Rauf Orbay
Encyclopedia
Hüseyin Rauf Orbay was a Turkish
naval officer and statesman
, born in Istanbul
.
As an officer in the Ottoman Navy
, he achieved fame for his actions as the captain of the cruiser
Hamidiye
during the First Balkan War
. Rauf Orbay also played a role in assisting Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
in a near court-martial during a feud with Cemal Paşa and Ismail Enver
.
On October 31, 1918, he signed Armistice of Mudros
as the Minister of Navy, which ended the Ottoman Empire's participation in World War I
. When the Turkish War of Independence
began, he resigned from his position and went to Ankara
to collaborate with Kemal Atatürk. He was elected as a member of the representative committee in the Congress of Erzurum on 23 July 1919. He joined the Congress of Sivas as a delegate for Sivas on September 4, 1919 and was elected deputy chairman.
When the War of Independence ended he became the first Prime Minister of the new Republic of Turkey on 11 August 1922. In 1924 he was one of the founders of the Terakkiperver Cumhuriyet Fırkasi (Progressive Republican Party), in opposition to Atatürk's Republican People's Party
. When this party was closed in 1925, he went to exile in Europe
for 10 years. Later, he was cleared of all accusations and became a member of the Turkish parliament.
During World War II
he was the Turkish ambassador in London
, helping keep Turkey out of the war. He always firmly believed in the Republic of Turkey and always stressed that Kemal Atatürk was the only person who could have organised and lead the transformation of the crumbling Ottoman Empire into modern Turkey.
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...
naval officer and statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
, born 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...
.
As an officer in the Ottoman Navy
Ottoman Navy
The Ottoman Navy was established in the early 14th century. During its long existence it was involved in many conflicts; refer to list of Ottoman sieges and landings and list of Admirals in the Ottoman Empire for a brief chronology.- Pre-Ottoman:...
, he achieved fame for his actions as the captain of the cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
Hamidiye
Hamidiye
Hamidiye may refer to:* Hamidiye , Kurdish cavalry of the Ottoman era, established 1890* Ottoman cruiser Hamidiye, a warship of the Balkan wars and World War I...
during 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...
. Rauf Orbay also played a role in assisting Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
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....
in a near court-martial during a feud with Cemal Paşa and Ismail Enver
Ismail Enver
Enver Pasha or Ismail Enver Pasha , title was changed with his military ranks such as Enver Efendi , Enver Bey , Enver Pasha, higher than Mirliva) was an Ottoman military officer and a leader of the Young Turk revolution...
.
On October 31, 1918, he signed Armistice of Mudros
Armistice of Mudros
The Armistice of Moudros , concluded on 30 October 1918, ended the hostilities in the Middle Eastern theatre between the Ottoman Empire and the Allies of World War I...
as the Minister of Navy, which ended the Ottoman Empire's participation in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. When 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...
began, he resigned from his position and went to Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
to collaborate with Kemal Atatürk. He was elected as a member of the representative committee in the Congress of Erzurum on 23 July 1919. He joined the Congress of Sivas as a delegate for Sivas on September 4, 1919 and was elected deputy chairman.
When the War of Independence ended he became the first Prime Minister of the new Republic of Turkey on 11 August 1922. In 1924 he was one of the founders of the Terakkiperver Cumhuriyet Fırkasi (Progressive Republican Party), in opposition to Atatürk's Republican People's Party
Republican People's Party (Turkey)
The Republican People's Party is a centre-left Kemalist political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party of Turkey and is currently Main Opposition in the Grand National Assembly. The Republican People's Party describes itself as "a modern social-democratic party, which is faithful to...
. When this party was closed in 1925, he went to exile in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
for 10 years. Later, he was cleared of all accusations and became a member of the Turkish parliament.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he was the Turkish ambassador in 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...
, helping keep Turkey out of the war. He always firmly believed in the Republic of Turkey and always stressed that Kemal Atatürk was the only person who could have organised and lead the transformation of the crumbling Ottoman Empire into modern Turkey.
External links
- Mustafa Alkan, "Hüseyin Rauf Orbay’ın Hayatı (1880-1964)", Atatürk Araştırma Merkezi Dergisi, Sayı 59, Cilt: XX, Temmuz 2004,
- Kafkas Foundation