Fahrettin Altay
Encyclopedia
Fahrettin Altay was an Ottoman officer and Turkish general.
He was born to Ismail Bey and Hayriye Hanım in İşkodra (present day: Shkodër
).
He was known as the commander of V Calvary Corps that participated in various battles of the Turkish War of Independence
.
According to Altay Spor Tarihi ("The History of Altay Sports Club"), in 1966 when Fahrettin Altay visited the Altay Sports Club at Izmir
, he explained to Erdoğan Tözge how his surname was given. According to Erdoğan Tözge, he presented a gold fountain pen
to Fahrettin Altay, and asked him how did he chose Altay as his surname. Fahrettin Altay replied, When we vizited Izmir with Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha during the years of armistice, the Altay club played football against a mixed team consisted of Royal Navy personnel. We wached the game together. Altay club played very nice and when they won Britains, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha was affected, honored and expressed his appreciation. After a long time had passed and Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha sent me to Tabriz
to settle border dispute with Iran. During my staying at Tabriz, the Surname Law
was adopted in the Grand National Assembly
, and the Assembly gave the name Atatürk to Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha unanimously. All country congratulated him because of his new surname. I also sent a telegraph and celebrated. Atatürk's response that he received the next day, was:
Fahrettin said, My eyes were full when I received the telegram. Atatürk deemed me worthy of surname Altay for the memory of the football match of Altay that we had watched together and he had been affected.
The main battle tank Altay is named in honor of him.
He was born to Ismail Bey and Hayriye Hanım in İşkodra (present day: Shkodër
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
).
He was known as the commander of V Calvary Corps that participated in various battles of the Turkish War of Independence
Turkish War of Independence
The Turkish War of Independence was a war of independence waged by Turkish nationalists against the Allies, after the country was partitioned by the Allies following the Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I...
.
According to Altay Spor Tarihi ("The History of Altay Sports Club"), in 1966 when Fahrettin Altay visited the Altay Sports Club at Izmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, he explained to Erdoğan Tözge how his surname was given. According to Erdoğan Tözge, he presented a gold fountain pen
Fountain pen
A fountain pen is a nib pen that, unlike its predecessor the dip pen, contains an internal reservoir of water-based liquid ink. The pen draws ink from the reservoir through a feed to the nib and deposits it on paper via a combination of gravity and capillary action...
to Fahrettin Altay, and asked him how did he chose Altay as his surname. Fahrettin Altay replied, When we vizited Izmir with Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha during the years of armistice, the Altay club played football against a mixed team consisted of Royal Navy personnel. We wached the game together. Altay club played very nice and when they won Britains, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha was affected, honored and expressed his appreciation. After a long time had passed and Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha sent me to Tabriz
Tabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
to settle border dispute with Iran. During my staying at Tabriz, the Surname Law
Surname Law (Turkey)
The Surname Law of the Republic of Turkey was adopted on June 21, 1934. The law required all citizens of Turkey to adopt the use of surnames. Turkey's Christian and Jewish citizens were already using surnames, but Muslims generally did not use Western-style surnames...
was adopted in the Grand National Assembly
Grand National Assembly of Turkey
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey , usually referred to simply as the Meclis , is the unicameral Turkish legislature. It is the sole body given the legislative prerogatives by the Turkish Constitution. It was founded in Ankara on 23 April 1920 in the midst of the Turkish War of Independence...
, and the Assembly gave the name Atatürk to Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha unanimously. All country congratulated him because of his new surname. I also sent a telegraph and celebrated. Atatürk's response that he received the next day, was:
Fahrettin said, My eyes were full when I received the telegram. Atatürk deemed me worthy of surname Altay for the memory of the football match of Altay that we had watched together and he had been affected.
The main battle tank Altay is named in honor of him.
See also
- List of high-ranking commanders of the Turkish War of Independence
- List of Commanders of the First Army of Turkey
- Altay S.K.
- Altay (tank)