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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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