Mehmed V, born Prince Mehmed Reşad, came into the world on November 2, 1844, in the opulent surroundings of the Çırağan Palace in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). He was born into the imperial Ottoman family as the son of Sultan Abdulmejid I, one of the empire’s progressive rulers, and Gülcemal Kadın, one of Abdulmejid’s consorts.

Mehmed had three elder sisters: Fatma Sultan, Refia Sultan, and Hatice Sultan (who died in infancy). Tragically, Mehmed’s mother died when he was just seven years old, in 1851, leaving him and his sisters to be raised by their father’s senior consort, Servetseza Kadın. Servetseza cared for the children as if they were her own, fulfilling her maternal duties with compassion and concern.

As a child in the palace, Mehmed received a somewhat limited formal education, typical of Ottoman princes at the time. According to Halid Ziya, the chief clerk of the Chamberlain’s office between 1909 and 1912, Mehmed’s education was considered substandard.

However, Mehmed’s intelligence and curiosity allowed him to make the most of what he was taught. He became fluent in Persian and studied Arabic, taking a particular interest in Persian literature and poetry.

Additionally, Mehmed developed a deep spiritual connection with Mevlevi Sufism, studying the Masnavi, the celebrated work of Jalal al-Din Rumi, a Mevlevi Sufi mystic.

Although Mehmed’s academic education might not have been extensive, he also learned other disciplines. He took piano lessons from an Italian pianist and studied calligraphy under the famous Ottoman calligrapher Kazasker Mustafa Izzet Efendi, who designed the iconic medallions inside the Hagia Sophia.

These cultural pursuits reflected Mehmed’s artistic sensibilities and his fascination with literature and music, making him a well-rounded individual, although not one well-prepared for the harsh realities of political governance.

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Confinement and Life as Crown Prince

Mehmed Reşad’s life took a major turn when his uncle, Sultan Abdul Aziz, was deposed in 1876, and his half-brother Abdul Hamid II ascended the throne. Abdul Hamid II, suspicious of potential rivals and plots against him, kept Mehmed under strict confinement in the Dolmabahçe Palace.

Although technically crown prince, Mehmed was essentially imprisoned, living under close surveillance and cut off from the outside world. His brother Abdul Hamid was careful to avoid any direct communication with him.

During this period of enforced isolation, Mehmed was deprived of the political experience that could have prepared him for the challenges of ruling. He spent more than 30 years in relative obscurity, with little involvement in the political or administrative affairs of the empire.

His confinement lasted until the Young Turk Revolution of 1908, when the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), a reformist and nationalist group, overthrew Abdul Hamid II’s autocratic regime. With the reinstatement of the constitution, Mehmed Reşad, as the crown prince, began to participate in public events and became a popular figure among the people, a stark contrast to his reclusive brother.

Accession to the Throne

Mehmed Reşad ascended the throne on April 27, 1909, at the age of 64, following the deposition of his brother Abdul Hamid II after the 31 March Incident, a failed counterrevolutionary coup. At the time of his accession, Mehmed Reşad became the oldest person ever to ascend the Ottoman throne.

He took the regnal name “Mehmed V,” not “Reşad,” following the suggestion of Ferik Sami Pasha, who wanted to draw a symbolic connection between Mehmed V and the legendary Mehmed the Conqueror, who had captured Constantinople in 1453. This association was meant to signify a new era of strength and unity for the Ottoman Empire, though the reality of Mehmed V’s reign would be quite different.

Mehmed V’s enthronement ceremony, known as the “Cülûs,” took place at the Ministry of War building in Beyazıt. The new sultan received a warm welcome from the people of Istanbul, who enthusiastically applauded him as he traveled through the city.

This public enthusiasm reflected the optimism surrounding his reign, particularly because Mehmed V presented himself as a constitutional monarch, declaring in his speech, “I am the first sultan of liberty, and I am proud of it!” From then on, he became known as the “Constitutional Sultan.” However, despite the optimism, Mehmed’s role as sultan was largely ceremonial.

The real power lay with the Young Turks, especially the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), which dominated the political landscape during his reign.

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The Constitutional Sultan: A Symbolic Monarch

Mehmed V’s ascension to the throne coincided with a period of great political instability in the Ottoman Empire. The empire was in the midst of a transition from autocratic rule under Abdul Hamid II to a constitutional monarchy.

However, the return to constitutional government under Mehmed V was fraught with challenges, and Mehmed’s role as sultan was mainly symbolic. The CUP, the political party that had spearheaded the Young Turk Revolution, held most of the actual power, and Mehmed V had little say in government affairs.

Mehmed V’s meek and mild-mannered personality made it difficult for him to assert his authority. His years of isolation under Abdul Hamid II had left him inexperienced in statecraft and unfamiliar with the complexities of governing a vast, multi-ethnic empire facing internal and external threats.

He often approved laws and decisions that went against his personal beliefs, primarily due to pressure from the CUP. On one occasion, when asked to intervene in a political dispute, Mehmed reportedly said, “If I was to interfere in every matter during the Constitutional Monarchy administration, what was my brother’s fault?” This statement reflected his reluctance to exercise his power, a sharp contrast to his predecessor’s more authoritarian approach.

One of the most significant early events of Mehmed V’s reign was the aftermath of the 31 March Incident. Although Mehmed had initially opposed the execution of political criminals involved in the coup attempt, he eventually gave in to pressure from the CUP and approved their execution. This set a precedent for his reign, during which he often reluctantly approved policies and decisions pushed by the CUP, despite his personal reservations.

Major Challenges During Mehmed V’s Reign

Mehmed V’s reign was marked by a series of significant challenges, both domestic and international. Some of the most notable events during his reign included the Albanian Revolt of 1910, the Italo-Turkish War (1911–1912), the Balkan Wars (1912–1913), and World War I (1914–1918).

The Albanian Revolt of 1910

The first major crisis during Mehmed V’s reign occurred in 1910, when the Albanian population in the empire’s European provinces rose up against Ottoman rule. The revolt was fueled by a combination of factors, including resentment over Ottoman centralization policies and attempts to impose Turkish as the official language. The revolt was brutally suppressed by Mahmud Şevket Pasha, the War Minister, but it highlighted the growing discontent among the empire’s non-Turkish populations.

The Italo-Turkish War (1911–1912)

The Italo-Turkish War was another significant event during Mehmed V’s reign. Italy, seeking to expand its colonial empire, invaded the Ottoman provinces of Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, and Fezzan in North Africa (modern-day Libya). The war ended in a humiliating defeat for the Ottomans, who were forced to cede these territories to Italy. The loss of these provinces was a major blow to Ottoman prestige and marked the beginning of a series of territorial losses during Mehmed V’s reign.

The Balkan Wars (1912–1913)

The Balkan Wars, which took place shortly after the Italo-Turkish War, dealt an even more devastating blow to the Ottoman Empire.

In the First Balkan War (1912), the Ottoman Empire lost almost all of its European territories, with only a small region around Constantinople remaining under Ottoman control. The defeat was a traumatic experience for the empire, as it marked the end of centuries of Ottoman rule in the Balkans.

The Second Balkan War (1913) allowed the Ottomans to regain some territory, including the city of Edirne (Adrianople), but the overall losses were significant. The refugee crisis that followed the war further destabilized the empire, as tens of thousands of Muslims fled the newly independent Balkan states and sought refuge in Ottoman territories.

World War I (1914–1918)

Despite his reluctance to involve the Ottoman Empire in further conflicts, Mehmed V’s most significant political act was the formal declaration of jihad against the Allied Powers on November 14, 1914, after the Ottoman Empire entered World War I on the side of the Central Powers. This was the last genuine proclamation of jihad in history by a caliph, as the caliphate would be abolished in 1924.

Although Mehmed V officially declared the jihad, he had little actual influence over military and political decisions during the war. The real power lay with the CUP leadership, particularly figures like Enver Pasha, who pursued a pro-German policy. Mehmed V was said to be privately opposed to Enver Pasha’s pro-German stance, but he was unable to prevent the war due to his diminished influence.

World War I proved to be a disastrous conflict for the Ottoman Empire. The empire lost vast territories during the war, including Cyprus, which was annexed by Britain, and Egypt, which declared its independence and became a British protectorate. The war also saw the rise of Arab nationalism and the Arab Revolt, which contributed to the further disintegration of Ottoman control in the Middle East.

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Decline of Ottomanism and Rise of Turkish Nationalism

The territorial losses during the Balkan Wars and World War I had a profound impact on Ottoman politics and society. The concept of Ottomanism, which had sought to unite the empire’s diverse ethnic and religious groups under a common Ottoman identity, began to fade. With the loss of many of the empire’s non-Turkish subjects in the Balkans and North Africa, Ottomanism lost its appeal, and Turkish nationalism began to take center stage in the empire’s politics.

The rise of Turkish nationalism, particularly within the CUP, led to a more exclusionary and authoritarian approach to governance. The most extreme manifestation of this was the Armenian genocide, initiated by the CUP leadership during World War I. Mehmed V was privately opposed to the genocide, but he was powerless to stop it. This period of Turkish nationalism and violence against minority groups marked a dark chapter in Ottoman history and further contributed to the empire’s decline.

Final Years and Death

By 1917, as World War I dragged on, the Ottoman Empire was on the verge of collapse. The war had drained the empire’s resources, and military defeats mounted on all fronts. Despite these difficulties, Mehmed V hosted his wartime ally, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, in Constantinople in October 1917.

Mehmed was also honored with several military titles during the war, including being made a Generalfeldmarschall of the Kingdom of Prussia and the German Empire in 1916, as well as a Field Marshal of Austria-Hungary in 1918. However, these titles were largely ceremonial, as Mehmed V had little influence over military matters.

On July 3, 1918, Mehmed V died at Yıldız Palace in Constantinople at the age of 73, only a few months before the end of World War I and the eventual defeat of the Ottoman Empire. He had spent most of his life in the Dolmabahçe and Yıldız Palaces, living a largely secluded and symbolic existence. Mehmed V did not live to see the final dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, which would come just a few years after his death. His brother, Mehmed VI, succeeded him, inheriting an empire in its final days of collapse.

Mehmed V was buried in the Eyüp district of modern Istanbul, a historically significant area for the Ottoman sultans. Though his reign was marked by significant territorial losses, political upheaval, and war, Mehmed V remains an important figure in Ottoman history as the last sultan to declare jihad and as a ruler who, despite his limited power, symbolized the empire’s transition to modernity.

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Questions and Answers about Sultan Mehmed V

When and where was Sultan Mehmed V born?

The Ottoman sultan was born on November 2, 1844, at the Çırağan Palace in Constantinople.

Who were Mehmed Reşad’s parents and siblings?

His father was Sultan Abdulmejid I, and his mother was Gülcemal Kadın. He had three older sisters: Fatma Sultan, Refia Sultan, and Hatice Sultan (who died in infancy).

Who raised Mehmed after his mother’s death?

After his mother’s death in 1851, Mehmed and his sisters were raised by his father’s senior consort, Servetseza Kadın, who cared for them as her own children.

Mehmed was ceremoniously circumcised at age 12, in 1856, alongside his younger half-brothers.

How was Mehmed Reşad’s education described, and what subjects did he study?

His education was considered poor, but Mehmed was intelligent and made the most of it. He studied Arabic and Persian, becoming fluent in the latter, and also took piano and calligraphy lessons.

Mehmed was taught calligraphy by Kazasker Mustafa Izzet Efendi, who designed the giant pendant medallions of the Hagia Sophia.

Mehmed had a deep interest in Persian literature, Mevlevi Sufism, and the Masnavi.

How did Mehmed’s relationship with his brother Abdul Hamid II change after 1876?

When Abdul Hamid II became sultan in 1876, Mehmed was kept under house arrest at Dolmabahçe Palace and was closely monitored, with little communication between them.

However, Mehmed gained popularity by attending public ceremonies celebrating the constitution, which marked a contrast to his previously isolated life.

When did Mehmed Reşad become sultan, and what title did he take?

Mehmed Reşad became sultan on April 27, 1909, following the deposition of Abdul Hamid II. He adopted the title “Mehmed V.”

What was Mehmed V’s role as sultan?

Mehmed V had little influence over state affairs, as the government was controlled by the Young Turks, particularly the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP). He often approved decisions against his personal beliefs.

His reign was marked by the Albanian Revolt of 1910, the loss of Ottoman territories in the Italo-Turkish War (1911–1912) and the Balkan Wars (1912–1913), as well as a refugee crisis and the rise of Turkish nationalism.

How did Mehmed V respond to the 31 March Incident?

He reluctantly approved executions connected to the 31 March Incident after pressure from Unionist politicians, setting a pattern of reluctant compliance throughout his reign.

What impact did the Balkan Wars have on Mehmed V’s reign?

The Ottoman Empire lost most of its European territories, and the CUP solidified its dominance. The refugee crisis and the failure of Ottomanist ideology further weakened the empire.

How did Mehmed V react to WWI, and what major political action did he take?

Although Mehmed V was reluctant to enter the war, he declared a jihad against the Allied Powers in November 1914. Despite this, his influence on the war and political matters was minimal.

What territories were lost during Mehmed V’s reign due to the war?

During World War I, the British annexed Cyprus and Egypt proclaimed its independence, becoming a British protectorate.

When did Mehmed V die, and what was the state of the Ottoman Empire at the time?

Mehmed V died on July 3, 1918, at the age of 73, just months before the Ottoman Empire’s defeat in World War I. He did not witness the empire’s collapse.

He was succeeded by his brother, Mehmed VI, who inherited an empire on the verge of collapse.

Where was Mehmed V buried?

Mehmed V was buried in the Eyüp district of modern Istanbul.

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