C h r o n o l o g yDateFamily/TurkeyWorld/Other
1290-1326 Osman I, the first sultan forms Edward I rules in
the Ottoman Empire. England: 1272-1307.
1451-1481 Fatih Sultan Mehmed II
conquers Constantinople: End of
Eastern Roman Empire: 5/29/1453
1520-1566 Suleiman I, the Magnificent. Elizabeth I (1558-1603)
Ottomans at their peak. moderates Church of England
1571 Ottoman naval defeat at Lepanto
by the Holy League heralds the
decline of the Ottoman power
1683: Ottomans fail to take Vienna. The empire reaches from Persian Gulf to
western Algeria, to Austria.
1789-1807 Sultan Selim III attempts America is 13 - 31 years old
reforms: "nizam-i jedid"
(Arabic for "new order")
1830 After 370 years, Greece gains its independence from the Ottomans,
guaranteed by England, France, and Russia.
1839-1876 "Tanzimat" reforms under sultans 1854-56: Crimean War.
Abd al-Mejid (1839-61) and Abd Russian claim to protect
al-Aziz (1861-76): centraliza- Christians in Turkey's
tion of finance, administration, Balkan lands is checked
and the army. by Britain and France.
Mother's great uncle on her mother's side, Hasan (Sh)evket,
took part in the Crimean War, got a medal.
1870-1871 Franco-Prussian War leaves 1877-78: Russo-Turkish
Germany the most powerful War liberates Bulgaria,
nation on the Continent. Romania, and Serbia from
the Ottoman Empire.
NOTE: the years after 1877 mark the beginning of the end of the Ottoman
Empire, now known as the "Sick Man of Europe." Together with
incompetence at home, the empire was losing territories: the British
took Egypt,France Algeria, Italy in Libya. Austria wanted the Balkans,
Russia Turkish homeland. So whatever might have sparked WWI, the war was
about how to dispose of the Sick Man's lands without upsetting the European
balance of power. This is why various alliances formed beginning in 1879,
dividing Europe into two camps.
3/12/1881 Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal 1879: Germany's Otto von
(Atatürk or "Father of Turks.") Bismarck forms defensive
born. accord with Austria-
Mother's father born in Bulgaria. Hungary against Russia.
1886 Grandmother (Mother's mother) Safiye born in Arhavi
May 1892 Father's parents, Mehmet Zeki 1894: Franco-Russian
Çola(G)i(sh)i and Femsi Çele(sh)i, alliance forms.
marry in Arhavi.
1906 Mother's parents, Dr. Ha(sh)im 1904: Anglo-French Entente
Yanbolu (25) from Latakia Syria forms. Russo-japanese war.
and Safiye Çolaşi(sh)i (20) from Threat of unrest, revolution
Arhavi marry in Istanbul. in Tsarist Russia.
1906-1911 Grandfather Dr. Ha(sh)im, military 1907: Triple Entente
doctor, is assigned to the forms between France,
Yemen front: 4 years, 8 months. Britain, and Russia.
1909-1913 Young Turks era. Sultan Abdul World War I is imminent
Hamid is dethroned, rapid in Europe, Arab uprising
modernization begins. against the Ottomans.
7/11/1913 Father, Cavit, born in Arhavi, 1913: Young Turk leader Enver
the youngest of 5 children. Pa(sh)a becomes dictator and
His father is away in the army. sides with Germany and
Austria-Hungary on 8/2/1914.
1914 World War I begins.
NOTE: one wonders why in 1909 the Young Turks did not withdraw all Turkish forces from
distant lands, which Turkey did not need, could not hold, and use them to reinforce
the homeland, while trying to remain neutral. There were enough "free" lands for
everyone to fight over for years to come. With some foresight and luck, Turkey could
have been in a strong position in 1918. . .
1913-1916 Grandfather Dr. Ha(sh)im, a colonel,
is stationed in Dersim, Iraq,
facing Arab revolt on the Syrian
and Iraqi fronts under Lawrence
of Arabia.
In 1923, he received the Istiklal (Independence) medal, the highest in Turkey.
1914-1915 Gallipoli. Dr. Bahri, Father's oldest brother (by 19 years) and a
medical doctor, is on the front line when the British and Anzac forces
attack. Their defeat leads to the resignation of the First Lord of the
Admiralty Winston Churchill in 1915. In 1923, Uncle Bahri received the
Istiklal medal.
3/1/1918 Mother, Zekiye, an only 1917: Father. Arhavi
child, is born in Aleppo, evacuated. Escape to
Syria at 4:30 a.m., delivered Ordu. At age 5 (1918), he
by her father. meets his father for the
Turkish forces withdraw from first time. Return to
Syria and Iraq soon after that. Batumi(USSR), Arhavi.
1919 Nationalist movement headed by 1918-22: Mehmet VI, the LAST
Mustafa Kemal is formed to Sultan: the sultanate ends after
resist Allied occupation. 632 years.
1920-1921 Syria becomes French territory until 1944; Iraq is independent in 1921.
1918-1923 Mother, to age 5. Move from Father attends grade school
Aleppo to Adana, then to Fatih in Arhavi. At age10, he meets his
(Istanbul). brother Bahri the first time.
8/30/1923 Liberation War ends, Allied Treaty of Lausanne (1923)
forces defeated. This day is sets Turkish boundaries.
celebrated as "Zafer Bayramş"
(Victory Day) in Turkey.
1923-1924 Father continues grade school in
Kars (eastern Anatolia), staying
with Brother Bahri.
10/29/1923 Turkey is a republic, with Greece becomes a republic.
Mustafa Kemal, now Atatürk, as
its first President. This day is
celebrated as "Cumhuriyet
Bayram(I)" (Republic Day).
1924-1925: Father's (11) mother and sister
Leman die, volatile years begin.
1925-1937 Mother, Giresun Years on the 1925-7: family adopts 3 orphan
Black Sea. Life friends refugees: Vacit and girls Hat(ch)e
Harbiye and Asuman. and Nazire: "family" to us.
1926-1928: Father (13) is with sister Ay(sh)e,
in school in Istanbul.
1927: his father dies.
1928-29: Father (15) is in
school in Istanbul, Arhavi, then
Sivas.
1926-1938 Mother (8) has adenitis. 1928: Father (15) starts
Recuperates in the mountain violin lessons for 3
resort Kulakkaya in summers. months, continues on his own.
1930 Father (17) and Mother (12), meet 5/2/1931, Cavit writes his first
in Giresun for the first time in card to Zekiye's mother. Thoughts
the summer of 1930. of future courtship begin.
1930-1934 Mother (12) attends American 1930-32:Father is with brother
girls' school in Merzifon: top Bahri in Sivas, attending 11th
student. Life friends Fevziye, grade. He escapes to Erzurum to
Melahat, Mahmure, BelkIs. attend the lyceum.
1934 Small World: in 1980s, Mother's 1934: Father (21)finishes lyceum.
friend Melƒhat was invalid. His teacher Arif ÖGet obtains for
Her husband William Cruse shot him a 6-year scholarship for the
and killed 6 people in Palm medical school in Istanbul for 4
City, FL. Melâhat left for years of service upon graduation.
Turkey and died in Istanbul.
1934 Turkey adopts last names: Mother
(16) becomes Zekiye Sirman,
Father (21) Cavit Celayir.
1935-1938 Mother (17) attends Usküdar Amer- 10/29/35. Father (22)
ican Lyceum in Istanbul: top Mother's (17) first date:
student. Life friends Zwart and their engagement ring has
Bercuhi, two Armenian girls. this date.
11/10/1938 Kemal Ataturk dies. 1937-40: Mother's father
Gen. Ismet In”nü is president, moves to Trabzon, Afyon,
in 1939, 1943, and 1946. then Edirne.
June 1940 Father graduates from Medical 9/1/39: WWII begins.
School, Mother tests him for his Turkey enters into mutual
final examinations. assistance pact with
Dec. 40: Father is stationed in Britain and France, just
Gallipoli for 2 years of in case Germany invades,
military service. but remains neutral in the war.
NOTE: while a belligerent Hitler in their proximity may have worried the Turks,
Hitler probably never considered invading Turkey. The Turks had been former allies,
and they had fought ferociously against the occupying forces after WWI. Hitler was
occupied on so many fronts that there was no reason for him to take on also the
Turks, for a neutral Turkey served very well to his strategic interests. When
following his unexpected quick victory over France Hitler turned east to the Balkans,
he was not pursuing conquests for the sake of conquests. The Balkans was Hitler's
contingency food and fuel depot. And control of this area would also help Germany
with stand the effects of the British blockade of its shipping.
Indeed, Turkey's neutrality also guaranteed its safety, because an impartial Turkey
in that location served Hitler better than anything he could have achieved forcefully.
He knew that unlike Greece Turkey would never allow the British to use Turkey as a base,
in view of Turkish memories from WWI and British instigation of Arabs against Turkey.
And surely the Turks did not nurture sentimental ties to Greece, nor to Syria and Iraq.
A neutral Turkey was a very effective buffer zone for Germany's eastern flank.
Therefore, Hitler had every reason to honor Turkey's neutrality. And Turkey was doing
the prudent thing by being neutral.
10/19/1941 Father comes from Gallipoli to June 1940, Hitler moves into
Vezirkoprü to marry Mother. Romania. 1941: Bulgaria and
10/22/41: he returns to Yugoslavia in Axis orbit; food
Gallipoli, Mother's father to and fuel supplies are safe for
Edirne, Mother to Istanbul. Germany. Apr. 41, Hitler forces
Nov.1941: "Fisherman's House." the British out of Greece;
Parents have honeymoon in Germany and Britain face off
Gallipoli. in the Mid-East.
7/15/1942 I was born in Istanbul at 6 p.m.
4/10/43: Mother's mother
Safiye dies, her father
is with another woman.
Rootless era begins.
Apr. 1943 Father finishes military service, 4/22/43: Unye on the
begins 4 years of national ser- Black Sea. Mother buries
vice for his scholarship. her mother, joins Father.
Jul. 1943 Father is assigned to Erzurum: on Jan 44: Erzurum: Father has
ship to Trabzon, on land to typhus, in coma for 27 days;
Erzurum in Aug. 1943. Mother desperate.
Mar. 1944 Father on medical leave: visiting 6/4/1944, Arhavi:
in Samsun, Fatsa, Arhavi. He sister Femsi was born at
returns to Erzurum, Mother 7 a.m. A midwife, Raife,
stays in Arhavi. delivers her.
7/26/1944 Father is assigned to Bafra, a
town near the Black Sea. I have
malaria; Mother has infection.
Jan. 1946 Father called to reserve duty in
Samsun. We join him a few months
later, in an "orchard" home,
staying 6 months.
Oct. 1946 Return to Bafra.
3/2/1947: sister Gülhis (Gigi in
USA) born 9 a.m., while Femsi and
I watch the roof waiting for the
stork.
4/22/1947 Father begins his residency at We move in with Father's brother
the Numune Hospital in Ankara, Sabri and 4 cousins in Usküdar,
to May 1949. Istanbul: 1st friend (cousin) Ilhami.
Jul. 1947 We join Father in Ankara, in the Sep. 47: Typhoid. Mother is ill;
country home of a movie actor. we are scattered.
Visiting cousins in the military
bring us lice.
Jun. 1948 In Istanbul, with Mother's Father is in Ankara;
father. The first time we see Mother is unhappy at her
him, his second wife, and father's home.
Mother's stepsister in 6 years. I begin 1st grade.
Oct. 1948 In Ankara. I restart 1st grade.
Cousin Necla (18) moves in with
us until her marriage in 1953.
May 1949 Father finishes his residency; we move to Samsun on 5/29/49.
Sep.1949 I start second grade at Suba(sh)i Grade School, sisters follow in
1950 and 1953. My teacher, Ilhan han(I)m, also graduates Gülhis.
(We met her again in Istanbul in 1986.)
Sep.1953 I start Sankt George Austrian 1950: Celal Bayar is
boarding school in Istanbul. president, Adnan Menderes
We are well-to-do and upper class now. the prime minister.
12/31/1955 New Year's party in Samsun: met 1952: Turkey becomes full
Florence E. Sutphin, the Ameri- member of NATO and joins
can exchange teacher, who helped America in Korean War.
us to migrate to the USA in 1958
