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Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic and its first President, stands as a towering figure of the 20th Century. He is the national hero of Turkey. He created the Republic of Turkey in 1923 out of the ashes of the Ottoman Empire, establishing a new government truly representative of the nation’s will. Among the great leaders of history, few have achieved so much in so short period, transformed the life of a nation as decisively, and given such profound inspiration to the world at large.

 

Emerging as a military hero at the Dardanelles in 1915, he became the charismatic leader of the Turkish national liberation struggle in 1919. He blazed across the world scene in the early 1920s as a triumphant commander who crushed the invaders of his country. Following a series of impressive victories against all odds, he led his nation to full independence. He put an end to the antiquated Ottoman dynasty whose tale had lasted more than six centuries - and created the Republic of Turkey in 1923, establishing a new government truly representative of the nation's will.

 

As President for 15 years, until his death in 1938, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk introduced abroad range of swift and sweeping reforms - in the political, social, legal, economic, and cultural spheres - virtually unparalleled in any other country.

 

His achievements in Turkey are an enduring monument to Atatürk. Emerging nations admire him as a pioneer of national liberation. The world honors his memory as a foremost peacemaker who upheld the principles of humanism and the vision of a united humanity. Tributes have been offered to him through the decades by such world statesmen as Lloyd George, Churchill, Roosevelt, Nehru, de Gaulle, Adenauer, Bourguiba, Nasser, Kennedy, and countless others. A White House statement, issued on the occasion of "The Atatürk Centennial" in 1981, pays homage to him as "a great leader in times of war and peace".

 

He has many famous sayings. A few of them are:

“Sovereignty unconditionally belongs to Nation”

“Peace at home, peace in the world”

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He was born in the spring of 1881 in Salonica, then an Ottoman city, now in Greece. His father Ali Rıza, a customs official turned lumber merchant, died when Mustafa was still a boy. His mother Zübeyde, a devout and strong-willed woman, raised him and his sister. First enrolled in a traditional religious school, he soon switched to a modern school. In 1893, he entered a military high school where his mathematics teacher gave him the second name Kemal (meaning perfection) in recognition of young Mustafa's superior achievement. He was thereafter known as Mustafa Kemal.

 

In 1905, Mustafa Kemal graduated from the War Academy in İstanbul with the rank of Staff Captain. Posted in Damascus, he started with several colleagues, a clandestine society called "Homeland and Freedom" to fight against the Sultan's despotism. In 1908 he helped the group of officers who toppled the Sultan. Mustafa Kemal's career flourished as he won his heroism in the far corners of the Ottoman Empire, including Albania and Tripoli. He also briefly served as a staff officer in Salonica and İstanbul and as a military attache in Sofia.

 

In 1915, when Dardanelles campaign was launched, Colonel Mustafa Kemal became a national hero by winning successive victories and finally repelling the invaders. Promoted to general in 1916, at age 35, he liberated two major provinces in eastern Turkey that year. In the next two years, he served as commander of several Ottoman armies in Palestine, Aleppo, and elsewhere, achieving another major victory by stopping the enemy advance at Aleppo.

 

On May 19, 1919, Mustafa Kemal Pasha landed in the Black Sea port of Samsun to start the War of Independence. In defiance of the Sultan's government, he rallied a liberation army in Anatolia and convened the Congress of Erzurum and Sivas which established the basis for the new national effort under his leadership. On April 23, 1920, the Grand National Assembly was inaugurated. Mustafa Kemal Pasha was elected to its Presidency.

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Fighting on many fronts, he led his forces to victory against rebels and invading armies. Following the Turkish triumph at the two major battles at İnönü in Western Turkey, the Grand National Assembly conferred on Mustafa Kemal Pasha the title of Commander-in-Chief with the rank of Marshal. At the end of August 1922, the Turkish armies won their ultimate victory. Within a few weeks, the Turkish mainland was completely liberated, the armistice signed, and the rule of the Ottoman dynasty abolished.

 

Important stages of the Independence War under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal are,

• Liberation of Sarıkamış (20 September 1920), Kars (30 October 1920) and Gümrü (7 November 1920)

• Defenses of Çukurova, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa and Kahramanmaraş (1919 -1920)

• Victory at the First Battle of İnönü (6 -10 January 1920)

• Victory at the Second Battle of İnönü (23 March -1 April 1920)

• Victory at the Battle of Sakarya (23 August -13 September 1921)

• Great Offensive, Battle of Dumlupınar (Battle of Commander-in-Chief) and the Great (Final) Victory (26 August - 9 September 1922)

 

After the victory at the Battle of Sakarya, Turkish Grand National Assembly promoted Mustafa Kemal to the rank of Field Marshal and granted him the title of Gazi (the Victorious Fighter). The Independence War ended by Lausanne Peace Treaty on 24 July 1923. Thus, all the impediments of the Sevres Agreement had been removed and integrity of the Turkish land had been accomplished by the signing of the Lausanne Agreement. There were no obstructions left on the way to establish the new Turkish State based on national solidarity.

 

Founding of the Turkish Republic had been heralded by the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 23 April 1920. National Assembly's successful administration during the Independence War had secured the founding of the new Turkish State. Caliphate and Sultanate (monarchy) separated and Sultanate abolished on 1 November 1922. Therefore, the administrative ties with the Ottoman Empire were broken. The declaration of Republic was made on 29 October 1923 and Mustafa Kemal unanimously elected as the first President of the Republic. İsmet İnönü formed the first government of the Republic on 30 October 1923.

 

In July 1923, the national government signed the Lausanne Treaty with Great Britain, France, Greece, Italy, and others. In mid-October, Ankara became the capital of the new Turkish State. On October 29, the Republic was proclaimed and Mustafa Kemal Pasha was unanimously elected President of the Republic.

 

Atatürk had been elected twice as the Speaker of the House (National Assembly), on 24 April 1920 and 13 Augustus 1923. His chairmanship at that time was equal to the Head of State and the Government combined. On 29 October 1923 Republic was declared and Atatürk elected as the first President of the Republic. According to the Constitution Presidential elections held for every four years. Atatürk had been reelected as the President of the Republic in 1927, 1931 and 1935 by the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

 

Atatürk very frequently used to go for fact-finding trips in the country. He kept in contact with local authorities and directed them personally in every occasion. In the capacity of the President of the Republic, he received the visiting foreign presidents, premiers, ministers and commanders with great respect and authority.

Atatürk gave his Great Speech on 15-20 October 1927 in which he described the Independence War and Founding of Republic and on 29 October 1933 the 10th Year Speech.

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The account of Atatürk's fifteen year Presidency is a saga of dramatic modernization. With indefatigable determination, he created a new political and legal system, abolished the Caliphate and made both government and education secular, gave equal rights to women, changed the alphabet and the attire, and advanced the arts and the sciences, agriculture and industry.

 

1. Political Reforms

- Abolishment of the Sultanate (1 November 1922)

- Declaration of the Republic (29 October 1923)

- Abolishment of Caliphate (3 March 1924)

 

2. Social Reforms

- Women were given equal rights with men (1926-1934)

- The Revolution of Headgear and Outfit (25 November 1925)

- Closing of dervish lodges and shrines (30 November 1925)

- The surname law (21 June 1934)

- Abolishment of nicknames, pious and royal titles (26 November 1934)

- Adoption of the International calendar, time and measurements (1925-1931)

 

3. Juridical Reforms

- Abolishment of the Canon Law (1924-1937)

- Instating the new Turkish Civil Code and other legislation to suit secular order (1924 - 1937)

 

4. Educational and Cultural Reforms

- Integration of education (3 March 1924)

- Adoption of the new Turkish alphabet (1 November 1928)

- Establishment of the Turkish Language and Historical Societies (1931-1932)

- Organization of the university education (31 May 1933).

- Innovations in fine arts

 

5. Economical Reforms

- Abolishment of old taxation laws.

- Encouragement of the farmers.

- Establishment of model farms.

- Legislation of the Encouragement of the Industry Law and establishment of Industrial Corporations.

- Implementing First and Second Development Plans (1933-1937), construction of new highways to reach every corner of the country.

 

In accordance with the new surname law, Turkish Grand National Assembly granted Mustafa Kemal with the surname Atatürk (Father of the Turks) on 24 November 1934.

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Atatürk was very modest in his private life. He married with Latife Hanim on 29 January 1923. Together they had many trips around the country. This marriage lasted until 5 August 1925. As a great lover of children, Atatürk adopted his daughters Afet İnan, Sabiha Gökçen, Fikriye, Ülkü, Nebile, Rukiye, Zehra and his son Mustafa, a young shepherd boy. He also had two children under his protection, Abdurrahim and İhsan. He secured a good life and future for these children who survived.

 

In 1937, he donated his farms to State Treasury and some of his real estates to Ankara and Bursa Municipality Councils. He divided his inheritance among his sister, his adopted children and the Turkish Language and Historical Societies. He enjoyed reading, listening music, dancing, horse riding and swimming. He was very much interested in the Western Anatolian folk dance Zeybek, wrestling and listening Rumelia songs. He had great pleasure of playing black gammon and billiards. He valued very much his horse Sakarya and his dog Fox. He had made up a very rich library of his own. He used to invite statesmen, scholars and scientists to dinners and discuss state affairs with them. He was very particular about his appearance and was smartly dressed all the times. He was also a nature lover. He very often used to visit his farm Atatürk Orman Çiftliği (Atatürk Forest Farm) and took part at works in person. Atatürk was proficient in French and German.

 

On 10 November 1938 at 9.05 in the morning, in Istanbul, Dolmabahçe Palace, he died of the liver ailment he was suffering from. He was buried with a ceremonial funeral in a temporary place of rest at the Ethnographical Museum in Ankara on 21 November 1938. After building of Anıtkabir (Atatürk Mausoleum) he was taken to his permanent rest place with a grand ceremony on 10 November 1953.

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Sources: website, website

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