May I Introduce His Imperial Highness Prince Mehmed Selahaddin

The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus

The Ottomans : The Story of a Family

Today I am going to introduce my great, great grandfather – Prince Mehmed Selahaddin.

Childhood

Prince Selahaddin was the only son of Sultan Murad V and his Second Consort, the Lady Reftarıdil Kadın Efendi. He was born just a couple of months after the death of his grandfather, Sultan Abdülmecid; during the reign of his great uncle, Sultan Abdülaziz, on 12th August 1861 in the Crown Prince’s Residence at Dolmabahçe Palace.

Prince Selahaddin lived at the Crown Prince’s Residence until he was nearly 15 years old. His parents were both very attentive and loving towards their son, and his childhood was generally a happy one despite the restrictions placed on him and his family. Sultan Abdülaziz envied Murad’s popularity with the people. He also wanted to change the laws of succession in order to bypass Murad and his brothers. As a result, he ordered that his charismatic nephew should live in virtual seclusion, and under constant surveillance. As a result, Selahaddin had little form of contact with his cousins, or with any other boys of his age. It makes me sad to think of him playing alone in this beautiful but no doubt lonely palace.

Ottoman Laws of Succession

Sultan Abdülaziz wanted his eldest son, Prince Yusuf İzzeddin, to succeed him. Almost every year, on the anniversary of his enthronement, he tried to persuade his ministers to change the laws of succession. He wanted the existing system of ‘agnatic seniority’, under which a deceased Sultan would be succeeded by whichever prince of the Imperial blood was the eldest, changed to ‘agnatic primogeniture’, whereby the eldest son of the Sultan would succeed him. However, the Sheikh ul-Islam thwarted Abdülaziz each time he attempted to introduce change, on account of the fact that the Sultan was himself a second son.

Sultan Abdülmecid, Abdülaziz’s elder brother, had also tried to change the laws of succession during his reign. Being the eldest son, he had received the support of the Sheikh ul-Islam.

Abdülmecid believed that dynastic reform would give increased stability to the Dynasty and bring the Empire into line with the other ruling houses of Europe. However, he died before being able to introduce the new law which would have seen his son, Murad, and then in turn his son, Selahaddin, succeed him. It is interesting to think how different history may have been, had Abdülmecid lived to introduce agnatic primogeniture…

Son of the Ottoman Sultan

On 30th May 1876, Selahaddin’s childhood came to an abrupt end. Sultan Abdülaziz was deposed and Murad ascended the throne. Selahaddin moved into Dolmabahçe Palace with his family, and a new chapter in his life began. This chapter, of being the son of the Ottoman Sultan and of the Caliph of Islam, was however fated to be very short. Three months later, before he had time to adapt to his new life, his father was deposed and his uncle Abdülhamid came to the throne.

Life in Confinement

On his deposition, Murad and his family were taken to the Çırağan Palace. Selahaddin was only 15 years old when he was locked behind the high walls and the heavily guarded iron gates of their new home.

He was forced to stay inside this gilded prison, hidden from the outside world, for twenty-eight years. His only crime being that his father had been deposed after suffering a mental breakdown. Ironically, Murad recovered within six months and would have been capable of resuming his duties as Sultan, but no one knew and few cared. Instead, Murad and his family were left to languish away the years, forgotten by the world. In all that time, Selahaddin escaped only once. But only for a few hours…

The Ali Suavi Incident

On 20th May 1878, an attempt was made to liberate Murad from the Çırağan Palace and restore him to the throne.

What is largely unknown is that Murad’s brothers, Prince Ahmed Kemaleddin and Prince Selim Süleyman, were involved in this plot. As were Murad’s sisters, Princess Fatma and Princess Seniha. They all wanted to see the rightful Sultan on the throne. Responsibility for the plot has always rested solely with Ali Suavi, the radical political opponent of Abdülhamid’s authoritarian regime, who stormed the palace with a band of armed refugees. These men were unable to overcome the fierce resistance of the Beşiktaş Guard. Ali Suavi was killed, and so too were most of his men. The plot failed. In the aftermath, security at the Çırağan Palace was tightened, and those condemned to live there were suffocated by the increased restrictions that remained in place until after Murad’s death in 1904.

That day must have been terrifying for Selahaddin. But for a young man of sixteen years of age, it must also have been rather exhilarating!

The Mesudiye

I wonder what was going through Selahaddin’s mind as he evaded the guards, and followed his loyal servant, Tirendaz Kalfa, to a rowing boat that was moored to the quay outside the palace. It had been waiting to take him and his father to safety on board the formidable battleship Mesudiye, the flagship of the Ottoman Black Sea Squadron. Murad never reached the rowing boat, or the Mesudiye, but Selahaddin did. However, once it became clear that the plot had failed, the young prince returned to the Çırağan Palace. His escape justified by having been necessary to ensure his safety. Sultan Abdülhamid never trusted the navy, and suspected them of involvement in the attempted coup. But he had no evidence to support his suspicions, so the matter was not investigated further.

Family and Character

Just like his father, Selahaddin was a devoted family man. Later, I hope to introduce those who were dear to him; those who were alive at the time during which my novel is set, – his two wives, his two sons, and his five daughters.

Selahaddin was quiet and shy. Perhaps this is no surprise, given the fact that he spent almost his entire life held in confinement. He was also rather serious and studious, having spent more time with books than with people.

Interest in Medical Science

Selahaddin was very interested in medical science, and received some instruction in this field from Doctor Rifat Pasha. Rifat Pasha had been appointed as doctor to the Çırağan Palace a few months after Murad and his family had been sent to live there. He had begun meeting Selahaddin on the pretext that he was treating him for some slight malady. Instead he would spend hours teaching him about common afflictions and briefing him on diagnoses, treatments and cures for a wide variety of ailments and diseases.

Rifat Pasha wanted to ensure that Murad’s health would be cared for once he was no longer able to attend him. With so many spies and corrupt doctors all around, the only person he trusted to do this was Selahaddin. During their clandestine meetings, Selahaddin wrote down everything he learnt from his mentor in his notebook, and would refer to it whenever the need arose. The devoted old doctor also helped Selahaddin establish his own small pharmacy and taught him about the healing properties of many different medicines and remedies; this knowledge would later prove to be invaluable. During the course of his confinement, Selahaddin often treated members of his family and his household. He even treated his father when Murad became ill just a few weeks before he died.

Selahaddin’s Journals

Once he came to live at Çırağan, Selahaddin spent hours consigning his thoughts and feelings to paper. It must have been a form of therapy in many ways for him. I like to think that this helped him to deal with the long, monotonous days that he endured. Selahaddin was also something of an amateur philosopher, and was interested in discovering the deeper meaning of life and the universe. He filled many leather-bound note-books with his philosophical ideas and reflections. My family still have his diaries and journals. My grandfather and then my father kept them safe during their years in exile. I think that it is quite amazing that they have survived, unspoiled, so that they can be read and studied today.

My father, my brothers and I are greatly indebted to our cousin, the renowned and highly respected historian, Edhem Eldem. For many years he has been working on translating these diaries and journals from Ottoman Turkish to modern Turkish. In November 2019, the first volume was published. It is an incredible accomplishment, and means that this precious insight into the life, the thoughts and the feelings of my great great grandfather will be recorded forever.

Selahaddin: As Portrayed in ‘The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus’

When we first meet Prince Mehmed Selahaddin, he is in his father’s study awaiting news of the birth of his first grandchild. He is 42 years old, but appears far older than his years. A life lived in almost perpetual confinement has affected both the nature and appearance of this gentle and scholarly prince.

Selahaddin worries continuously about the health and well-being of his father, and takes great care of him. The two princes share a very special bond. Perhaps because they are not only father and son, but for twenty-eight years they have also been one another’s only male friend and confident. When Murad dies, a huge void is left in Selahaddin’s life.

Life Changes After Murad’s Death

However, after a period of deep mourning and all consuming grief, Selahaddin slowly starts to find the strength to be strong for his family. He begins to assert himself with the men tasked with enforcing his imprisonment, and is justly rewarded – small concessions are made and certain restrictions are lifted. Eventually, permission is granted by Sultan Abdülhamid for the family to enjoy a few pre-authorised excursions and visits. One scene in my book sees Selahaddin, his wives and his children leaving the Çırağan Palace for the first time on one such visit.

“Once Selahaddin and Nihad had mounted their horses and Fuad had got astride his pony, the small procession headed out through the heavily-carved marble gateway with its towering gates of ornate, interlaced ironwork – gates which had kept the family imprisoned within them for so many years, but which now hung wide open, inviting them to pass through. As his horse turned the corner into the road outside, Selahaddin felt a jolt in his stomach – was it really as easy as that to leave Çırağan?“

Following Murad’s death, Selahaddin and his family are sometimes invited to attend the Selamlık Ceremony, and on very rare occasions they are also invited to Court. However, life generally continues in much the same vein. One thing, however, has changed – instead of spending hours discussing politics and the many problems facing the Empire with his father, Selahaddin now finds enjoyment discussing such things with his eldest son, Nihad. They share a similar view – that the Empire needs immediate and radical constitutional reform if it is to survive.