Şehzade Yusuf Izzeddin


Şehzade Yusuf Izzeddin was an Ottoman prince, the eldest son of Sultan Abdulaziz and his first wife Dürrünev Kadın.

Early life and education

Şehzade Yusuf Izzeddin was born on 29 September 1857 in the Dolmabahçe Palace. His father was Sultan Abdulaziz, who was then a prince, and his mother was Dürrünev Kadın, eldest daughter of Prince Mahmud Dziapş-lpa and his wife Princess Halime Çikotua. He had a full sister, Saliha Sultan, five years younger than him. He was brought up concealed in the villa of Kadir Bey, molla of Mecca, located in Eyüp. His birth was kept a secret until his father ascended the throne in 1861.
Izzeddin's early education took place in the Prince's School, Dolmabahçe Palace. His tutors were Miralay Süleyman Bey, Ömer Efendi, Tophane Müfti Ömer Lutfi Efendi, Gazi Ahmed Muhtar Pasha, and Gürcü Şerif Efendi. He took his French lessons from the Sultan's head doctor Marko Pasha, and Sakızlı Ohannes Pasha's son-in-law Şarl.
Izzeddin was circumcised on 20 June 1870. Other princes who were circumcised along with Izzeddin included, Şehzade Selim Süleyman, Şehzade Mehmed Vahideddin, sons of Sultan Abdulmejid I, Şehzade Mehmed Selaheddin, son of crown prince Murad, Şehzade Mahmud Celaleddin, Izzeddin's own brother, and Sultanzade Alaeddin Bey, son of Münire Sultan, daughter of Abdulmejid.

Career

Early career

In 1863, Izzeddin, then a child of six, was enlisted in the army and was quickly promoted. In 1866, then nine years of age, he was screaming commands to his battalion in his child's voice during a parade at Pangatlı when Prince Karl von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen visited Istanbul in October, 1866. A fountain was commissioned in Tophane in his name that same year. In 1867, aged ten, Izzeddin received the rank of lieutenant Colonel, and his father took him along a trip to the European capitals.
In 1871, at the age of fourteen, Izzeddin was commander of the Fourth Army with the rank of Marshal, and soon after was appointed commander of the First Army, the Imperial Army. In 1874, aged seventeen, he appeared with his father, right after the Grand vizier, the Şeyhülislam and the ministers at the awards ceremonies for graduates of the imperial, medical, and military schools. He delivered the congratulatory speech to the graduates.

As Abdülaziz's possible successor

After his accession to the throne, Prince Murad, became heir to the throne. However, Abdülaziz began considering changing the rule of succession in favour of Izzeddin. For this purpose Abdülaziz set out to mollify different pressure groups and have his son gain popularity among them.
During the 1867 visit to Europe, rumors spread that contrary to the rules of protocol Abdülaziz arranged Izzeddin's reception in Paris and London before the official heir, Prince Murad.
A new propaganda strategy was employed as pictures of Izzeddin appeared in the weekly journal "Ayine-i Vatan" in 1867. It was rumoured that Mehmed Arif, the editor, received a huge grant in return for his beau geste. In one of the pictures, Izzeddin was shown wearing a military uniform. He spent most of his teenage years in barracks, and many high-ranking military men, and higher level bureaucrats were given gifts in return for their support for this situation.
When the conservative Mahmud Nedim Pasha became the Grand vizier in September 1871 he lent his support to Abdülaziz's plans. A whispering comapign was generated in the first months of 1872 to the effect that Abdülaziz had obtained the verbal approval of the Şeyhülislam and that the later would give a fetva in favour of filial succession. Although the Palace denied the rumors, and Mahmud Nedim Pasha asserted that such a change was not on the agenda, Izzeddin was still being favoured in the protocol. An order sent by Vittorio Emanuele, the King of Italy, the official heir to the throne was presented to Izzeddin.
In 1874, his portrait and biography appeared on the front page of "L'Orient Illustre", a French language weekly published in Istanbul. Heretofore, only the portrait of the reigning Sultan had been published by that journal.
To further legitimize his plans, Abdülaziz tactically supported a change to primogeniture in the Muhammad Ali dynasty of Egypt. By granting primogeniture to Isma'il Pasha in 1866, Abdülaziz was clearly seeking to create a positive climate of opinion about a change in favour of his own son. Significantly, at this time the newspapers reported that a ship very much like the one owned by the Khedive was to be constructed for Izzeddin.

Later life and career

Izzeddin's father, Abdülaziz was deposed by his ministers on 30 May 1876, and his nephew Murad became the Sultan. He was transferred to Feriye Palace the next day. On 4 June 1876, Abdülaziz died under mysterious circumstances. As both of Emine Sultan, Izzeddin's half-sister, parents died in the summer of 1876, when she was not yet two years old, Izzeddin raised her in his household.
Izzeddin's cousin Sultan Abdul Hamid II was suspicious of him, and for this reason had a police station built opposite his country house.
Izzeddin became Heir to the Throne upon the accession of his cousin Sultan Mehmed V on 27 April 1909. In July 1915, Izzeddin visited the Ottoman troops during the Gallipoli camapign. It is rumoured that Izzeddin visit to Gallipoli provided the demonstration of the rift between the Committee of Union and Progress and Izzeddin, who reprimand Enver Pasha for sacrificing the lives of thousands of Ottoman soldiers in vain.
Izzeddin was described a conservative and pious person. He was also known as a proud and arrogant man.
Izzeddin and Prince Vahideddin had rivalry with each other. Though, coldly polite to each other, they refused to share the same carriage even for the ceremonies of the state. Vahideddin especially insisted on being considered the second heir apparent.

Personal life

Izzeddin's first wife was Çeşmiahu Hanım. Her mother was Mestare Hanım. The two married in 1879. She was the mother of Şehzade Mehmed Bahaeddin. She died in 1911 in the Beşiktaş Palace, and was buried in the mausoleum of Pertevniyal Sultan.
His second wife was Cavidan Hanım. Her real name was Esma. She was the daughter of Prince Ömer Pasha Achba, and Princess Ayşe Kemalifer Hanım Dziapş-lpa, the daughter of Prince Mahmud Bey Dziapş-lpa. She was born on 12 January 1870 in Kars, Caucasus. The two married on 20 May 1885 in the Beşiktaş Palace. She died in 1935 in Göztepe, Istanbul.
His third wife was Nazikeda Hanım. Her real name was Amine Seten. She was the daughter of Halil Bey Aredba. She was born on 30 May 1872 in Sukhumi, Abkhazia. The two married on 6 July 1886 in the Beşiktaş Palace. She died in 1946 in Erenköy, Istanbul.
His fourth wife was Faika Tazende "Yücesan" Hanım. She was born on 10 October 1875 in Poti, Abkhazia. The two married on 14 October 1892 in the Beşiktaş Palace. She died on 16 June 1950 in Ortaköy, Istanbul, and was buried in Yahya Efendi Cemetery. His fifth wife was Ebruniyaz Hanım.
His sixth wife was Leman "Ünlüsoy" Hanım. She was the daughter of Ahmed Bey, and Şükriye Hanım. She was born on 6 June 1888 in Batumi, Georgia. The two married on 4 February 1904 in the Çamlıca Palace. She was the mother of Hatice Şükriye Sultan, Şehzade Mehmed Nizameddin, and Mihriban Mihrişah Sultan. She died on 3 August 1953 in the Çamlıca Palace, Istanbul, and was buried in Selami Dergahi.

Death

Yusuf Izzeddin suffered from his role and lived his later years in a kind of paranoia, until he committed suicide on 1 February 1916 in his villa at Zincirlikuyu, Istanbul. He was buried in the mausoleum of his grandfather Sultan Mahmud II.

Honours

;Ottoman orders and decorations
;Foreign orders and decorations

Ancestry