Latife Usakligil
Encyclopedia
Latife Uşakizâde (İzmir
, 1898 - İstanbul
, 1975) was Mustafa Kemal Pasha's (later Atatürk) wife between 1923 and 1925. She was related from her father's side to Turkish novelist Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil
.
She was born in 1898 in İzmir
to one of the most prominent trading families of the city with roots in the city of Uşak
, whence their unofficial family name of Uşakizade. She did her high school studies in İzmir and in 1919 she attended law schools in Paris
and London
. When she came back to Turkey
, the Turkish War of Independence
was nearing its end without being over yet.
On September 11, 1922, upon hearing that Mustafa Kemal Pasha was in İzmir after its re-capture by the Turkish army
, she went to his headquarters and offered him the opportunity to stay in her family mansion in Göztepe for security reasons. Atatürk was pleased to accept and their relationship started.
They got married on January 29, 1923, when Mustafa Kemal Pasha had returned to İzmir
just after his mother Zübeyde Hanım
's death. For two and a half years, she symbolized the new face of Turkish women as a first lady
who was very present in public life which, in Turkey, was a novelty by the standards of her day. She was a very important theme in the reform steps which started to be taken in Turkey as of the 1920s for the so-called emancipation of women. No doubts being influenced by her husband's staunch secularism, having originally covered her head in accordance with Islamic tradition, she discarded the hijab
and urged Turkish women to do the same.
However, their relationship was cut short after the summer of 1925. They divorced on August 5, 1925. Lâtife Hanım lived the rest of her days in İzmir
and İstanbul
, in virtual seclusion, avoiding contacts outside her private circle until her death in 1975. She never remarried, and remained silent about their relationship throughout her life. As late as 2005 her family rejected proposals to make her diary and letters public.
A comprehensive but also controversial biography of Latife Hanım by the veteran Cumhuriyet
journalist İpek Çalışlar was published in 2006 .
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, 1898 - İstanbul
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...
, 1975) was Mustafa Kemal Pasha's (later Atatürk) wife between 1923 and 1925. She was related from her father's side to Turkish novelist Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil
Halit Ziya Usakligil
Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil/Uşakizâde ) was a Turkish author.-Biography:Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil was born in Istanbul in 1865. He went to primary school and then attended the secondary school Fatih Rustiyesi in the same city. His family moved to Izmir in 1879. He completed his secondary education in Izmir...
.
She was born in 1898 in İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
to one of the most prominent trading families of the city with roots in the city of Uşak
Usak
Uşak is a city in the interior part of the Aegean Region of Turkey. The city has a population of 180,414 and is the capital of Uşak Province. The mayor is Ali Erdoğan ....
, whence their unofficial family name of Uşakizade. She did her high school studies in İzmir and in 1919 she attended law schools in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. When she came back to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, the Turkish War of Independence
Turkish War of Independence
The Turkish War of Independence was a war of independence waged by Turkish nationalists against the Allies, after the country was partitioned by the Allies following the Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I...
was nearing its end without being over yet.
On September 11, 1922, upon hearing that Mustafa Kemal Pasha was in İzmir after its re-capture by the Turkish army
Turkish Army
The Turkish Army or Turkish Land Forces is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The modern history of the army began with its formation after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire...
, she went to his headquarters and offered him the opportunity to stay in her family mansion in Göztepe for security reasons. Atatürk was pleased to accept and their relationship started.
They got married on January 29, 1923, when Mustafa Kemal Pasha had returned to İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
just after his mother 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...
's death. For two and a half years, she symbolized the new face of Turkish women 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...
who was very present in public life which, in Turkey, was a novelty by the standards of her day. She was a very important theme in the reform steps which started to be taken in Turkey as of the 1920s for the so-called emancipation of women. No doubts being influenced by her husband's staunch secularism, having originally covered her head in accordance with Islamic tradition, she discarded 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....
and urged Turkish women to do the same.
However, their relationship was cut short after the summer of 1925. They divorced on August 5, 1925. Lâtife Hanım lived the rest of her days in İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
and İstanbul
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...
, in virtual seclusion, avoiding contacts outside her private circle until her death in 1975. She never remarried, and remained silent about their relationship throughout her life. As late as 2005 her family rejected proposals to make her diary and letters public.
A comprehensive but also controversial biography of Latife Hanım by the veteran Cumhuriyet
Cumhuriyet
Cumhuriyet is a centre-left Turkish daily newspaper, founded on May 7, 1924 by journalist Yunus Nadi Abalıoğlu. Based in Istanbul, it has been situated since October 17, 2005 in Mecidiyeköy. Cumhuriyet was the last newspaper to leave the old press district Cağaloğlu...
journalist İpek Çalışlar was published in 2006 .