welcomed Vahdettin at Port Said. From there, he reached Suez on another ship and then Jeddah on January 15, 1923. King Sharif Hussein of Arabia welcomed Vahdettin like a monarch and fired a 101-gun salute. Then, they went to Mecca together. After staying in Mecca until the end of February, Vahdettin told King Hussein that he wanted to go to Cyprus or Haifa. In an order sent from London to Sharif Hussein, who reported the situation to the British representative in Jeddah, Vahdettin was asked to be kept in Taif. Vahdettin’s acceptance of Sharif Hussein’s offer and going to the Hijaz brought intense criticism. Mawlana Abu’l-Kelam, one of the Indian Muslims, wrote that Vahdettin had the heroes of independence in Anatolia sentenced to death, that while Mustafa Kemal and his friends saved the state and nation with their hostility towards the British, Vahdettin was used by the British to sow discord among the Muslims, that the sultan was harming Islam with discord and that he would become an enemy of the ummah and the nation if he united with the king of the Hijaz. Vahdettin published a declaration to the Islamic world in response to the criticism directed at him. Although this declaration was prevented by Şerif Hüseyin, a short summary of it was published in the newspaper “el-Ehram” on April 16, 1923. In the declaration, Vahdettin responded to the criticisms made against him, saying that he had sent Mustafa Kemal Pasha and his friends to Anatolia, and that he had turned a blind eye to the cabinet, which later deemed it necessary to send forces against him in order to punish him for not recognizing his government. He declared that he was accused of being a traitor because he opposed the separation of the caliphate from the sultanate, that he had temporarily left his country, and that he did not accept the decision taken in the TBMM regarding the removal of the title of caliphate.
He Lived the Fate of Cem Sultan
Vahdettin, who had been staying in Taif for a few months, wanted to go to Mecca and from there to Palestine. The British, who found these requests suspicious, said they could take him to Switzerland if he paid for them. Thereupon, Vahdettin wanted to go to Cyprus. The British also turned down this request. Vahdettin was forced to first go to Jeddah, from there to Suez by sea and then to Alexandria by train. The British asked Vahdettin to leave Egypt within 72 hours. Vahdettin was now forced to go to Switzerland. However, the British, who also saw it as dangerous for him to go to Switzerland at a time when the Lausanne Conference was ongoing, directed the ship’s route to Italy. Italy wanted to maintain good relations with the new Turkish government. Showing Vahdettin the respect he expected could harm relations between the two countries. For this reason, an unofficial welcoming ceremony was held for Vahdettin, who arrived at the Port of Genoa on May 2, 1923. The last meeting of the two partners in fate, Damat Ferit Pasha and Vahdettin, took place here, at the Port of Genoa. After settling in Villa Nobel in San Remo, Italy, Vahdettin made requests to England and other countries to settle in a Muslim country. But he received no response to his applications. For this reason, he had to live in San Remo for 16 months.
His Family Also Came To Him
The Turkish Grand National Assembly passed important laws on March 3, 1924. The most important of the laws that were passed was the abolition of the caliphate, which also had historical consequences. Officially known as “Law No. 431 dated March 3, 1340 (1924) on the abolition of the caliphate and the expulsion of the Ottoman dynasty from the territory of the Republic of Turkey”, it was passed. Article 3 of the 13-article law stated, “The persons mentioned in the second article are obliged to leave the territory of the Republic of Turkey within a maximum of ten days from the date of the declaration of this law.” With this law, approximately 250 people, including 156 members of the dynasty and palace officials, were forced to leave Anatolia. Thus, the members of the dynasty who founded the Ottoman State, whose official foundation date is accepted as 1299, were estranged from their homeland after 625 years. Vahdettin was reunited with his family 1.5 years after leaving Yıldız Palace. The majority of the Ottoman Dynasty came to Vahdettin’s side, causing him to move to Villa Mamolya. In addition, since other state officials who fled the newly founded Republic gathered in San Remo, a small Istanbul was formed here.
He Died Before the Caliphate Congress Convened in Egypt
After the TBMM abolished the caliphate and took it under its own control, the search for a new caliph began in the Islamic countries under British influence. Upon news that a caliphate congress would be held in Egypt, Vahdettin sent a letter to the head of the Egyptian Ulema Union, stating that he was still caliph and that he had left Istanbul to find a place where he could defend the sharia. Egyptian religious scholars wanted to declare King Fuad as caliph. Therefore, in their response to Vahdettin, they explained that the Muslims had decided to hold a congress to determine the fate of the caliphate and to reach an agreement with the Republic of Turkey to correct the mistake. An intense campaign was then launched in the press against Vahdettin. The deputy sheikh of Al-Azhar University wrote that Vahdettin had accused the nationalist mujahideen who supported independence of acting against the sharia and then went and took refuge with the British. He declared Mustafa Kemal as the person that 400 million Muslims would take as an example. Vahdettin sent a new letter in response to the accusation made against him, stating that he had not renounced the caliphate, and instead of spending time with the selection of the caliph, he asked that the existing caliph be found a place to stay in one of the Muslim countries. He sent a statement to the caliphate congress, protesting the preparations that were being made, and stating that he had never renounced his rights to the sultanate and the caliphate, and that he would not do so. Despite this, the caliphate congress convened on May 13, 1926. However, Vahdettin died on May 16, 1926, before receiving the news of the congress convening.
He suffered a lot
The last sultan of the Ottoman Empire left Istanbul with 20,000 British pounds. He lost some of this money to dream merchants who promised to start a new movement in Anatolia and return to Istanbul as the ruler. His former brother-in-law and aide-de-camp Zeki Bey spent some of it in casinos. He suffered severe hardships for this reason. He sold everything he had to get rid of the trouble. He also put his last sultan’s medal up for sale and when he learned that the medal was fake, he was saddened by remembering those who had played this trick on him when he had ascended to the throne. After Vahdettin’s death, the first people to knock on his door were creditors. Because he had accumulated a debt of 60,000 liras to the tradesmen of San Remo. Since the debt was collected through the seizure officers, Vahdettin’s body was also taken as a lien in return for the debt. The Italians did not allow the funeral until the debts were paid in full. The money to be given to the creditors could only be obtained in a month.
Islamic Country Where Funeral Will Be Buried Searched
Vahdettin’s body remained hostage in San Remo for a month while an Islamic country was sought for burial. Finally, it was decided that he would be buried in the Selimiye Mosque in Damascus. The necessary permission was obtained from France for this. After all the debts were paid and the seizure was lifted, his body was taken to the train station in a horse-drawn carriage on June 15, 1926, and from there by train to Trieste. Here, the body was loaded onto a ship and taken to Beirut under the supervision of Prince Ömer Faruk Efendi, and from there by train to Damascus, where he was buried on July 3, 1926.
Conclusion: Reflecting on Mehmet IV’s Reign
In conclusion, Sultan Mehmet IV’s reign encapsulates a pivotal era in Ottoman history, characterized by dramatic shifts in power and fortune. Despite his early challenges and eventual deposition, his contributions to the empire’s military and administrative reforms cannot be overlooked. His story is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the Ottoman leadership during times of crisis. As we reflect on his legacy, it becomes evident that Mehmet IV’s impact extended far beyond his years on the throne, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of history. We hope this exploration of his extra history has provided you with a deeper understanding of his complex and multifaceted reign.