The Tragic End of Şehzade Yusuf İzzettin Efendi: A Mystery at the End of an Empire
The words of Sultan Vahdettin, the last Ottoman Sultan, upon his ascension to the throne in 1918, reflect a man who was unprepared for the immense responsibility. At 57, he became Sultan after the death of his brother, Mehmed V. But why did he feel this way? The answer lies in the tragic and mysterious death of his cousin, Şehzade Yusuf İzzettin Efendi, the crown prince who was next in line to the throne. His death, officially ruled a suicide, remains a subject of intense debate among historians.
A Crown Prince Raised for the Throne
Ottoman tradition dictated that the oldest male member of the royal family would become the next Sultan. It also discouraged princes from having children until they ascended the throne. However, Sultan Abdülaziz broke this tradition. He secretly had a son, Yusuf İzzettin, in 1857, four years before he became Sultan. Once on the throne, Abdülaziz made it clear he intended to groom his son to rule.
Yusuf İzzettin was raised to be a future Sultan. He accompanied his father on a tour of Europe at just 10 years old and was appointed Commander of the Egyptian Army at 14. This unprecedented favoritism drew criticism, as it was seen as an attempt to change the order of succession. Yusuf İzzettin was at the forefront of palace life, a visible and powerful figure, until his father's sudden and suspicious death in 1876. Sultan Abdülaziz was officially declared to have committed suicide by cutting his wrists, a verdict that many still question.
The Rise and Fall of a Veliaht
With his father's death, Yusuf İzzettin’s life changed dramatically. The traditional line of succession took over, with his cousins, Sultan Murad V, Sultan Abdülhamid II, and Sultan Mehmed Reşad, becoming Sultans in turn. During Sultan Abdülhamid II's reign, Yusuf İzzettin's opulent lifestyle gave way to financial hardship due to the Sultan's cost-cutting measures. However, foreign sources suggest that Abdülhamid II held a special interest in the prince and kept him in a prominent position.
When Sultan Mehmed V took the throne in 1909, following the Young Turk Revolution, Yusuf İzzettin Efendi was officially named “veliaht-ı saltanat” (heir to the throne). He once again became a key figure in state affairs and foreign relations. He represented the Ottoman Empire at the funeral of King Edward VII in the UK in 1910, where he met with European royals, including the kings of Serbia and Bulgaria. He also attended King George's coronation, was honored with the Victorian Order, and met with the French President and the Italian King. His active presence on the international stage made him a well-known and respected figure.
The Shadow of Illness and Conspiracy
Despite his elevated status, Yusuf İzzettin’s mental and physical health began to deteriorate. He grew increasingly paranoid about his health, first believing he had a heart condition, then convinced he had throat cancer. In 1912, he traveled to Vienna for treatment, where Austrian doctors determined he was not physically ill but suffered from a nervous disorder. He was treated in a sanatorium and returned to Istanbul.
He continued to be active in military affairs, visiting the front lines during the Balkan Wars and World War I to boost troop morale. He famously visited the Gallipoli front in 1916. It's during this visit that a major point of contention arises. Rumor has it that he had a heated argument with Enver Pasha, a powerful Young Turk leader, possibly even slapping him.
Suicide or Assassination?
Official records state that on the night before a planned trip to Europe for further treatment, Yusuf İzzettin Efendi committed suicide by slitting the veins in his wrist with a razor blade. He left behind a handwritten note apologizing for his act and stating he could not endure his circumstances.
However, many historians believe he was murdered. This theory is supported by several factors:
The Enver Pasha Incident: The rumored altercation with Enver Pasha could have been the final straw for the Young Turks, who saw him as a threat.
German Conspiracy: Some historians suggest that Yusuf İzzettin was secretly in talks with the British and Italians to pull the Ottoman Empire out of World War I. Germany, desperate to keep the Ottomans in the war to divert Allied forces, would have had a strong motive to have him eliminated.
The Death of His Father: The parallel to his father's "suicide" is too uncanny for many to ignore. It suggests a pattern of eliminating troublesome royals by faking their suicides.
What if He Lived?
If Yusuf İzzettin Efendi had not died in 1916, he would have become Sultan in 1918. He was a man who was trained for the throne and had extensive connections with European royals. Given his more active and engaged personality compared to the retiring Vahdettin, it's highly likely that the course of Turkish history could have been significantly different. The Ottoman Empire, and the nation that followed, might have had a very different fate.
What do you find more plausible: that Şehzade Yusuf İzzettin Efendi committed suicide or that he was the victim of a political assassination?
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