Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's personal life
Encyclopedia
The achievements, personality, and personal life of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
(19 May 1881 a posteriori – November 10, 1938) born to Ali Rıza Efendi
and Zübeyde Hanım
have been the subject of numerous studies. According to the Turkish historian Kemal H. Karpat, Atatürk's recent bibliography included 7,010 different sources. Atatürk's personal life has its controversies, ranging from where he was born to his correct full name. The details of his marriage have always been a subject of debate. His religious beliefs were discussed in Turkish political life as recently as the Republic Protests
during the Turkish presidential election, 2007
.
The personality of Mustafa Kemal has been an important subject both for scholars and the general public. Much of substantial personal information about him comes from memoirs by his associates, who were at times his rivals, and friends. Some credible information originates from Ali Fuat Cebesoy
, Kâzım Karabekir
, Halide Edip Adıvar
, Kılıç Ali
, Falih Rıfkı Atay, Afet İnan
, there is also secondary analysis by Lord Kinross, Sevket Sureyya Aydemir and recently Vamik D. Valkan, Norman Itzkowitz
.
as his name at birth
. Mustafa ( - Muṣṭafā, "the chosen one"), an epithet
of Islam
's prophet Muhammad
, was a common name at that time.
s, Bey
was a common title given to all levels above Binbaşı. Therefore Mustafa Kemal Efendi became called as "Mustafa Kemal Bey".
(brigade commander). In Ottoman military ranks, Pasha
was a common title given to all levels above Mirliva. Therefore he became known as "Mustafa Kemal Pasha" . Disgusted by the capitulations and concessions made by the Sultan to the Allies, and by the occupation of Istanbul by the English, Kemal Pasha resigned from his post on July 8, 1919. He escaped from Istanbul by sea, through English Navy patrols and landed on an Anatolian port city named Samsun to organize the resistance to occupation of Anatolia by the Allied Powers. After his resignation, the Ottoman government issued a warrant and later condemned him to death in absentia.
for his achievements during the War of Independence, hence "Gazi Mustafa Kemal". The GNA recognize his founding efforts during the national movement.
was proposed and later put into force. On November 24, 1934 the GNAT with a special law bestowed on "Mustafa Kemal" the surname "Atatürk". The GNAT consecutively established the "Atatürk" as a unique surname. The surname Atatürk may be used only by "Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk".
The surname Atatürk can be divided into two parts: Ata and Türk. Ata means "father" or "ancestor", while Türk means "Turk" or "Turkish People
." Thus, "Atatürk" means "Father of Turkish People" or "Ancestor of Turkish People."
The current common use in Turkey is to refer to him by his last name Atatürk.
Due to differences between calendars of the period, Atatürk's precise birth date is not known. The Ottoman Empire recognized the Hijri calendar
and the Rumî calendar
. The Hijri was an Islamic calendar, used to mark the religious holidays. It was lunar, with years of 354 or 355 days. The Rumi was a civil calendar, adopted in 1839. It was solar, based on the Julian Calendar
. Both counted time from the Hijra
, the flight of Muhammed to Medina
. Between the two calendars significant differences in elapsed time were present. Various reforms were made to reconcile them but typically there was always a difference.
Atatürk's birth date was recorded in the public records of Turkish Selanik
as Anno Hegirae 1296 with no sign whether this was based on the Rumî or on the Hijri calendar. In view of this confusion Atatürk set his own birthday to coincide with the Turkish Independence Day, which he announced was May 19, 1919, the day of his arrival in Samsun
, in a speech given in 1927. His biological birth year cannot have been 1919, but his identification with Independence Day implied his selection of the civil calendar, in which AH 1296 lasts from 13 March 1880 to 12 March 1881. The latter dates are in the Gregorian Calendar
just adopted for the Republic by Atatürk for purposes of standardization (the Julian Calendar was rejected earlier). Atatürk therefore listed his own birthday in all documents official and unofficial as May 19, 1881.
Atatürk was told by his mother that he was born on a spring day. Yet, his younger sister Makbule Atadan was told by others that he was born at night during a thunderstorm. Faik Reşit Unat received differing responses from Zübeyde Hanım's neighbors at Salonika. Some claimed that he was born on a spring day, but others stated on a winter day during either January or February. A date that has gained some acceptance is May 19, a date which originated with the historian Reşit Saffet Atabinen. May 19 is the symbolic start of the Turkish Independence War, and Atabinen linked Atatürk's birth day to the start of the Independence War - a gesture which Atatürk appreciated. There was even a plan to establish a "Gazi" day. Another story about this date is that a teacher asked Atatürk his birth date, that he responded he did not know it, and that the teacher suggested May 19. Then again, there are two ways to interpret this; the "Gregorian May 19, 1881" would imply Rumî March 1, 1297, which conflicts with the only recorded information, Rumî 1296. It is also possible to say "Rumi May 19, 1296", which implies a date in the Gregorian year 1880.
Some sources ignore the day and month altogether, and print his birth date as Gregorian 1880/81. Other claims are:
The memoirs of the Soviet diplomat Simon Aralov
mention a conversation between Aralov and Atatürk, where Aralov says he was born in 1880, and Atatürk responds "just like me".
Atatürk's last official identity document
does not include the day and month, but the year 1881 is visible. It is exhibited in the Atatürk Museum
in Şişli
. The Republic of Turkey announced 19 May 1881 officially to the public and diplomatically to other countries as his accepted birthday.
was not a national state and the records were not kept based on nationality. People's native language was a major determination of their ethnic background. Atatürk's parents and relatives all used Turkish as their native language. He later claimed that his family was part of a nomad Turkic tribe settled in Balkans in 14-15 centuries. Many tribes settled in the newly conquered regions during that period. His statement is not supported or denied by documentary evidence.
Atatürk was born in the then Ottoman city of Salonika
' onMouseout='HidePop("93314")' href="/topics/Thessaloniki">Thessaloniki
, Greece
) to Ali Rıza Efendi
and Zübeyde Hanım
. He was born during the Belle Époque
of European civilization. Russia was implementing reforms; Japan
opened its doors to the West
during the Meiji Restoration
. The Ottoman Empire was going through transformation. Ottoman military reform efforts
like the contemporaneous Modernization of Japanese Military 1868–1931 managed to develop a modern army. Racial, regional, ethnic and national stereotypes were part of discourse throughout the world. Ottoman people were not immune to these developments and there was a rise of nationalism under the Ottoman Empire
. The Ottoman state was dynastic and medieval in its organising principles. Its Islamic dynamicism, which had propelled it to its golden age, had been weakened by Turkish nationalism for one. Conservatism was very strong both in government and society. Even though the Ottoman empire was transforming itself, the Hippocratic school of medicine, Ptolemaic astronomy and geography, and other branches of medieval studies
were actively performed. Most of these studies had been first amended, then discarded in western Europe with the Age of Enlightenment
. The Ottoman Empire never caught up with the Age of Enlightenment. Except for European military technology
, the penetration of European ideas and practices was slow. These were the dominant characters of the period when he was born.
Ali Rıza Efendi was a minor civil servant who became a timber merchant.
In 1888, Ali Rıza Efendi died at an age of 47. Atatürk was 7 years old. Zübeyde Hanım was 31. Zübeyde Hanım and her two children lived with her brother Hüseyin for a period. Hüseyin was the manager of a farm outside Salonika. Mustafa worked on the farm.
Zübeyde Hanım married Ragıp Bey. Ragıp Bey was also a widower with four children. Atatürk liked Sureyya. His other step brother was employed by "Regie Compagnie interessee des tabacs de l'empire Ottoman." He was not the senior male in the house after his mothers marriage. He left the house and lived with a relative.
Atatürk wanted to attend the military school. As a young boy, he admired the Western-style uniforms of the military officers.
On March 13, 1899, he enrolled to the military junior high school in Selânik. He was twelve years old.
In 1896, he enrolled in the Monastir Military High School
. Monastir is today's Bitola
, in the Republic of Macedonia
. Both of these regions saw discontent and revolts towards the Ottoman administration.
On March 13, 1899, he enrolled in the Ottoman War Academy in Istanbul
. It was a boarding school with dormitories within its premises. The military school was strictly controlled by Abdülhamid II. Newspapers were not allowed in the school, and textbooks were the only accepted books. The school not only taught military skills but also religious practices and social work. The curriculum at this school demanded either donating money or working for charity. He graduated from the Ottoman War Academy in 1902.
On February 10, 1902, he enrolled in the Ottoman Staff College
in Istanbul. He graduated from Academy on January 11, 1905. There were two officer tracks in the Ottoman imperial army. One of them was the officers "educated within the army itself", Alaylı, and the other consisted of officers trained in modern military schools, Mektepli. He was a "school trained" officer. School educated officers had a strong ideological imprint toward family and country, and he had shown tendencies toward both. When he joined the Ottoman Army, he had already passed 13 years of military education.
.
Ragıp Bey had four children from his first marriage. In sequence, child1?, Surreyya, Hasan, and child4? were born. Sureeyya died during World War One. Ragip bey had a brother Colonel Husamettin. He and Vasfiye Hanım had a daughter named Fikriye (1897 - 31 Mayıs 1924). Fikriye was a lover to Mustafa while he was married to Latife..
Out of the 9 siblings, 5 sharing at least one parent, only the biological sister Makbule
(1885–1956) survived him.
n capital, Sofia
. Here he befriended General Kovachev
, the Bulgarian Minister of War, who had fought against him in the First Balkan War
. Kemal and the general's daughter, an attractive and accomplished young girl named Dimitrina Zygote, with a slim figure and a head of dark curls, developed a romantic relationship. They frequently attended dance parties and masked balls. Kemal's consideration of asking Dimitrina's hand in marriage did not materialize since her family made their position known by politely refusing an invitation to a ball at the Turkish Embassy.
While living in Şişli
, Istanbul
around 1917 Kemal also had an intimate relationship with Fikriye, a niece of his late stepfather, after her divorce from an Egyptian husband.
Atatürk married only once, to Latife Uşaklıgil
; a multilingual, and self-confident woman who was educated in Europe and came from an established, ship-owning family from Izmir.
Atatürk met Latife during the recapture of occupied Izmir
on September 8, 1922. Kemal was invited to Uşaklıgil residence during his stay in Izmir. He had chance to observe Latife closely. Their initial acquaintanceship period lasted relatively short as he had to return Ankara on October 2. Kemal opened up his interest to Latife by asking her "Don't go anywhere. Wait for me." On January 29, 1923, he arranged for the permission to marry from her family. The chief of staff Fevzi Çakmak
asked the bride from her father. Kazim Karabekir
was present at their wedding. These were not random decisions. In Turkish culture, groom asks his family or respected people with whom he has close relationships to perform this act. Latife did not cover her face during the wedding, though during this period it was the tradition for brides to do so. They did not have a honeymoon just after the wedding. The elections for the parliament was coming. He received the representatives of local newspapers next day of his wedding. He prepared for his public speech on February 2. The honeymoon, an Anatolian tour, was a chance to show his wife's unveiled face as a role model for modern Turkish women. "It's not just a honeymoon, it's a lesson in reform," one observer remarked.
As a First Lady
, she was part of the women's emancipation movement, which started in Turkey in the early 1920s. Latife showed her face to the world with a defiance that shocked and delighted onlookers. She did not wear the hijab
(tr:Carsaf en:Burqa
) but covered her head with a headscarf , a style of headcovering, and urged Turkish women to do the same. Atatürk passed the women's rights to vote and to be elected. Latife lobbied for women's right to vote.
One of the last public confrontations occurred during their Anatolian tour. Latife insisted on accompanying him to eastern towns even though the wife of other officials stopped at the Samsun and did not travel further to the devastated east. The attention of Atatürk was directed to conventional gatherings. The balance was hard to establish. At Erzurum, Latife and Kemal reached a breaking point. They had a public quarrel. Atatürk asked Latife to go to Ankara, with his trusted ADC Salih Bozok. They were divorced on August 5, 1925. The circumstances of their divorce remain publicly unknown. A 25-year-old court order banned the publishing of his former wife's diaries and letters, which might have contained information on the matter. Turkish History Foundation kept the letters since 1975. Upon expiration of the court order, the Turkish History Foundation said that Latife Uşaklıgil's family demanded that the letters not be disclosed.
He is quoted to have said: "Children are a new beginning of tomorrow." He established April 23 as "Children's day" and May 19 as "Youth and Sports day." Children's day commemorates the opening of Turkish National Assembly in 1920. The designation of Children's Day came in 1929 upon the recommendation of the Institution of Children's Protection. Both days are celebrated today. Youth and Sports is a national holiday. He did not have any children from his marriage. He had seven adopted daughters and one son. Additionally, he had two children under his protection, Abdurrahim and İhsan. The names of his children were Zehra Aylin, Sabiha (Gökçen), Rukiye (Erkin), Afet (İnan), Nebile (Bayyurt), Fikriye, Ülkü (Doğançay, later Adatepe), and Mustafa.
In 1916, Atatürk took 8 years old Abdurrahim under his protection. He met Abdurrahim in Bitlis. His exact birth date and the parents unknown. There is a photograph showing Atatürk with his uniform during his assignment in Diyarbakir accompanied with the early teenage Abdurrahim. Abdurrahim was entrusted to Zubeyde Hanim's care. Abdurrahim stated that he does not remember his biological parents. This brought questions regarding if he was left orphan during the Caucasus Campaign
. Abdurrahim stated that his earliest memories belong to the Zubeyde Hanim's house in Akarether. The house in Akarether was bought in 1913. Atatürk choose the surname Tunçak to Abdurrahim.
In 1924 Zehra from Amasya, Rukiye from Konya come to his protection. Zehra fell to her death from a train near Amiens
on November 20, 1935. France police inquiry concluded that it was a suicide rather than an accident. On September 22, 1925, Atatürk adopted 12 years old girl Sabiha (Gökçen)
. She was an orphan girl who approached him at Bursa train station. She asked his help for education. Atatürk looked after her education. She was sent to Russia for training. She became the first female combat pilot in the world.
On October 25, 1925, Atatürk met 18 years old girl Afet (İnan)
. She was the daughter of a close family friend. She had lost her mother and her father had married another woman. She was trying to make a living in Izmir by teaching young girls. She lacked advanced education. Atatürk supported her advance education expenses, while she continued to support herself by teaching. Later, she became a trusted person. He asked her to copy edit his speeches, and dictate his materials.
In 1935, Atatürk met a three-year-old girl, Ülkü. She was the child of a retainer of his mother and the stationmaster. She was the only daughter that stayed close to him until a few weeks before his death.
on almost every opportunity, as well as the traditional Zeybek folk dances. He had an appreciation of Rumelia
n folk songs. Atatürk was fluent in French
and German
, and maintained a rich personal library of books on politics, history, chemistry, and linguistics.
He was known to have an appreciation for the national beverage, rakı
, and enjoyed it in vast quantities.
One changing view about Atatürk is his foresightedness, foster and promotion of the leadership among Turkish revoutionaries. Initial reviews depict him as an unchallanged leader, the single man. Recent studies analyze the period from the populist perspective. His leadership activities had extending effects on the political, social and cultural context of the Republic. These studies gives clues on his abilities to foster the cooperation
among different people, such as in the "History of National Struggle Volumes I through V". His significance during independence was cited for his ability to unify people. It is pointed out that organizations in the countryside for resistance against occupation was happening effectively before his involvement. His ability to channel people did not. The foundation for the civilian participation in the government [parliament being never closed during his reign] and establishment of civic society [his insistence of keeping military out of daily politics] are cited having the roots in the Kemal's presidency, not after. The failed reforms of the regional countries, after the passage of its leaders, were generally used as an example of the Atatürk's leadership among the Turkish Revolutionaries. His effect lasted many years after his passage.
after an article in the Turkey's Reader's Digest reportedly claimed that Atatürk said "his successor would be bitten on the ankle by an odd-eyed white cat.
Atatürk established the Atatürk Forest Ranch "Atatürk Orman Çiftliği" in 1925. He wanted to have a modern farm in the suburbs of the capital including a green haven (arboretum
) for people. The Atatürk Forest Ranch developed a program to introduce domesticated livestock and horticulture in 1933. As a consequence of children being interested in the animals Atatürk involved in developing a program which then became known as "Ankara Zoo." The modern zoo which took 12 years in making, first of its kind in Turkey, gave a chance to people observe animals beyond the boundaries of Circus
and Fair
s. Atatürk, with his smallest adapted daughter "Ulku" spend his time at the Forest Ranch and throughout the development stages of the Zoo until he died in 1938. The official opening was in 1945.
In his youth, he underwent religious training, though it was short. His military training included religious imprinting. He knew the Arabic language well enough to understand and interpret the Quran. He studied the "History of Islam" by Leone Caetani
and the "History of Islamic Civilization" by Georgi Zaidan. He authored the chapter in "Islamic History" himself when he wanted history books for high schools prepared. Atatürk's religious knowledge was considerably high in its nature and level Ethem Ruhi Fığlalı states that one can clearly conclude on the basis of his speeches and attitudes that he was a sincere believer. Atatürk has stated, "He [Muhammed] is Allah's first and greatest human-being. Today, in his footsteps, millions are walking. Your and my name would get erased someday but he, eternally, is immortal. According to Reşat Kasaba, Mustafa Kemal was not the only Agnostic
in the Turkish ruling class, but there were few who matched his purely instrumental attitude to religion.
Atatürk stated that a religion should be in conformity with reason, science and logic. He viewed Islam as in complete harmony with the reasoning, science and logic. The problem was not religion, but how believers understood and applied religion. True religion could not be understood as long as false prophet
s isolated and religious knowledge is enlightened. The only way to deal with false prophets was to deal with the Turkish people's illiteracy and prejudice.
), Atatürk believed in a form of reformed Islam (Islam between individual and God). He believed it was possible to blend native tradition (based on Islam) and Western modernism harmoniously. In this equation, he gave more emphasis towards the modernization. His modernization aimed to transform social and mental structures (native traditions of Islam) to eradicate the irrational ideas, magical superstitions and so on.
Atatürk was not against religion but what he perceived as all Ottoman religious and cultural elements that brought limits to people's self being. He concentrated his reforms (regarding popular sovereignty) against obstacles for the individual choices being reflected in the social life. He viewed civil law and abolition of caliphate was required for reflection of individual choices. He perceived religion as a matter of conscience, a problem of worship, but not politics. The best response on this issue comes from himself
Atatürk believed in freedom of religion
, but he was a secular thinker and his concept of freedom of religion was not limitless. He differentiated between social and personal practice of religion. He applied social considerations (secular requirements) when the public practice of religion was considered. He said that no one can force another to accept any religion or a sect (freedom of belief)
. Also, everyone has the right to perform or neglect, if he so wishes, obligations of any religion he chooses (freedom of worship), such as the right to not to fast during Ramadan
."
, the movements that perceive Islam as a political movement or particularly the view of Islam as a political religion hold the position that Atatürk was not a Muslim (true believer or religious Muslim). It is normal that this perspective was adapted, Karpat says. "He was not against Islam, but those who are against his political power using the religious arguments." Any movement that wanted to establish the Caliphate had to discredit Atatürk. It is claimed that Republic reflected Kemal's personal philosophy.
Many years later, when Turkey had became more secular and modern, he gave a public speech in which he criticized the Islamic political views related them to as a religion (political views attributed to religion) as a religious of an 'immoral Arab' (rules and theories of an Arab Shaikh):
It can be claimed that Atatürk is a "cultural Muslim
" or "nominal Muslim," but it should be noted that the definition of cultural Muslim itself is very far from being uncontested.
Mustafa Kemal described the religion of Islam as the religion of Arabs in his own work titled Medenî Bilgiler:
, he suffered from a serious illness. After a short period of treatment in Yalova, an apparent improvement in his health was observed, but his condition again worsened following his journeys first to Ankara, and then to Mersin
and Adana
. Upon his return to Ankara in May, he was recommended to go to İstanbul for treatment, where he was diagnosed with cirrhosis
of the liver.
During his stay in İstanbul, he made an effort to keep up with his regular lifestyle for a while, heading the Council of Ministers meeting, working on the Hatay
issue, and hosting King Carol II of Romania
during his visit in June. He stayed onboard his newly arrived yacht
, Savarona
, until the end of July, after which his health again worsened and then he moved to a room arranged for him at the Dolmabahçe Palace
.
Atatürk died at the Dolmabahçe Palace
in Istanbul
, on November 10, 1938, 09:05am, at the age of 57. It is thought that he died of cirrhosis
of the liver. Atatürk's funeral called forth both sorrow and pride in Turkey, and seventeen countries sent special representatives, while nine contributed with armed detachments to the cortège.
On November 1953, Mustafa Kemal's remains were taken from the Ethnography Museum of Ankara
by 138 young reserve officers in a procession that stretched for two miles (3 km) including the President, the Premier, every Cabinet minister, every parliamentary deputy, every provincial governor and every foreign diplomat, while at the same time 21 million Turks stood motionless all over the country. One admiral guarded a velvet cushion which bore the Medal of Independence; the only decoration, among many others held, that Atatürk preferred to wear. The Father of the Turks finally came to rest at his mausoleum, the Anıtkabir
. An official noted: "I was on active duty during his funeral, when I shed bitter tears at the finality of death. Today I am not sad, for 15 years have taught me that Atatürk will never die."
His lifestyle had always been strenuous. Alcohol consumption during dinner discussions, smoking, long hours of hard work, very little sleep, and working on his projects and dreams had been his way of life. As the historian Will Durant
had said, "men devoted to war, politics, and public life wear out fast, and all three had been the passion of Atatürk."
written on September 5, 1938, he donated all of his possessions to the Republican People's Party, bound to the condition that, through the yearly interest of his funds, his sister Makbule and his adopted children will be looked after, the higher education of the children of İsmet İnönü will be funded, and the Turkish Language Association
and Turkish Historical Society
will be given the rest.
The list of books edited and authored by Atatürk is given below ordered by the date of publication.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey....
(19 May 1881 a posteriori – November 10, 1938) born to Ali Rıza Efendi
Ali Riza Efendi
Ali Rıza Efendi was the father of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the husband of Zübeyde Hanım.He was born in Thessaloniki, Ottoman Empire and worked as a customs official. He died in 1888, when his son was 7 years old...
and Zübeyde Hanım
Zübeyde Hanim
Zübeyde Hanım was the mother of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey. She was the only daughter of the Hacısofular family which included her two brothers...
have been the subject of numerous studies. According to the Turkish historian Kemal H. Karpat, Atatürk's recent bibliography included 7,010 different sources. Atatürk's personal life has its controversies, ranging from where he was born to his correct full name. The details of his marriage have always been a subject of debate. His religious beliefs were discussed in Turkish political life as recently as the Republic Protests
Republic Protests
The Republic Protests were a series of peaceful mass rallies that took place in Turkey in 2007 in support of a strict principle of state secularism....
during the Turkish presidential election, 2007
Turkish presidential election, 2007
The 2007 Turkish presidential election refers to two attempts to elect the country's 11th president, to succeed Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The most likely candidate for president was Abdullah Gül...
.
The personality of Mustafa Kemal has been an important subject both for scholars and the general public. Much of substantial personal information about him comes from memoirs by his associates, who were at times his rivals, and friends. Some credible information originates from Ali Fuat Cebesoy
Ali Fuat Cebesoy
Ali Fuat Cebesoy was a Turkish officer, politician and statesman.-Early life:Ali Fuat was born in September 1882 to father Ismail Fazil Pasha and mother Zekiye Hanım...
, Kâzım Karabekir
Kazim Karabekir
Musa Kâzım Karabekir was a Turkish general and politician. He was commander of the Eastern Army in the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I and served as Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey before his death.-Early years:Karabekir was born in 1882 as the son of an Ottoman General,...
, Halide Edip Adıvar
Halide Edip Adivar
Halide Edip Adıvar or Halide Edib Adivar was a Turkish novelist and feminist political leader...
, Kılıç Ali
Ali Kılıç
Ali Kılıç also known as "Kılıç" Ali Bey was an officer of the Ottoman Army...
, Falih Rıfkı Atay, Afet İnan
Afet Inan
Ayşe Afet İnan was a Turkish historian and sociologist. She was one of the adopted daughters of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk....
, there is also secondary analysis by Lord Kinross, Sevket Sureyya Aydemir and recently Vamik D. Valkan, Norman Itzkowitz
Norman Itzkowitz
Norman Itzkowitz is a Polish American Professor Emeritus of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University. Norman is an Ottoman historian who brings perception of psychoanalysis into Near Eastern Studies....
.
Name
In Turkish tradition, names have additional honorary or memorial values besides their grammatical identification function. It is possible to translate a name from Turkish to other languages, but care should be given as names' form varies from one language to another.Mustafa
Atatürk had Mustafa (Mustapha)Mustafa (disambiguation)
Mustafa is a common Arabic male given name.Mustafa may also refer to:* Mustafa, Azerbaijan* Mustafa , a 2008 documentary by Can Dündar* Mustafa , a character in Austin Powers...
as his name at birth
Name at birth
The name at birth is the name a child is given by his or her parents, according to a generally universal custom, and legal requirement. What happens subsequently about this name has a substantial cultural component....
. Mustafa ( - Muṣṭafā, "the chosen one"), an epithet
Epithet
An epithet or byname is a descriptive term accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, objects, and binomial nomenclature. It is also a descriptive title...
of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
's prophet Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
, was a common name at that time.
Mustafa Kemal
Young Mustafa studied at the military junior high school in Salonica (Salonica Military School), where his mathematics teacher Captain Üsküplü Mustafa Sabri Bey gave him the additional name Kemal ("perfection") because of his academic excellence. Therefore he became known as "Mustafa Kemal".Mustafa Kemal Bey
On November 27, 1911, Mustafa Kemal was promoted to the rank of Binbaşı (command of a thousand soldier). In Ottoman military rankMilitary rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
s, Bey
Bey
Bey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
was a common title given to all levels above Binbaşı. Therefore Mustafa Kemal Efendi became called as "Mustafa Kemal Bey".
Mustafa Kemal Pasha
On April 1, 1916, Mustafa Kemal was promoted to the rank of MirlivaMirliva
Mirliva or Mîr-i livâ was a military rank of the Ottoman Army. It corresponds to a Brigadier General or Major General . Mirliva is a compound word composed of Mir and Liva...
(brigade commander). In Ottoman military ranks, Pasha
Pasha
Pasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in...
was a common title given to all levels above Mirliva. Therefore he became known as "Mustafa Kemal Pasha" . Disgusted by the capitulations and concessions made by the Sultan to the Allies, and by the occupation of Istanbul by the English, Kemal Pasha resigned from his post on July 8, 1919. He escaped from Istanbul by sea, through English Navy patrols and landed on an Anatolian port city named Samsun to organize the resistance to occupation of Anatolia by the Allied Powers. After his resignation, the Ottoman government issued a warrant and later condemned him to death in absentia.
Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha
On September 19, 1921, Turkish Grand National Assembly (GNA) presented him with the title Gazi (combat veteran and/or wounded veteran) with the rank of MarshalMarshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
for his achievements during the War of Independence, hence "Gazi Mustafa Kemal". The GNA recognize his founding efforts during the national movement.
Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
On June 21, 1934, the GNAT recognized the need for registration, and use of fixed hereditary surnames. The Surname LawSurname 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 proposed and later put into force. On November 24, 1934 the GNAT with a special law bestowed on "Mustafa Kemal" the surname "Atatürk". The GNAT consecutively established the "Atatürk" as a unique surname. The surname Atatürk may be used only by "Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk".
The surname Atatürk can be divided into two parts: Ata and Türk. Ata means "father" or "ancestor", while Türk means "Turk" or "Turkish People
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
." Thus, "Atatürk" means "Father of Turkish People" or "Ancestor of Turkish People."
The current common use in Turkey is to refer to him by his last name Atatürk.
Birth date
Islamic calendar
The Hijri calendar , also known as the Muslim calendar or Islamic calendar , is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to date events in many Muslim countries , and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic...
and the Rumî calendar
Rumi calendar
This is about the solar Ottoman calendar based on the Julian calendar. For the lunar Hijri calendar see Islamic calendar.The Rumi calendar , a specific calendar based on the Julian calendar but starting with the year of Muhammad's emigration in 622 AD, was officially used by the Ottoman Empire...
. The Hijri was an Islamic calendar, used to mark the religious holidays. It was lunar, with years of 354 or 355 days. The Rumi was a civil calendar, adopted in 1839. It was solar, based on the Julian Calendar
Julian calendar
The Julian calendar began in 45 BC as a reform of the Roman calendar by Julius Caesar. It was chosen after consultation with the astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria and was probably designed to approximate the tropical year .The Julian calendar has a regular year of 365 days divided into 12 months...
. Both counted time from the Hijra
Hijra (Islam)
The Hijra is the migration or journey of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. Alternate spellings of this Arabic word are Hijrah, Hijrat or Hegira, the latter following the spelling rules of Latin.- Hijra of Muhammad :In September 622, warned of a plot to...
, the flight of Muhammed to Medina
Medina
Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...
. Between the two calendars significant differences in elapsed time were present. Various reforms were made to reconcile them but typically there was always a difference.
Atatürk's birth date was recorded in the public records of Turkish Selanik
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
as Anno Hegirae 1296 with no sign whether this was based on the Rumî or on the Hijri calendar. In view of this confusion Atatürk set his own birthday to coincide with the Turkish Independence Day, which he announced was May 19, 1919, the day of his arrival in Samsun
Samsun
Samsun is a city of about half a million people on the north coast of Turkey. It is the provincial capital of Samsun Province and a major Black Sea port.-Name:...
, in a speech given in 1927. His biological birth year cannot have been 1919, but his identification with Independence Day implied his selection of the civil calendar, in which AH 1296 lasts from 13 March 1880 to 12 March 1881. The latter dates are in the Gregorian Calendar
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
just adopted for the Republic by Atatürk for purposes of standardization (the Julian Calendar was rejected earlier). Atatürk therefore listed his own birthday in all documents official and unofficial as May 19, 1881.
Atatürk was told by his mother that he was born on a spring day. Yet, his younger sister Makbule Atadan was told by others that he was born at night during a thunderstorm. Faik Reşit Unat received differing responses from Zübeyde Hanım's neighbors at Salonika. Some claimed that he was born on a spring day, but others stated on a winter day during either January or February. A date that has gained some acceptance is May 19, a date which originated with the historian Reşit Saffet Atabinen. May 19 is the symbolic start of the Turkish Independence War, and Atabinen linked Atatürk's birth day to the start of the Independence War - a gesture which Atatürk appreciated. There was even a plan to establish a "Gazi" day. Another story about this date is that a teacher asked Atatürk his birth date, that he responded he did not know it, and that the teacher suggested May 19. Then again, there are two ways to interpret this; the "Gregorian May 19, 1881" would imply Rumî March 1, 1297, which conflicts with the only recorded information, Rumî 1296. It is also possible to say "Rumi May 19, 1296", which implies a date in the Gregorian year 1880.
Some sources ignore the day and month altogether, and print his birth date as Gregorian 1880/81. Other claims are:
- Enver Behnan Şapolyo claimed that Atatürk was born on Gregorian December 23, 1880.
- Şevket Süreyya AydemirSevket Süreyya AydemirSevket Surreya Aydemir was a Turkish intellectual, and was one of the founders and a key theorist of Kadro, an influential policy journal published in Turkey from 1932-1934. He was educated and became familiar with Marxism at Moscow University where he studied economics, and worked as a teacher...
claimed that he was born on Gregorian January 4, 1881. - Muhtar Kumral, former head of the Mustafa Kemal association, claimed that he was born on Gregorian 13 March 1881, and stated they used Makbule Atadan. A conversion from Gregorian to Rumî sets the day in Rumî to 1 March 1297. The validity of this claim is questionable, since the written record states Rumi 1296, not 1297.
- Tevfik Rüştü ArasTevfik Rüstü ArasTevfik Rüştü Aras was a Turkish politician, serving as deputy and foreign minister of Turkey during the Atatürk era .-Early years:...
claimed that Atatürk was born between 10 May and 20 May. He also stated that this information was shared with Atatürk, and that Atatürk responded "Why not May 19."
The memoirs of the Soviet diplomat Simon Aralov
Simon Aralov
Semyon Ivanovich Aralov was the first head of the Soviet Red Army Intelligence Directorate and subsequently had a career in the Soviet diplomatic service....
mention a conversation between Aralov and Atatürk, where Aralov says he was born in 1880, and Atatürk responds "just like me".
Atatürk's last official identity document
Identity document
An identity document is any document which may be used to verify aspects of a person's personal identity. If issued in the form of a small, mostly standard-sized card, it is usually called an identity card...
does not include the day and month, but the year 1881 is visible. It is exhibited in the Atatürk Museum
Atatürk Museum
Atatürk Museum ) is a national museum dedicated to the life of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Turkey. It is located in the district of Şişli, on the European side of Istanbul, Turkey....
in Şişli
Sisli
Şişli is one of 39 districts of Istanbul, Turkey. Located on the European side of the city, it is bordered by Beşiktaş to the east, Sarıyer to the north, Eyüp and Kağıthane to the west, and Beyoğlu to the south...
. The Republic of Turkey announced 19 May 1881 officially to the public and diplomatically to other countries as his accepted birthday.
Nationality
The Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
was not a national state and the records were not kept based on nationality. People's native language was a major determination of their ethnic background. Atatürk's parents and relatives all used Turkish as their native language. He later claimed that his family was part of a nomad Turkic tribe settled in Balkans in 14-15 centuries. Many tribes settled in the newly conquered regions during that period. His statement is not supported or denied by documentary evidence.
Early life
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
' onMouseout='HidePop("93314")' href="/topics/Thessaloniki">Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
) to Ali Rıza Efendi
Ali Riza Efendi
Ali Rıza Efendi was the father of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the husband of Zübeyde Hanım.He was born in Thessaloniki, Ottoman Empire and worked as a customs official. He died in 1888, when his son was 7 years old...
and Zübeyde Hanım
Zübeyde Hanim
Zübeyde Hanım was the mother of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey. She was the only daughter of the Hacısofular family which included her two brothers...
. He was born during the Belle Époque
Belle Époque
The Belle Époque or La Belle Époque was a period in European social history that began during the late 19th century and lasted until World War I. Occurring during the era of the French Third Republic and the German Empire, it was a period characterised by optimism and new technological and medical...
of European civilization. Russia was implementing reforms; Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
opened its doors to the West
Foreign relations of Meiji Japan
During the Meiji period, the new Government of Meiji Japan also modernized foreign policy, an important step in making Japan a full member of the international community. The traditional East Asia worldview was based not on an international society of national units but on cultural distinctions and...
during the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
. The Ottoman Empire was going through transformation. Ottoman military reform efforts
Ottoman military reform efforts
Ottoman military reform efforts began after the Belle Époque of European civilization. Ottoman military reforms follow the empire's transformation to become a modern country. It followed the same period only a couple decade later of Russia's reforms, and Japan's opening of its doors to west during...
like the contemporaneous Modernization of Japanese Military 1868–1931 managed to develop a modern army. Racial, regional, ethnic and national stereotypes were part of discourse throughout the world. Ottoman people were not immune to these developments and there was a rise of nationalism under the Ottoman Empire
Rise of nationalism under the Ottoman Empire
The rise of the Western notion of nationalism under the Ottoman Empire eventually caused the break-down of the Ottoman millet concept...
. The Ottoman state was dynastic and medieval in its organising principles. Its Islamic dynamicism, which had propelled it to its golden age, had been weakened by Turkish nationalism for one. Conservatism was very strong both in government and society. Even though the Ottoman empire was transforming itself, the Hippocratic school of medicine, Ptolemaic astronomy and geography, and other branches of medieval studies
Medieval studies
-Development:The term 'medieval studies' began to be adopted by academics in the opening decades of the twentieth century, initially in the titles of books like G. G. Coulton's Ten Medieval Studies , to emphasize a greater interdisciplinary approach to a historical subject...
were actively performed. Most of these studies had been first amended, then discarded in western Europe with the Age of Enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
. The Ottoman Empire never caught up with the Age of Enlightenment. Except for European military technology
Military history of Europe
The military history of Europe has been one of advanced technologies in proportion to the times during the past few centuries and well known to the Western world as it is the western continent with the oldest known kept records. Europe's military technology were ahead of the world in the fifteenth...
, the penetration of European ideas and practices was slow. These were the dominant characters of the period when he was born.
Ali Rıza Efendi was a minor civil servant who became a timber merchant.
Preparatory school
Ali Rıza Bey's desire was to send Atatürk to the newly-opened Şemsi Efendi Jewish Donmeh school (Rucholigè School). Şemsi Efendi school had a contemporary education program specializes in Judaism and Kabalism. Zübeyde Hanım wanted him to attend a traditional school. The traditional Muslim schools had programs based on mostly prayers and hymns. This caused arguments within the family. He was first enrolled in a traditional religious school. Later switched to a modern civic preparatory school, Rucholigè School.In 1888, Ali Rıza Efendi died at an age of 47. Atatürk was 7 years old. Zübeyde Hanım was 31. Zübeyde Hanım and her two children lived with her brother Hüseyin for a period. Hüseyin was the manager of a farm outside Salonika. Mustafa worked on the farm.
Zübeyde Hanım married Ragıp Bey. Ragıp Bey was also a widower with four children. Atatürk liked Sureyya. His other step brother was employed by "Regie Compagnie interessee des tabacs de l'empire Ottoman." He was not the senior male in the house after his mothers marriage. He left the house and lived with a relative.
Military education
On March 13, 1899, he enrolled to the military junior high school in Selânik. He was twelve years old.
In 1896, he enrolled in the Monastir Military High School
Monastir Military High School
The Monastir Military High School was one of the three year educational military high school of the Ottoman Empire. It was located in Monastir...
. Monastir is today's Bitola
Bitola
Bitola is a city in the southwestern part of the Republic of Macedonia. The city is an administrative, cultural, industrial, commercial, and educational centre. It is located in the southern part of the Pelagonia valley, surrounded by the Baba and Nidže mountains, 14 km north of the...
, in the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
. Both of these regions saw discontent and revolts towards the Ottoman administration.
On March 13, 1899, he enrolled in the Ottoman War Academy in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. It was a boarding school with dormitories within its premises. The military school was strictly controlled by Abdülhamid II. Newspapers were not allowed in the school, and textbooks were the only accepted books. The school not only taught military skills but also religious practices and social work. The curriculum at this school demanded either donating money or working for charity. He graduated from the Ottoman War Academy in 1902.
On February 10, 1902, he enrolled in the Ottoman Staff College
Ottoman Military College
The Ottoman Military College or Ottoman Military Staff College or Ottoman War Academy, was a two year military staff college of the Ottoman Empire. It was located in Constantinople...
in Istanbul. He graduated from Academy on January 11, 1905. There were two officer tracks in the Ottoman imperial army. One of them was the officers "educated within the army itself", Alaylı, and the other consisted of officers trained in modern military schools, Mektepli. He was a "school trained" officer. School educated officers had a strong ideological imprint toward family and country, and he had shown tendencies toward both. When he joined the Ottoman Army, he had already passed 13 years of military education.
Family
Zübeyde Hanım's first child was Fatma, then Ömer, later Ahmet was born. They all died in early childhood. Mustafa was the fourth child. Makbule followed him in 1885. Their sister Naciye was born in 1889. Naciye was lost to childhood tuberculosisTuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
.
Ragıp Bey had four children from his first marriage. In sequence, child1?, Surreyya, Hasan, and child4? were born. Sureeyya died during World War One. Ragip bey had a brother Colonel Husamettin. He and Vasfiye Hanım had a daughter named Fikriye (1897 - 31 Mayıs 1924). Fikriye was a lover to Mustafa while he was married to Latife..
Out of the 9 siblings, 5 sharing at least one parent, only the biological sister Makbule
Makbule Atadan
Makbule Atadan was the sister of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey. She was the only one surviving sister of Atatürk, while the other four siblings died at early ages....
(1885–1956) survived him.
Romances
In 1913 Kemal was stationed as military attache in the BulgariaBulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n capital, Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
. Here he befriended General Kovachev
Stiliyan Kovachev
Stiliyan Kovachev was a Bulgarian General. During the First Balkan War he commanded the Rodopi Detachment and later 4th Army...
, the Bulgarian Minister of War, who had fought against him in the First Balkan War
First Balkan War
The First Balkan War, which lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League against the Ottoman Empire. The combined armies of the Balkan states overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies and achieved rapid success...
. Kemal and the general's daughter, an attractive and accomplished young girl named Dimitrina Zygote, with a slim figure and a head of dark curls, developed a romantic relationship. They frequently attended dance parties and masked balls. Kemal's consideration of asking Dimitrina's hand in marriage did not materialize since her family made their position known by politely refusing an invitation to a ball at the Turkish Embassy.
While living in Şişli
Sisli
Şişli is one of 39 districts of Istanbul, Turkey. Located on the European side of the city, it is bordered by Beşiktaş to the east, Sarıyer to the north, Eyüp and Kağıthane to the west, and Beyoğlu to the south...
, Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
around 1917 Kemal also had an intimate relationship with Fikriye, a niece of his late stepfather, after her divorce from an Egyptian husband.
Marriage
Latife Usakligil
Latife Uşakizâde was Mustafa Kemal Pasha's wife between 1923 and 1925...
; a multilingual, and self-confident woman who was educated in Europe and came from an established, ship-owning family from Izmir.
Atatürk met Latife during the recapture of occupied Izmir
Occupation of Izmir
The Occupation of Smyrna occurred from 15 May 1919 to 8 September 1922 by Greek forces under the High Commissioner Aristidis Stergiadis in the Smyrna district, aligned with the Allied partitioning of the Ottoman Empire. There were no military hostilities between Greece and the Ottoman Empire...
on September 8, 1922. Kemal was invited to Uşaklıgil residence during his stay in Izmir. He had chance to observe Latife closely. Their initial acquaintanceship period lasted relatively short as he had to return Ankara on October 2. Kemal opened up his interest to Latife by asking her "Don't go anywhere. Wait for me." On January 29, 1923, he arranged for the permission to marry from her family. The chief of staff Fevzi Çakmak
Fevzi Çakmak
Mustafa Fevzi Çakmak was a Turkish soldier , politician. Minister of War of the Ottoman Empire, National Defence Minister, Prime minister of Ankara government, the second Chief of the General Staff of the Army of the Grand National Assembly and the first Chief of the General Staff of the Republic of...
asked the bride from her father. Kazim Karabekir
Kazim Karabekir
Musa Kâzım Karabekir was a Turkish general and politician. He was commander of the Eastern Army in the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I and served as Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey before his death.-Early years:Karabekir was born in 1882 as the son of an Ottoman General,...
was present at their wedding. These were not random decisions. In Turkish culture, groom asks his family or respected people with whom he has close relationships to perform this act. Latife did not cover her face during the wedding, though during this period it was the tradition for brides to do so. They did not have a honeymoon just after the wedding. The elections for the parliament was coming. He received the representatives of local newspapers next day of his wedding. He prepared for his public speech on February 2. The honeymoon, an Anatolian tour, was a chance to show his wife's unveiled face as a role model for modern Turkish women. "It's not just a honeymoon, it's a lesson in reform," one observer remarked.
As a First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
, she was part of the women's emancipation movement, which started in Turkey in the early 1920s. Latife showed her face to the world with a defiance that shocked and delighted onlookers. She did not wear the hijab
Hijab
The word "hijab" or "'" refers to both the head covering traditionally worn by Muslim women and modest Muslim styles of dress in general....
(tr:Carsaf en:Burqa
Burqa
A burqa is an enveloping outer garment worn by women in some Islamic religion to cover their bodies in public places. The burqa is usually understood to be the woman's loose body-covering , plus the head-covering , plus the face-veil .-Etymology:A speculative and unattested etymology...
) but covered her head with a headscarf , a style of headcovering, and urged Turkish women to do the same. Atatürk passed the women's rights to vote and to be elected. Latife lobbied for women's right to vote.
One of the last public confrontations occurred during their Anatolian tour. Latife insisted on accompanying him to eastern towns even though the wife of other officials stopped at the Samsun and did not travel further to the devastated east. The attention of Atatürk was directed to conventional gatherings. The balance was hard to establish. At Erzurum, Latife and Kemal reached a breaking point. They had a public quarrel. Atatürk asked Latife to go to Ankara, with his trusted ADC Salih Bozok. They were divorced on August 5, 1925. The circumstances of their divorce remain publicly unknown. A 25-year-old court order banned the publishing of his former wife's diaries and letters, which might have contained information on the matter. Turkish History Foundation kept the letters since 1975. Upon expiration of the court order, the Turkish History Foundation said that Latife Uşaklıgil's family demanded that the letters not be disclosed.
Children
In 1916, Atatürk took 8 years old Abdurrahim under his protection. He met Abdurrahim in Bitlis. His exact birth date and the parents unknown. There is a photograph showing Atatürk with his uniform during his assignment in Diyarbakir accompanied with the early teenage Abdurrahim. Abdurrahim was entrusted to Zubeyde Hanim's care. Abdurrahim stated that he does not remember his biological parents. This brought questions regarding if he was left orphan during the Caucasus Campaign
Caucasus Campaign
The Caucasus Campaign comprised armed conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire, later including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Central Caspian Dictatorship and the UK as part of the Middle Eastern theatre or alternatively named as part of the Caucasus Campaign during World War I...
. Abdurrahim stated that his earliest memories belong to the Zubeyde Hanim's house in Akarether. The house in Akarether was bought in 1913. Atatürk choose the surname Tunçak to Abdurrahim.
In 1924 Zehra from Amasya, Rukiye from Konya come to his protection. Zehra fell to her death from a train near Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
on November 20, 1935. France police inquiry concluded that it was a suicide rather than an accident. On September 22, 1925, Atatürk adopted 12 years old girl Sabiha (Gökçen)
Sabiha Gökçen
Sabiha Gökçen was a Turkish aviatrix. First Turkish female combat pilot, aged 23. She was one of the eight adopted children of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.- Early life :...
. She was an orphan girl who approached him at Bursa train station. She asked his help for education. Atatürk looked after her education. She was sent to Russia for training. She became the first female combat pilot in the world.
On October 25, 1925, Atatürk met 18 years old girl Afet (İnan)
Afet Inan
Ayşe Afet İnan was a Turkish historian and sociologist. She was one of the adopted daughters of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk....
. She was the daughter of a close family friend. She had lost her mother and her father had married another woman. She was trying to make a living in Izmir by teaching young girls. She lacked advanced education. Atatürk supported her advance education expenses, while she continued to support herself by teaching. Later, she became a trusted person. He asked her to copy edit his speeches, and dictate his materials.
In 1935, Atatürk met a three-year-old girl, Ülkü. She was the child of a retainer of his mother and the stationmaster. She was the only daughter that stayed close to him until a few weeks before his death.
Habits and talents
Atatürk mainly enjoyed reading, horse riding, chess, and swimming for leisure activities. He was very interested in dancing, taking pleasure in waltzWaltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
on almost every opportunity, as well as the traditional Zeybek folk dances. He had an appreciation of Rumelia
Rumelia
Rumelia was an historical region comprising the territories of the Ottoman Empire in Europe...
n folk songs. Atatürk was fluent in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, and maintained a rich personal library of books on politics, history, chemistry, and linguistics.
He was known to have an appreciation for the national beverage, rakı
Raki
-Alcoholic beverages:*Rakı, an anise-flavored spirit popular in Turkey*Any anise-flavored drink.-Fictional characters:*Raki, a character in the manga/anime series Claymore*Raki, a character in the game Ar tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica...
, and enjoyed it in vast quantities.
Character
According to Atatürk:One changing view about Atatürk is his foresightedness, foster and promotion of the leadership among Turkish revoutionaries. Initial reviews depict him as an unchallanged leader, the single man. Recent studies analyze the period from the populist perspective. His leadership activities had extending effects on the political, social and cultural context of the Republic. These studies gives clues on his abilities to foster the cooperation
Cooperation
Cooperation or co-operation is the process of working or acting together. In its simplest form it involves things working in harmony, side by side, while in its more complicated forms, it can involve something as complex as the inner workings of a human being or even the social patterns of a...
among different people, such as in the "History of National Struggle Volumes I through V". His significance during independence was cited for his ability to unify people. It is pointed out that organizations in the countryside for resistance against occupation was happening effectively before his involvement. His ability to channel people did not. The foundation for the civilian participation in the government [parliament being never closed during his reign] and establishment of civic society [his insistence of keeping military out of daily politics] are cited having the roots in the Kemal's presidency, not after. The failed reforms of the regional countries, after the passage of its leaders, were generally used as an example of the Atatürk's leadership among the Turkish Revolutionaries. His effect lasted many years after his passage.
Love of nature
He attached importance to his horse Sakarya and his dog Fox. He was also anecdotally linked to preservation of Turkish AngoraTurkish Angora
The Turkish Angora is a breed of domestic cat. Turkish Angoras are one of the ancient, naturally occurring cat breeds, having originated in central Turkey, in the Ankara region...
after an article in the Turkey's Reader's Digest reportedly claimed that Atatürk said "his successor would be bitten on the ankle by an odd-eyed white cat.
Atatürk established the Atatürk Forest Ranch "Atatürk Orman Çiftliği" in 1925. He wanted to have a modern farm in the suburbs of the capital including a green haven (arboretum
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
) for people. The Atatürk Forest Ranch developed a program to introduce domesticated livestock and horticulture in 1933. As a consequence of children being interested in the animals Atatürk involved in developing a program which then became known as "Ankara Zoo." The modern zoo which took 12 years in making, first of its kind in Turkey, gave a chance to people observe animals beyond the boundaries of Circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
and Fair
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
s. Atatürk, with his smallest adapted daughter "Ulku" spend his time at the Forest Ranch and throughout the development stages of the Zoo until he died in 1938. The official opening was in 1945.
Religious beliefs
Leone Caetani
Leone Caetani , Duke of Sermoneta , was an Italian scholar, politician and historian of the Middle-East....
and the "History of Islamic Civilization" by Georgi Zaidan. He authored the chapter in "Islamic History" himself when he wanted history books for high schools prepared. Atatürk's religious knowledge was considerably high in its nature and level Ethem Ruhi Fığlalı states that one can clearly conclude on the basis of his speeches and attitudes that he was a sincere believer. Atatürk has stated, "He [Muhammed] is Allah's first and greatest human-being. Today, in his footsteps, millions are walking. Your and my name would get erased someday but he, eternally, is immortal. According to Reşat Kasaba, Mustafa Kemal was not the only Agnostic
Agnosticism
Agnosticism is the view that the truth value of certain claims—especially claims about the existence or non-existence of any deity, but also other religious and metaphysical claims—is unknown or unknowable....
in the Turkish ruling class, but there were few who matched his purely instrumental attitude to religion.
General perception
Atatürk's general view regarding religion was positive. In his speeches and publications there is no trace connoting hostility or even indifference toward religious ideology. He viewed religion as a necessary and unavoidable institution within the matter of relationship and communication between the individual and God. His positive views did not extend to the prejudiced confessors of religion. In his view, the problem is not the religion but what he named as "prejudiced confessors." Prejudiced confessors according to him were "people who misuse religion for their earthly gains".Atatürk stated that a religion should be in conformity with reason, science and logic. He viewed Islam as in complete harmony with the reasoning, science and logic. The problem was not religion, but how believers understood and applied religion. True religion could not be understood as long as false prophet
False prophet
In religion, a false prophet is one who falsely claims the gift of prophecy, or who uses that gift for evil ends. Often, someone who is considered a "true prophet" by some people is simultaneously considered a "false prophet" by others....
s isolated and religious knowledge is enlightened. The only way to deal with false prophets was to deal with the Turkish people's illiteracy and prejudice.
Religion and the individual
Religion, particularly Islam, was between an individual and God in Atatürk's eyes. . When compared to Ottoman practice (political Islam integrated to government life through MilletsMillet (Ottoman Empire)
Millet is a term for the confessional communities in the Ottoman Empire. It refers to the separate legal courts pertaining to "personal law" under which communities were allowed to rule themselves under their own system...
), Atatürk believed in a form of reformed Islam (Islam between individual and God). He believed it was possible to blend native tradition (based on Islam) and Western modernism harmoniously. In this equation, he gave more emphasis towards the modernization. His modernization aimed to transform social and mental structures (native traditions of Islam) to eradicate the irrational ideas, magical superstitions and so on.
Atatürk was not against religion but what he perceived as all Ottoman religious and cultural elements that brought limits to people's self being. He concentrated his reforms (regarding popular sovereignty) against obstacles for the individual choices being reflected in the social life. He viewed civil law and abolition of caliphate was required for reflection of individual choices. He perceived religion as a matter of conscience, a problem of worship, but not politics. The best response on this issue comes from himself
Atatürk believed in freedom of religion
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
, but he was a secular thinker and his concept of freedom of religion was not limitless. He differentiated between social and personal practice of religion. He applied social considerations (secular requirements) when the public practice of religion was considered. He said that no one can force another to accept any religion or a sect (freedom of belief)
. Also, everyone has the right to perform or neglect, if he so wishes, obligations of any religion he chooses (freedom of worship), such as the right to not to fast during Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
."
Religion and politics
According to historian Kemal KarpatKemal Karpat
Kemal Karpat is a Turkish historian and former professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He is of Crimean Tatar origin and was born in Medgidia, Romania. He received his LLB from the University of Istanbul, his MA from the University of Washington and his PhD from New York University...
, the movements that perceive Islam as a political movement or particularly the view of Islam as a political religion hold the position that Atatürk was not a Muslim (true believer or religious Muslim). It is normal that this perspective was adapted, Karpat says. "He was not against Islam, but those who are against his political power using the religious arguments." Any movement that wanted to establish the Caliphate had to discredit Atatürk. It is claimed that Republic reflected Kemal's personal philosophy.
Many years later, when Turkey had became more secular and modern, he gave a public speech in which he criticized the Islamic political views related them to as a religion (political views attributed to religion) as a religious of an 'immoral Arab' (rules and theories of an Arab Shaikh):
It can be claimed that Atatürk is a "cultural Muslim
Cultural Muslim
Cultural Muslims are religiously unobservant, agnostic or atheist individuals who still identify with the Muslim culture due to family background, personal experiences, or the social and cultural environment in which they grew up....
" or "nominal Muslim," but it should be noted that the definition of cultural Muslim itself is very far from being uncontested.
Mustafa Kemal described the religion of Islam as the religion of Arabs in his own work titled Medenî Bilgiler:
Last days, 1937–1938
During 1937, indications of Atatürk's worsening health started to appear. In the early 1938, while he was on a trip to YalovaYalova
Yalova is a city located in northwestern Turkey, on the eastern coast of the Sea of Marmara, and is the capital of the Yalova Province. Yalova has a city population of 92,166, while the population of the Yalova Province is 202,531. as of 2009...
, he suffered from a serious illness. After a short period of treatment in Yalova, an apparent improvement in his health was observed, but his condition again worsened following his journeys first to Ankara, and then to Mersin
Mersin
-Mersin today:Today, Mersin is a large city spreading out along the coast, with Turkey's second tallest skyscraper , huge hotels, an opera house, expensive real estate near the sea or up in the hills, and many other modern urban...
and Adana
Adana
Adana is a city in southern Turkey and a major agricultural and commercial center. The city is situated on the Seyhan River, 30 kilometres inland from the Mediterranean, in south-central Anatolia...
. Upon his return to Ankara in May, he was recommended to go to İstanbul for treatment, where he was diagnosed with cirrhosis
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules , leading to loss of liver function...
of the liver.
During his stay in İstanbul, he made an effort to keep up with his regular lifestyle for a while, heading the Council of Ministers meeting, working on the Hatay
Republic of Hatay
Hatay State , also known informally as the Republic of Hatay, was a transitional political entity that formally existed from September 7, 1938 to June 29, 1939 in the territory of the Sanjak of Alexandretta of the French Mandate of Syria. The State was transformed de jure into the Hatay Province on...
issue, and hosting King Carol II of Romania
Carol II of Romania
Carol II reigned as King of Romania from 8 June 1930 until 6 September 1940. Eldest son of Ferdinand, King of Romania, and his wife, Queen Marie, a daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second eldest son of Queen Victoria...
during his visit in June. He stayed onboard his newly arrived yacht
Luxury yacht
The term luxury yacht, “Superyacht” and "Large Yacht" refers to very expensive, privately owned yachts which are professionally crewed. Also known as a Super Yacht, a luxury yacht may be either a sailing or motor yacht.-History:...
, Savarona
MV Savarona
The MV Savarona is a luxury State yacht. She was the largest in the world when launched in 1931, and remains with a length of 136 m one of the world’s longest...
, until the end of July, after which his health again worsened and then he moved to a room arranged for him at the Dolmabahçe Palace
Dolmabahçe Palace
Dolmabahçe Palace located in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul, Turkey, on the European coastline of the Bosphorus strait, served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1922, apart from a 22-year interval in which Yıldız Palace was used.- History :Dolmabahçe Palace...
.
Funeral
Dolmabahçe Palace
Dolmabahçe Palace located in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul, Turkey, on the European coastline of the Bosphorus strait, served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1922, apart from a 22-year interval in which Yıldız Palace was used.- History :Dolmabahçe Palace...
in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, on November 10, 1938, 09:05am, at the age of 57. It is thought that he died of cirrhosis
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules , leading to loss of liver function...
of the liver. Atatürk's funeral called forth both sorrow and pride in Turkey, and seventeen countries sent special representatives, while nine contributed with armed detachments to the cortège.
On November 1953, Mustafa Kemal's remains were taken from the Ethnography Museum of Ankara
Ethnography Museum of Ankara
The Ethnography Museum of Ankara is a museum of ethnography dedicated to the cultures of historic and current civilizations that flourished in Turkey...
by 138 young reserve officers in a procession that stretched for two miles (3 km) including the President, the Premier, every Cabinet minister, every parliamentary deputy, every provincial governor and every foreign diplomat, while at the same time 21 million Turks stood motionless all over the country. One admiral guarded a velvet cushion which bore the Medal of Independence; the only decoration, among many others held, that Atatürk preferred to wear. The Father of the Turks finally came to rest at his mausoleum, the Anıtkabir
Anitkabir
Anıtkabir is the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the leader of the Turkish War of Independence and the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey...
. An official noted: "I was on active duty during his funeral, when I shed bitter tears at the finality of death. Today I am not sad, for 15 years have taught me that Atatürk will never die."
His lifestyle had always been strenuous. Alcohol consumption during dinner discussions, smoking, long hours of hard work, very little sleep, and working on his projects and dreams had been his way of life. As the historian Will Durant
Will Durant
William James Durant was a prolific American writer, historian, and philosopher. He is best known for The Story of Civilization, 11 volumes written in collaboration with his wife Ariel Durant and published between 1935 and 1975...
had said, "men devoted to war, politics, and public life wear out fast, and all three had been the passion of Atatürk."
Will
In his willWill (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
written on September 5, 1938, he donated all of his possessions to the Republican People's Party, bound to the condition that, through the yearly interest of his funds, his sister Makbule and his adopted children will be looked after, the higher education of the children of İsmet İnönü will be funded, and the Turkish Language Association
Turkish Language Association
The Turkish Language Association is the official regulatory body of the Turkish language, founded on July 12, 1932 and headquartered in Ankara, Turkey...
and Turkish Historical Society
Turkish Historical Society
The Turkish Historical Society also known as Turkish Historical Association or Turkish History Foundation is a research society studying the history of Turkey and the Turkish people, founded in 1931 by the initiative of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, with headquarters in Ankara, Turkey.-Presidents:The...
will be given the rest.
Publications
Atatürk published many books and kept a journal throughout his military carrier. Atatürk’s daily journals and military notes during the Ottoman period were published as a single collection. Another collection covered the period between 1923–1937 and indexes all the documents, notes, memorandums, communications (as a President) under multiple volumes, titled Atatürk'ün Bütün Eserleri (All Works of Atatürk).The list of books edited and authored by Atatürk is given below ordered by the date of publication.
- "Tâbiye Meselesinin Halli ve Emirlerin Sureti Tahririne Dair Nesayih"
- "Takımın Muharebe Talimi", published in 1908 (Translation from German)
- "Cumalı Ordugâhı—Süvari: Bölük, Alay, Liva Talim ve Manevraları", published in 1909
- "Tâbiye ve Tatbikat Seyahati", published in 1911
- "Bölüğün Muharebe Talimi", published in 1912 (Translation from German)
- "Zabit ve Kumandan ile Hasbihal", published in 1918
- "NutukNutukNutuk was a speech delivered by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk from 15 to 20 October 1927, addressed to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The speech covered the events between the start of the Turkish War of Independence on May 19, 1919 and the foundation of the Republic of Turkey, in 1923. It is an...
", by Mustafa Kemal, published in 1927 - "Vatandaş İçin Medeni Bilgiler", published in 1930 (For high school civic classes)
- "Geometry", by Mustafa Kemal, published in 1937 (For high school math classes)