MEHMED VAHIDUDDIN

BIOGRAPHY . He is the last of the 36 Ottoman Sultans. He was the son of Sultan Abdulmecid, his mother is Gulistu Sultana. He was born on 2nd February 1861. He lost his parent in his early ages. His father died in the year he was born and his mother has passed away a few years later. As an orphan prince, he was taken care of one of his father�s wives Sayeste. His older brother Sultan Abdulhamit II took care of Vahiduddin�s education. He always loved and protected his younger brother. Sultan Vahiduddin was an intelligent and literate man. He usually liked to read the Islamic works. He was exceptionally intelligent, kind and elegant. He used to listen much but speak less. During, his visit of Vienna, everybody had admired his politeness. He used to listen others with a great attention. When Sultan Mehmed Resat accessed, Yusuf Izzettin the oldest son of Sultan Abdulaziz was his successor. But, Yusuf Izzettin had died and Vahiduddin became the crown prince. The World War I started when Vahiduddin was a crown prince. During the war, he officially visited Germany. Following the death of Sultan Mehmed Resad he was crowned Sultan with the name Sultan Mehmed Vahiduddin VI.

The TREATY of SEVR (SEURRE) . The Treaty of Seurre was clarified during the San Remo Conferance in May 11, 1920. And it was it was given to the Ottoman Government to be approved. The Allies attacked Anatolia and Trakya with Greek Army in June 23, 1920; in order to compel the Ottoman Government to accept the Treaty. They invaded the Bursa, Usak and Nazilli. Their aim was to put pressure to the Ottomans in order to hinder their objections. In 22 July, 1920 the Council of The Ottoman Empire was assembled, the assembly was directed by Sultan Vahiduddin. They have decided that, � It is acceptable to destroy a weak existance�, and ratified the treaty. Tevfik Pasha opposed to sign the treaty which divides the Turkish Territories and destroys the Turkish nobility. Therefore, Resat Halis Bey aand Rıza Tevfik Bey signed the Treaty of Sevres in August 10, 1920. According to the Sevr (Sevres) Treaty, The Ottoman Territories were dividing in to pieces and Turkish Nation was loosing their right to live independently. The North-western territories were lined with the Istanbul city. West Anatolia (Izmir province) was left to Greece. South-eastern provinces, Mardin, Urfa, Gaziantep, the Amanos Mountain and northern side of Osmaniye were left to France. From Bayazit, Van, Mus, Bitlis, to Erzincan will left to the independent Armenia. In Iraq and Syria, it was decided to establish an independent Kurdistan. Beside these, the territories left to the Turks would be separated in between the populations, as; Antalya and Konya would be Italian, Adana, Sivas and Malatya would be French, and Northern Iraq would be British. In Istanbul, the Sultan and the government would have been settled, but, Istanbul would have been an international region, the Straits would be controlled by a commission with its own financial resources, its own army and navy. Ankara and Kastamonu were left to the Turkish population but their independence has bounded most strictly. According to the Treaty of Sevres the minorities would be more privileged than the Turks, as they would not pay any tax and they would not do military service. If anybody would leave the Turkish nationality, he/she would be more privileged and never be permitted to take Turkish citizenship again. The military forces of the government had bounded in to 50.700 soldiers, and tanks, cannons and planes were completely prohibited. Only volunteered soldiers were used. The navy will be established of 7 gunboats and 6 torpids. Submarines were prohibited as well. The articles about financial and economical issues were more bounding than the military ones. By those articles, The Ottoman Empire turned out to be an Ally colony. According to the treaty, a Finance Commission would be established by English, French and Italian representatives and this commission would be administrate the Ottoman incomes. After the Ottoman Government signed this treaty, the Turkish Independence Movement had accelerated and the Turkish people lost their faiths in Istanbul and the dynasty completely. Turkish Parliament established in Ankara, rejected the Treaty of Sevres and in their assembly in August 19, 1920, they declared the Ottoman Dynasty and the Ottoman Council as traitors.

The WAR of INDEPENDENCE . In the World War I The Ottoman Government took place with Germany. The Ottoman Army had defended the territories with bravery, but, they could not have hindered the division of their country. The treaties of Mondros and Sevres brought an inevitable collapse the Ottoman Empire. Sultan Mehmed Vahiduddin gathered the Ottoman Parliament to approve the unification of the national boundaries ( Misak-i Milli). Regardless of the Allies� consent they have accepted it. Therefore, Britain occupied Istanbul and dissolved the parliament. The leader of the National Independence Movement Mustafa Kemal Pasha went to Samsun (The Black Sea) in May 19,1919 and with his friends he organised a defence movement all around Anatolia. They assembled congresses and The National Forces (Kuva-yi Milliye)had been established. In April 23, 1920 Turkish Grand Parliament was established in Ankara. Turkish Nation, has made an Independence War and gloriously they have defeated all their enemies. The National Forces were commanded by a genius, Mustafa Kemal Pasha. After, the enemies were defeated, the Parliament decided to abolish the Ottoman Dynasty and to deport them from the Turkish territories.

DEPARTURE from ISTANBUL
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Sultan Mehmed Vahiduddin requested to be transferred to another country from the Ally commander. In a great agony, he abandoned his homeland with an English ship named Malaya in the morning of October 17, 1922. While, departing the palace, he did not take anything, even he left his own belongings. It is possible to say that, he left his country without a penny. First, he went to the Island of Malta and than to Hicaz. While he was in Hicaz he was offered to be the Caliph by Egypt and Saudi Arabia. He was promised, a wealthy and a luxurious life, in case he would accept to be the Caliph. However, Vahiduddin was a very proud man and he thought that, if he accepts this offer he will reject his predecessors. After he stayed in Mecca for a while, he went to San Remo, Italy and he lived there until his death. The Italian King whom, Vahiduddin knew since his younger times, had offered him a palace in the city. But, the Sultan refused his offer kindly and clearly; �We are very grateful and thanksgiving to the royal King. I admire his kindness, manliness but, my name �Caliph of the Muslims� not allow me to accept this offer� Indeed he had very hard days. He never thought about his situation, he asked all the visitors coming from Turkey, the condition of the country.

DEATH of the LAST SULTAN
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Sultan Vahiduddin died because of a hearth attack in San Remo, in May 15, 1926. He was 65 years old when he died. He wished to be buried in his homeland. He knew that, this was impossible and he had chosen to be buried in Sam (Damascus) near the tomb of Selahaddin Eyyubi, and this was his last will. Because of the debts, his creditors sequestrated his corpse. The President of Syria Ahmed Nami heard this and paid all his debts and brought his body to Syria. Even, the Sultan�s death body was so unfortunate, the garden of the tomb of Selahaddin Eyubi was full and there were no place for his tomb, so, the Present buried the Sultan in the Garden of the Sultan Selim Mosque.