Yörük Ali Efe
Encyclopedia
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...
leader in the late periods of Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and later an officer in 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...
during the Turkish Independence War. He was an important leader of Kuvayi Milliye in Ege
Ege
-Surname:* Ece Ege, Turkish-French fashion designer* George Ege, , United States Representative* İbrahim Ege, Turkish footballer* Jacob Ege, , who built the Old Stone House, currently home to the Edgar Allan Poe Museum * Julie Ege, , Norwegian-born actress and model-Place name:* Ége, the Hungarian...
. After the declaration of republic he resigned from his office and worked as a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
and industrialist. He was one of the last Zeybeks
Zeibeks
Zeibeks or sometimes Zeybeks were irregular militia and guerilla fighters living in the Aegean Region of the Ottoman Empire from late 17th to early 20th centuries, generally of Turkmen and Yörük origins....
in Turkish history.
Early Ages
Ali was born in Kavaklı (a village near SultanhisarSultanhisar
Sultanhisar is a town and a small district of Aydın Province in the Aegean region of Turkey, 30 km east of the city of Aydın on the road to Denizli.- History :...
, Aydın
Aydin
Aydın is a city in and the seat of Aydın Province in Turkey's Aegean Region. The city is located at the heart of the lower valley of Büyük Menderes River at a commanding position for the region extending from the uplands of the valley down to the seacoast...
) in 1895. His father Abdi (son of İbrahim) belonged to Sarıtekeli clan and mother Fatma to Atmaca clan, both of which were Yörük
Yörük
The Yorouks, also Yuruks or Yörüks are immigrants, ultimately of Thracian descent,some of whom are still nomadic, primarily inhabiting the mountains of Anatolia and partly Balkan peninsula...
clans. His father died when he was a baby. As a child he had been influenced by Atçalı Kel Mehmet Efe
Atçali Kel Mehmet Efe
Atçalı Kel Mehmet Efe was a Zeybek, who led a local revolt against Ottoman authority and established control of the Aydın region for a short period between 1829 and 1830 .-Early Ages:...
and had always wanted to become a Zeybek
Zeibeks
Zeibeks or sometimes Zeybeks were irregular militia and guerilla fighters living in the Aegean Region of the Ottoman Empire from late 17th to early 20th centuries, generally of Turkmen and Yörük origins....
. In 1916 he was recruited into the Ottoman Army and participated in the Caucasus Campaign
Caucasus Campaign
The Caucasus Campaign comprised armed conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire, later including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Central Caspian Dictatorship and the UK as part of the Middle Eastern theatre or alternatively named as part of the Caucasus Campaign during World War I...
. Due to the clumsy command of the armies and the following Sarıkamış Tragedy
Battle of Sarikamis
The Battle of Sarikamish was an engagement between the Russian and Ottoman empires during World War I. It took place from December 22, 1914 to January 17, 1915 as part of the Caucasus Campaign. The outcome was a Russian victory. The Ottomans employed a strategy which demanded that their troops be...
, he deserted from the army and returned to his village.
On The Mountains
Yörük Ali joined a Zeybek group under the command of Alanyalı Molla Ahmet Efe and started to live in AydınAydin
Aydın is a city in and the seat of Aydın Province in Turkey's Aegean Region. The city is located at the heart of the lower valley of Büyük Menderes River at a commanding position for the region extending from the uplands of the valley down to the seacoast...
mountains. His courage, intelligence and talent assured him increasing popularity among group members and when Alanyalı died in an ambush in Kavaklıdere near Karacasu
Karacasu
Karacasu is a town and a district of Aydın Province in the Aegean region of Turkey, from the city of Aydın.Formerly known as "Yenişehir", Karacasu is reached by turning off the Aydın - Denizli road south-east at Kuyucak and following the Dandalaz River upstream into the hills...
, he took the command of his group and became an "Efe".
Fighting For Independence
On 15 May 1919, Greek Army captured İzmir and immediately set out to occupy a larger territory in Turkey's Aegean Region. Yöruk Ali organized meetings with the cooperation of other Efes in the region such as "Kıllıoğlu Hüseyin Efe" and grouped most zeybeks of Aydın region under his command. On 16 June1919 he made a surprise attack on a Greek garrison based in Malgaç train station. The garrison was completely destroyed and great amount of ammunition and supplies were captured. This was the first victory for the Turkish side in Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
The Greco–Turkish War of 1919–1922, known as the Western Front of the Turkish War of Independence in Turkey and the Asia Minor Campaign or the Asia Minor Catastrophe in Greece, was a series of military events occurring during the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire after World War I between May...
.
Following a decision made in common by all Efes of Aydın
Aydin
Aydın is a city in and the seat of Aydın Province in Turkey's Aegean Region. The city is located at the heart of the lower valley of Büyük Menderes River at a commanding position for the region extending from the uplands of the valley down to the seacoast...
, Yörük Ali and the zeybeks under his command attacked Aydın to recapture the town. On 30 June, his militias entered the city and held it for four days. But the reinforced Greek Army re-occupied the city on 4 June. Yoruk Ali continued the guerilla warfare against the Greek Army until his forces were enrolled within the ranks of the re-organized 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...
.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
's rank. His group voluntarily joined the Turkish Army under the appellation, "Aydın National Regiment" ("Milli Aydın Alayı"). He served as a colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in 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...
throughout 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...
.
After The War
Yenipazar, Aydin
Yenipazar is a town and a small district of Aydın Province in the Aegean region of Turkey, from the city of Aydın on the road to Denizli.Yenipazar itself is a quiet rural town of 6,423 people providing high schools and other facilities to the surrounding district, although in the last two decades...
, where he lived until the end of his days. He had lost his legs in a tragic accident 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...
when he had fallen under a tram. He died in Bursa, where he went for medical treatment, and was buried in Yenipazar in compliance with his will.
Legacy
Zeibeks
Zeibeks or sometimes Zeybeks were irregular militia and guerilla fighters living in the Aegean Region of the Ottoman Empire from late 17th to early 20th centuries, generally of Turkmen and Yörük origins....
and remain as a notable Efe. His contributions to 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...
and to the establishment of the Turkish Republic were also remarkable. He is also remembered with his generous personality and his fight for justice under all circumstances. After his death, his house in Yenipazar
Yenipazar, Aydin
Yenipazar is a town and a small district of Aydın Province in the Aegean region of Turkey, from the city of Aydın on the road to Denizli.Yenipazar itself is a quiet rural town of 6,423 people providing high schools and other facilities to the surrounding district, although in the last two decades...
was converted to Yoruk Ali Efe Museum in 2001. His grave is in the garden of that museum.
Quotes
- "Some people believe that Turkish War of IndependenceTurkish War of IndependenceThe 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 achieved by me and with some others. This is wrong. What can be the importance of one man or five men in such a great campaign? Any patriot who loved his motherland in those days had thought in the same way as ourselves, heard what we heard and then fought with us. It is a mistake to take the lion's ShareLion's ShareThe lion's share is an idiomatic expression which develops from a number of fables ascribed to Aesop and is now used as their generic title, although they exist in several different versions...
in national resistance. How can one hand give a noise?"
Efe Of All Efes
Türkü
Türkü, literally "of the Turk", is a name given to Turkish folk songs as opposed to şarkı. In contemporary usage, the meanings of the words türkü and şarkı have shifted: Türkü refers to folk songs originated from music traditions within Turkey whereas şarkı refers to all other songs, including...
) written to his honour and carries his name. The lyrics of Yörük Ali's türkü are as follows (with English translation):
Şu Dalama'dan geçtin mi,
Soğuk da sular içtin mi
Efelerin içinde
Yörük de Ali'yi seçtin mi?
Hey gidinin efesi, efesi
Efelerin efesi
Şu Dalama'nın çeşmesi
Ne hoş olur içmesi
Yörük de Ali'yi sorarsan
Efelerin seçmesi
Hey gidinin efesi efesi
Efelerin efesi
Cepkenimin kolları
Parıldıyor pulları
Yörük de Ali geliyor
Açıl Aydın yolları
Hey gidinin efesi efesi
Efelerin efesi
Translation
Have you passed from the Dalama,
Have you drank from its coldest waters,
Out of all the Efes,
Have you found Yörük Ali?
O efe's efe, the efe...
The efe of all efes
That Dalama's fountain
How sweet it is to drink from,
But if you ask about Yörük Ali,
He is the chosen efe
O efe's efe, the efe...
The efe of all efes
The sleeves of my cepken (Efe jacket),
It is shining with its little puls,
Yörük Ali is coming!
Clear all of Aydin's roads!
O efe's efe, the efe...
The efe of all efes
See also
- Atçalı Kel Mehmet EfeAtçali Kel Mehmet EfeAtçalı Kel Mehmet Efe was a Zeybek, who led a local revolt against Ottoman authority and established control of the Aydın region for a short period between 1829 and 1830 .-Early Ages:...
- Turkish Independence War
- ZeibeksZeibeksZeibeks or sometimes Zeybeks were irregular militia and guerilla fighters living in the Aegean Region of the Ottoman Empire from late 17th to early 20th centuries, generally of Turkmen and Yörük origins....
- Efe (zeibek)
- YorukYörükThe Yorouks, also Yuruks or Yörüks are immigrants, ultimately of Thracian descent,some of whom are still nomadic, primarily inhabiting the mountains of Anatolia and partly Balkan peninsula...