Şehzade Yusuf Izzeddin

Şehzade Yusuf Izzeddin was born on 29 September 1857 in the Dolmabahçe Palace. His father was Sultan Abdulaziz, who was then a prince, and his mother was Dürrünev Kadın,[1] eldest daughter of Prince Mahmud Dziapş-lpa and his wife Princess Halime Çikotua.[2] He had a full sister, Saliha Sultan, five years younger than him.[1] He was brought up concealed in the villa of Kadir Bey, molla of Mecca, located in Eyüp.[3] His birth was kept a secret until his father ascended the throne in 1861.[4]

Izzeddin's early education took place in the Prince's School, Dolmabahçe Palace. His tutors were Miralay Süleyman Bey, Ömer Efendi, Tophane Müfti Ömer Lutfi Efendi, Gazi Ahmed Muhtar Pasha, and Gürcü Şerif Efendi. He took his French lessons from the Sultan's head doctor Marko Pasha, and Sakızlı Ohannes Pasha's son-in-law Şarl.[3]

Izzeddin was circumcised on 20 June 1870.[5] Other princes who were circumcised along with Izzeddin included Şehzade Selim Süleyman and Şehzade Mehmed Vahideddin, sons of Sultan Abdulmejid I; Şehzade Mehmed Selaheddin, son of crown prince Murad; Şehzade Mahmud Celaleddin, Izzeddin's own brother; and Sultanzade Alaeddin Bey, son of Münire Sultan, daughter of Abdulmejid.[6]

In November 1861, Izzeddin, then a child of four, was enlisted in the army and was quickly promoted.[7] In 1866, then nine years of age, he was appointed Lieutenant colonel in the imperial Ottoman Army,[8][7] and was screaming commands to his battalion in his child's voice during a parade at Pangatlı when Prince Karl von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen visited Istanbul in October, 1866. A fountain was commissioned in Tophane in his name that same year. On 3 September 1867, aged ten, Izzeddin received the rank of Colonel,[8] and his father took him along a trip to the European capitals.[9]

On 15 July 1868, he was promoted to the rank of Brigradier of the Pure Infantry Regiment in the First Imperial Army.[8] In 1869, he met with the Prince of Wales Edward (future Edward VII) and Princess of Wales Alexandra of Denmark, when they visited Istanbul.[10][11] 30 May 1870, he was given the rank of Brigradier of the Pure Infantry Regiment of both the First and the Second Imperial Army.[8]

On 3 November 1871, at the age of fourteen, Izzeddinn was appointed the Chief of Staff of the First Imperial Army with the rank of Lieutenant-General,[8] and soon after, on 18 April 1872,[8] was appointed commander of the First Army, the Imperial Army.[9][8] In 1874, aged seventeen, he appeared with his father, right after the Grand vizier, the Şeyhülislam and the ministers at the awards ceremonies for graduates of the imperial, medical, and military schools. He delivered the congratulatory speech to the graduates.[12]

After his accession to the throne, Prince Murad (future Sultan Murad V), became heir to the throne. However, Abdulaziz began considering changing the rule of succession in favour of Izzeddin. For this purpose Abdulaziz set out to mollify different pressure groups and have his son gain popularity among them.[9]

During the 1867 visit to Europe, rumors spread that contrary to the rules of protocol Abdulaziz arranged Izzeddin's reception in Paris and London before the official heir, Prince Murad.[9]

A new propaganda strategy was employed as pictures of Izzeddin appeared in the weekly journal "Ayine-i Vatan" in 1867. It was rumoured that Mehmed Arif, the editor, received a huge grant in return for his beau geste. In one of the pictures, Izzeddin was shown wearing a military uniform. He spent most of his teenage years in barracks, and many high-ranking military men, and higher level bureaucrats were given gifts in return for their support for this situation.[9]

When the conservative Mahmud Nedim Pasha became the Grand vizier in September 1871 he lent his support to Abdulaziz's plans. A whispering comapign was generated in the first months of 1872 to the effect that Abdulaziz had obtained the verbal approval of the Şeyhülislam and that the later would give a fetva in favour of filial succession.[9] Although the Palace denied the rumors, and Mahmud Nedim Pasha asserted that such a change was not on the agenda, Izzeddin was still being favoured in the protocol. An order sent by Vittorio Emanuele, the King of Italy, the official heir to the throne was presented to Izzeddin.[12]

In 1874, his portrait and biography appeared on the front page of "L'Orient Illustre", a French language weekly published in Istanbul. Heretofore, only the portrait of the reigning Sultan had been published by that journal.[12]

To further legitimize his plans, Abdulaziz tactically supported a change to primogeniture in the Muhammad Ali dynasty of Egypt. By granting primogeniture to Isma'il Pasha in 1866, Abdulaziz was clearly seeking to create a positive climate of opinion about a change in favour of his own son. Significantly, at this time the newspapers reported that a ship very much like the one owned by the Khedive was to be constructed for Izzeddin.[13]

Izzeddin's father, Abdulaziz was deposed by his ministers on 30 May 1876, and his nephew Murad became the Sultan.[14] He was transferred to Feriye Palace the next day.[15] On 4 June 1876,[16] Abdulaziz died under mysterious circumstances.[17] As both of Emine Sultan, Izzeddin's half-sister, parents died in the summer of 1876, when she was not yet two years old, Izzeddin raised her in his household.[18]

After reigning for three months, Murad was deposed on 30 August 1876,[19] his half-brother, Sultan Abdul Hamid II accended the throne. After which Murad and his family were then confined to the Çırağan Palace.[20] Abdul Hamid was suspicious of Izzeddin, and for this reason had a police station built opposite his country house.[21] He was described a conservative and pious person, and was also known as a proud and arrogant man.[21]

The Committee of Union and Progress considered parliamentarism and constitutionalism important because of the strength of the counterrevolutionary elements in the empire. Beyond that, the CUP was also quite respectful of the Ottoman dynasty and its policies were not anti-monarchist, and didn't wanted to establish a republican administration because they were aware that the Ottoman dynasty held the empire together. When it was rumoured that Abdul Hamid had attempted to change the system of succession in such a way as to leave the throne to his sons, the CUP had reacted against this fercely. The CUP wanted, and were successful in gaining the support of the Ottoman princes for maintaining the existing customs, especially the support of Izzeddin, and the heir to the throne, Şehzade Mehmed Reşad (future Mehmed V).[22]

Izzeddin became heir to the throne upon the accession of his cousin Sultan Mehmed V on 27 April 1909.[23] He was politically aware and active. He was known to be anti-CUP and was hostile to Sultan Mehmed’s endorsement of the government’s war strategy. However, as the CUP closely followed the contacts between the crown prince and anti-CUP politicians, and could control the public impact of their opposition, this did not amount to a signifcant threat. It was Sultan Mehmed who collaborated with the CUP in preventing the crown prince from engaging in politics.[24]

In July 1915, he visited the Ottoman troops during the Gallipoli camapign. It is rumoured that his visit to Gallipoli provided the demonstration of the rift between the CUP and Izzeddin, who reprimand Enver Pasha for sacrificing the lives of thousands of Ottoman soldiers in vain.[25]

Izzeddin and Prince Vahideddin (future Mehmed VI) had rivalry with each other. Though, coldly polite to each other, they refused to share the same carriage even for the ceremonies of the state. Vahideddin especially insisted on being considered the second heir apparent.[26]

Izzeddin's first wife was Çeşmiahu Hanım. Her mother was Mestare Hanım. The two married in 1879. She was the mother of Şehzade Mehmed Bahaeddin. She died in 1911 in the Beşiktaş Palace, and was buried in the mausoleum of Pertevniyal Sultan.[1] His second wife was Cavidan Hanım. Her real name was Esma. She was the daughter of Prince Ömer Pasha Achba,[27] and Princess Ayşe Kemalifer Hanım Dziapş-lpa, the daughter of Prince Mahmud Bey Dziapş-lpa.[28] She was born on 12 January 1870 in Kars, Caucasus. The two married on 20 May 1885 in the Beşiktaş Palace. She died in 1935 in Göztepe, Istanbul.[1]

His third wife was Nazikeda Hanım. Her real name was Amine Seten. She was the daughter of Halil Bey Aredba.[29] She was born on 30 May 1872 in Sukhumi, Abkhazia. The two married on 6 July 1886 in the Beşiktaş Palace. She died in 1946 in Erenköy, Istanbul.[1] His fourth wife was Faika Tazende "Yücesan" Hanım. She was born on 10 October 1875 in Poti, Abkhazia. The two married on 14 October 1892 in the Beşiktaş Palace. She died on 16 June 1950 in Ortaköy, Istanbul, and was buried in Yahya Efendi Cemetery. His fifth wife was Ebruniyaz Hanım.[3]

His sixth wife was Leman "Ünlüsoy" Hanım. She was the daughter of Ahmed Bey, and Şükriye Hanım. She was born on 6 June 1888 in Batumi, Georgia.[30] The two married on 4 February 1904 in the Çamlıca Palace. She was the mother of Hatice Şükriye Sultan, Şehzade Mehmed Nizameddin, and Mihriban Mihrişah Sultan. She died on 3 August 1953 in the Çamlıca Palace, Istanbul, and was buried in Selami Dergahi.[30]

Yusuf Izzeddin suffered from his role and lived his later years in a kind of paranoia, until he committed suicide[31] on 1 February 1916 in his villa at Zincirlikuyu, Istanbul.[23] He was buried in the mausoleum of his grandfather Sultan Mahmud II.[32]

• Alp, Ruhat (2018). Osmanlı Devleti'nde Veliahtlık Kurumu (1908-1922).
• Açba, Harun (2007). Kadın efendiler: 1839-1924. Profil. ISBN 978-9-759-96109-1.
• Brookes, Douglas Scott (2010). The Concubine, the Princess, and the Teacher: Voices from the Ottoman Harem. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-78335-5.
• Zachs, Weismann; Weismann, Itzchak (24 March 2005). Ottoman Reform and Muslim Regeneration. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-1-850-43757-4.
• Monarchies and the Great War. Springer. 2018. ISBN 978-3-319-89515-4.
• New York Times, 4 February 1916

• "Genealogy of the Ottoman Family". Retrieved 19 August 2008.
• Family Tree, descendants of Sultan Mahmud II. Retrieved 2014-10-04.