May I Introduce His Imperial Majesty Sultan Murad V

The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus

The Ottomans : The Story of a Family

Over the course of the next few months, it is my intention to gradually introduce the main characters of my book. I hope the readers of this post will feel able to open their hearts a little to each of them…

I thought that I would begin with Sultan Murad V. He was the patriarch of the Muradiye branch of the Ottoman family, and my great-great-great-grandfather.

Murad V was the eldest son of Sultan Abdülmecid I and his consort Şevkiefsar Kadınefendi, and the elder brother of the last three Ottoman Sultans – Sultan Abdülhamid II, Sultan Mehmed V Reşad and Sultan Mehmed VI Vahideddin.

Sadly, history has largely forgotten this most enlightened and progressive of Ottoman princes. This is partly due to the fact that he reigned over the Ottoman Empire for only three months before being deposed, but also because his tragic story has never fully been told… One of the main reasons for writing my book was a desire to put on record the truth of Sultan Murad’s life, as seen through the eyes of his family. I wanted my children to know him as the accomplished, modest, sensitive man that he was, rather than as the mentally unstable person that propagandists would have us believe.

Murad, the Crown Prince

Murad was a kind, gentle and popular prince. He was loved by the people and adored by his family. He was the favourite sibling of most of his brothers and sisters, and their loyalty to him never wavered.

Murad was artistic, courteous and intelligent. He spoke French fluently, and was extremely cultured and well-educated. Murad was an admirer of the radical Young Ottoman movement. His dream was to see the Empire adopt a constitutional government and modernise further along European lines. This alarmed the conservative elements of society but was applauded by the liberal opposition.

It can be said that Murad embodied what made the modern Ottoman. He wanted political reform, he embraced western art, literature and music, but his devotion to Islam and his love and respect for Ottoman traditions and customs remained constant.

State Visit to Europe in 1867

Unlike their European counterparts, Ottoman princes had never travelled abroad. In fact, they never travelled anywhere. They lived in gilded cages, rarely allowed to venture beyond the confines of the Imperial Court. So, when Murad received an invitation to accompany his uncle, Sultan Abdülaziz, on his state visit to Europe in 1867 I can only imagine his excitement. It must have been the most exhilarating time of his life.

Murad was a sensation. He charmed everyone he met in the courts of Paris, London, Brussels, Vienna and Budapest. Politicians and intellectuals were encouraged by his liberal views, while the ladies of the European courts were captivated by his dark doe-like eyes, his soft voice and his refined manners.

London 1867

In London Murad formed a close friendship with Edward, Prince of Wales, with whom he shared a liking for entertaining diversions! What is largely unknown, however, is that Queen Victoria, was also impressed by Murad’s character. She noticed how he and her daughter, Princess Louise, enjoyed each other’s company, and even muted the idea of a possible union between the House of Osman and the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

In one scene in my book, Murad remembers dancing with Princess Louise, the prettiest of Queen Victoria’s daughters: “Murad could still remember the Princess’s infectious laugh, her quick wit and the touch of her white kid glove in one of his hands as he rested the other lightly on her bare shoulder.”

After all he had experienced, it must have been hard to return to his monotonous and restrictive life in İstanbul. Yet, he missed Turkey desperately and was eager to see his family. My father still has the letter Murad wrote to his son, Selaheddin, during his stay at Buckingham Palace. Murad was no doubt busy with receptions, concerts, balls and all sorts of other engagements, but it makes me smile to know that he still found time to write to his young son. I treasure this letter greatly.

I am struck by how loving and thoughtful Murad was. Not the conventional, detached father so typical of his class in the nineteenth century. Murad writes: “My Ever-Loyal Son, I have received your letter, and it gave me as much pleasure as if I had actually seen you in person. Your father has some nice things for you. God willing, he will return to İstanbul soon, see his Selaheddin – the light of his eyes – and give him the presents he has for him with his own hand…”

A Short Reign 1876

Murad ascended the throne on 29^th May 1876, following a military coup that ousted Sultan Abdülaziz. A few days later, news of Abdülaziz’s mysterious death reached him. He never believed the official story that Abdülaziz had committed suicide. Instead he was convinced that his uncle had been brutally murdered by duplicitous ministers. He also feared that the public might wrongly believe that it was him who had ordered his uncle’s murder. Due to his sensitive nature, this was enough to bring about a severe nervous breakdown

Ministers were alarmed by Murad’s erratic behaviour that followed this breakdown. They decided to postpone the sword-girding ceremony, and approached Murad’s brother, Prince Abdülhamid, to ask him to act as Regent until Murad recovered. Abdülhamid refused – he was impatient to become Sultan himself. As a result, on 31st August Murad was deposed and his short and ill-fated reign came to an end. Abdülhamid succeeded his brother, and sent Murad, his family and his household to the Çırağan Palace, where they lived in enforced confinement for twenty-eight years. Murad never forgave himself for the weakness he showed in those first few weeks of his reign. He felt an overwhelming sense of guilt that his family had to endure the torment of imprisonment. And he blamed himself for failing in his duty by not grasping the opportunity he had been given to rejuvenate the Empire.

Life in Confinement

The days were long and lonely. Murad was forbidden from seeing or even corresponding with anyone who lived beyond the walls of the Çırağan Palace. This included his brothers and sisters, his aunts and cousins. It was as though he no longer existed. As though he had been forgotten by the world. This perpetual seclusion must have been unimaginably hard to bear, and Murad fought hard not to succumb to bouts of depression.

The love of his immediate family brought Murad much consolation, and he was devoted to them. He was a loyal and thoughtful husband, and a warm and loving father and grandfather. I hope to introduce his four consorts, his only son, his three daughters and his seven grandchildren in due course…

Murad also found solace in books and in music. He built up a priceless collection of rare books and manuscripts. His impressive library was one of the treasures of the palace. Murad expressed himself skilfully through his music, composing hundreds of marches, polkas, quadrilles, and waltzes while under house arrest. I love listening to his compositions – for me, it is almost like hearing his voice, which allows me to feel closer to him. Some days were obviously far harder than others – for some pieces are lively and happy, while others are sad and melancholy…

By the end of his life Murad had accepted his fate. He believed that it was the will of God that his life be one of frustration, loneliness and imprisonment, and he was able to find a quiet inner peace surrounded by the love of his family…