SULTAN MEHMED VAHIDUDDIN (1918-1922)

He is the last of the 36 Ottoman Sultans. He was the son of Sultan Abdulmecid, his mother is Gulistu Sultana. He was born on 2nd February 1861. He lost his parent in his early ages. His father died in the year he was born and his mother has passed away a few years later. As an orphan prince, he was taken care of one of his father’s wives Sayeste.

His older brother Sultan Abdulhamit II took care of Vahiduddin’s education. He always loved and protected his younger brother.

Sultan Vahiduddin was an intelligent and literate man. He usually liked to read the Islamic works. He was exceptionally intelligent, kind and elegant. He used to listen much but speak less. During, his visit of Vienna, everybody had admired his politeness. He used to listen others with a great attention.

When Sultan Mehmed Resat accessed, Yusuf Izzettin the oldest son of Sultan Abdulaziz was his successor. But, Yusuf Izzettin had died and Vahiduddin became the crown prince.

The World War I started when Vahiduddin was a crown prince. During the war, he officially visited Germany. Following the death of Sultan Mehmed Resad he was crowned Sultan with the name Sultan Mehmed Vahiduddin VI.

Treaty of Mondoros

Minister of Navy Huseyin Rauf Orbay signed a treaty in Mondros Horbour of the Island of Limni, in October 31st, 1918. With this treaty the war came to an end. It was signed between the Ottoman State and the Ally Countries led by English Admiral Calthorp. The treaty actually punctuate the collapse Ottoman Empire. For example; one of the articles of the treaty was giving right to the allies to invade a region of the Empire in case of a danger. This article was legalising the ally invasion in the Ottoman territories. As Mustafa Kemal said, “the Ottoman Government surrendered directly by the ally countries. The Turkish lands not only surrendered but also the Ottoman Government gave permission to them. There is no doubt that, if this treaty would fully applied there would be no territory that belongs to the Turks.” Even before the Mondros Treaty, the Allies had begun to share the Ottoman Territories.

THE MAJOR ARTICLES OF MONDROS TREATY

1. The Straits (Istanbul and Canakkale) will be open, and the Ally Forces will enter the Black Sea easily.

2. All mines fields will be cleaned and the location of the torpid and shell cases will be informed to the Ally Forces.

3. The mine fields of the Black Sea will be informed to the Ally Forces.

4. All Armenian and Ally prisoners will be freed in Istanbul.

5. The Ottoman Army will be demobilised and they will surrender. They will be only responsible of interior security.

6. The Ottoman Navy will surrender, and the Ottoman battleships will be anchored to harbours that the Ally Forces permitted.

7. Allies will the right to occupy any part in the Ottoman Territories in case of disorder.

8. The Ottoman rail-roads and trade ships will be in service of the Allied Forces.

9. The Ally Forces will be utilised from the facilities of the Ottoman Harbours.

10. The tunnels of the Toros Mountains (Mediterranean Region) will be dominated by the Ally Forces.

11. The Ottoman forces in Caucus and Iran will withdraw from the territories they have been occupied.

12. Except the governmental telecommunication, the Allies will dominate the telecommunication networks.

13. All military, commercial and marina equipment demolitions will be banned.

14. The Ottomans will supply coal, food, oil and grease without any charge and these items will not be exported anyhow.

15. All rail roads will be controlled by the Ally Forces.

16. The Ottoman Forces in Hicaz, Asir, Yemen, Syria and Iraq will surrender to the nearest Ally commanders.

17. All Ottoman military officers in Bingazi and Trablus will surrender to the nearest Italian Troops.

18. All the harbours occupied by the Ottomans in Trablus and Bingazi will be left to the Italians.

19. All the Germans and Austrians whether military officers or civil people will leave the Ottoman Lands within one month.

20. Any order related with the delivery of military equipments, the demobilisation of the Ottoman Army or transportation of the vehicles will be immediately done.

21. An ally officer will work in the Ministry of Subsistence and any supplementation needed will be informed to him.

22. Ottoman prisoners will not be freed by the Allies.

23. Ottoman Government will abandon all the relations with the other countries.

24. The Allies will reserve the right to occupy any part of six province in case of disorder.

25. The war between The Ottoman State and the Allies will be ended on October 31, 1918 in the noon time.

The treaty of Sevr

The Treaty of Seurre was clarified during the San Remo Conferance in May 11, 1920. And it was it was given to the Ottoman Government to be approved.

The Allies attacked Anatolia and Trakya with Greek Army in June 23, 1920; in order to compel the Ottoman Government to accept the Treaty. They invaded the Bursa, Usak and Nazilli. Their aim was to put pressure to the Ottomans in order to hinder their objections.

In 22 July, 1920 the Council of The Ottoman Empire was assembled, the assembly was directed by Sultan Vahiduddin. They have decided that, “ It is acceptable to destroy a weak existance”, and ratified the treaty. Tevfik Pasha opposed to sign the treaty which divides the Turkish Territories and destroys the Turkish nobility. Therefore, Resat Halis Bey aand Rýza Tevfik Bey signed the Treaty of Sevres in August 10, 1920.

According to the Sevr (Sevres) Treaty, The Ottoman Territories were dividing in to pieces and Turkish Nation was loosing their right to live independently.

The North-western territories were lined with the Istanbul city. West Anatolia (Izmir province) was left to Greece. South-eastern provinces, Mardin, Urfa, Gaziantep, the Amanos Mountain and northern side of Osmaniye were left to France. From Bayazit, Van, Mus, Bitlis, to Erzincan will left to the independent Armenia. In Iraq and Syria, it was decided to establish an independent Kurdistan. Beside these, the territories left to the Turks would be separated in between the populations, as; Antalya and Konya would be Italian, Adana, Sivas and Malatya would be French, and Northern Iraq would be British. In Istanbul, the Sultan and the government would have been settled, but, Istanbul would have been an international region, the Straits would be controlled by a commission with its own financial resources, its own army and navy. Ankara and Kastamonu were left to the Turkish population but their independence has bounded most strictly. According to the Treaty of Sevres the minorities would be more privileged than the Turks, as they would not pay any tax and they would not do military service. If anybody would leave the Turkish nationality, he/she would be more privileged and never be permitted to take Turkish citizenship again.

The military forces of the government had bounded in to 50.700 soldiers, and tanks, cannons and planes were completely prohibited. Only volunteered soldiers were used. The navy will be established of 7 gunboats and 6 torpids. Submarines were prohibited as well.

The articles about financial and economical issues were more bounding than the military ones. By those articles, The Ottoman Empire turned out to be an Ally colony. According to the treaty, a Finance Commission would be established by English, French and Italian representatives and this commission would be administrate the Ottoman incomes.

After the Ottoman Government signed this treaty, the Turkish Independence Movement had accelerated and the Turkish people lost their faiths in Istanbul and the dynasty completely.

Turkish Parliament established in Ankara, rejected the Treaty of Sevres and in their assembly in August 19, 1920, they declared the Ottoman Dynasty and the Ottoman Council as traitors.

The war of Independence

In the World War I The Ottoman Government took place with Germany. The Ottoman Army had defended the territories with bravery, but, they could not have hindered the division of their country. The treaties of Mondros and Sevres brought an inevitable collapse the Ottoman Empire.

Sultan Mehmed Vahiduddin gathered the Ottoman Parliament to approve the unification of the national boundaries ( Misak-i Milli). Regardless of the Allies’ consent they have accepted it. Therefore, Britain occupied Istanbul and dissolved the parliament.

The leader of the National Independence Movement Mustafa Kemal Pasha went to Samsun (The Black Sea) in May 19,1919 and with his friends he organised a defence movement all around Anatolia. They assembled congresses and The National Forces (Kuva-yi Milliye)had been established. In April 23, 1920 Turkish Grand Parliament was established in Ankara.

Turkish Nation, has made an Independence War and gloriously they have defeated all their enemies. The National Forces were commanded by a genius, Mustafa Kemal Pasha. After, the enemies were defeated, the Parliament decided to abolish the Ottoman Dynasty and to deport them from the Turkish territories.

Departure from Istanbul

Sultan Mehmed Vahiduddin requested to be transferred to another country from the Ally commander. In a great agony, he abandoned his homeland with an English ship named Malaya in the morning of October 17, 1922.

While, departing the palace, he did not take anything, even he left his own belongings. It is possible to say that, he left his country without a penny. First, he went to the Island of Malta and than to Hicaz. While he was in Hicaz he was offered to be the Caliph by Egypt and Saudi Arabia. He was promised, a wealthy and a luxurious life, in case he would accept to be the Caliph. However, Vahiduddin was a very proud man and he thought that, if he accepts this offer he will reject his predecessors.

After he stayed in Mecca for a while, he went to San Remo, Italy and he lived there until his death. The Italian King whom, Vahiduddin knew since his younger times, had offered him a palace in the city. But, the Sultan refused his offer kindly and clearly; “We are very grateful and thanksgiving to the royal King. I admire his kindness, manliness but, my name “Caliph of the Muslims” not allow me to accept this offer”

Indeed he had very hard days. He never thought about his situation, he asked all the visitors coming from Turkey, the condition of the country.

Death of the last Sultans

Sultan Vahiduddin died because of a hearth attack in San Remo, in May 15, 1926. He was 65 years old when he died. He wished to be buried in his homeland. He knew that, this was impossible and he had chosen to be buried in Sam (Damascus) near the tomb of Selahaddin Eyyubi, and this was his last will.

Because of the debts, his creditors sequestrated his corpse. The President of Syria Ahmed Nami heard this and paid all his debts and brought his body to Syria. Even, the Sultan’s death body was so unfortunate, the garden of the tomb of Selahaddin Eyubi was full and there were no place for his tomb, so, the Present buried the Sultan in the Garden of the Sultan Selim Mosque.