Mehmed VI

Mehmed VI, original name Mehmed Vahdettin or Mehmed Vahideddin, (January 14 1861 – May 16 1926) was the last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, reigning from 1918–1922. The brother of Mehmed V Resad, he succeeded to the throne due to the suicide of Yusuf Izzetin, the heir to the throne. He was crowned on July 4, 1918, as the thirty-sixth padishah.

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World War I had been a disaster for the Ottoman Empire. British forces had occupied Baghdad and Jerusalem during the war and most of the Empire was to be divided among the European allies. At the San Remo conference of April 1920, the French had been given a mandate over Syria and the British had been given one over Palestine and Mesopotamia. On August 10, 1920, Mehmed's representatives signed the Treaty of Sevres, which recognized the mandates, removed Ottoman control over Anatolia and Izmir, severely reduced the extent of Turkey, and recognised Hejaz as an independent state.

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Turkish nationalists were angered by the Sultan's acceptance of the settlement. A new government, the Turkish Grand National Assembly, under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal had been formed in April 1920, centred on Ankara. On April 23, the government of Mehmed was denounced and a temporary constitution was affirmed.

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The nationalists' successes meant that the sultanate was abolished on November 1, 1922, and Mehmed left Constantinople, aboard a British

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warship on November 17th. Bound for exile to Malta, Mehmed later lived in the Italian Riviera.

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He died on May 15, 1926 in San Remo, Italy. On November 19, 1922 his first cousin and Crown Prince was elected Caliph becoming the new Head of the dynasty as Abdul Mejid II.

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January 14: January 14 is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 351 days remaining (352 in leap years). It is celebrated as New Year's Day by those still following the Julian calendar....

1861: 1861 is a common year starting on Tuesday....

May 16: May 16 is the 136th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (137th in leap years). There are 229 days remaining....

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