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Great Turkic Figures
Figures who left their mark on Turkic history.
186 articles
In this category
AHI EVRANThe Seljukian State, after Malazgirt Victory, established a strong state and advanced civilization in Anatolia. However, the state began to weaken tow…AHMET CEVDET PASHAAhmet Cevdet Pasha is one of the biggest intellects whom Turks brought up in XIXth century.AHMET VEFIK PASHAStatesman and play writer. Born in 1823. Died in 1891.AKSEMSEDDINHis real name is Mehmed Şemseddin. Akşemseddin, who is one of the Sufis and religious scholars of Fatih period was born in 1389 in Damascus. He settle…ARSLAN BEYThe tribe founding Seljukian Sultanate in Anatolia is Oghuz Turkmenians. The ancestors of Turks in Anatolia today are Oghuzes. Oghuzes, after having c…ZIYA GOKALPThinker and artist, poet. He was born in Diyarbakir in 1876. He died in Istanbul in 1924. He was arrested in last class of Veterinary school because o…ZEKI VELIDI TOGANZeki Velidi Togan was born in Kuzen Village of Isterlitamak of Başkurt province on 10 December 1890. His surname, Togan, derives from his fifth genera…YUSUF HAS HACIBYusuf Has Hacip, who lived in Karahanli State period, was born in Balasagun city in 1017. His family is estimated to be one of the notables of the per…YUSUF AKCURAYusuf Akcura was born on 2 December 1876. He is one of the leading opinion-leaders and historians of pro-Turk trend. He studied in the Military Colleg…YILDIRIM BEYAZITHe is the Ottoman Sultan who is reputed for bravery and titled Yildirim (Thunderbolt) because of his unique speed in wars. He was born in Bursa in 136…AHMET YESEVIThe exact date of birth of Hodja Ahmet Yesevi, who had contributed much to spreading of Islam among Middle Asian Turks and Anatolia's being Turk and M…MIHAIL N. YEFIMOVICSaha (Yakutistan) Autonomous Republic PresidentYAVUZ SULTAN SELIMYavuz Sultan Selim is one of the greatest Ottoman emperors. He was a great poet, strong commander and a high statesman. Yavuz Sultan Selim is the son…YASAR DOGUFamous Turkish wrestler Yaşar Doğu was born in Karli village of Kavak district of Samsun in 1915. He was brought up in Emirli, his grandfather's villa…V. MEHMET EFENDIHe is one of our scientists known for his dictionary translated from Arabic. Naima wrote that his real name was Mehmed-ül Vani, and Bursali Tahir wrot…ASIK PASHAPasha is our first Pro-Turkish language poet who served for development and spreading of Turkish language.UZUN HASANUzun Hasan was born in 1423 in Diyarbakir. His father was Celaleddin Ali Bey, the Akkoyunlu ruler.Akkoyunlu Ruler Ali bey's son Cihangir was enthroned…ULUBATLI HASANUlubatli Hasan is the stouthearted soldier who fell martyr while he was planting the first flag on Istanbul ramparts. He was born in Ulubat village of…SAPARMURAT NIYAZOVSaparmurat Atayevich Niyazov was born in 1940 as the son of a worker family. His father was killed during 2nd World War. The other members of the fami…TURGUT REISTurgut Reis is one of the greatest Turkish seamen. He gained reputation because of his successes in Mediterranean sea. He won great victories against…TUGRUL BEYTugrul Bey, is the grandson of Seljuk Bey. When his father Mikail fell martyr in a war, he was brought up in Cend by Seljuk Bey. Upon death of Seljuk…VEZIR TONYUKUKHe is the first known Turkish writer and historian. He worked as a counselor for Kutlug Khan, the founder of Gokturk State as well as Kapagan Khan and…TIRYAKI HASAN PASHATiryaki Hasan Pasha is the mythical hero of Kanije castle defense. He, after resisting an enemy army of forty thousand people with four thousand Turki…SUYUN BIKE"Nıgıtkılar üstüne çıgıp Uruslarını kördü Süyün Bike özü dahi suguş içine kirdi Tatar topcularıga özü de kumanda birdi." (Suyun bike climbed the rampa…SULTAN VELEDIn the period of Anatolian Seljukian State, Karaman was known as Larende. One day a happy news arrived at Larende. Sultan of Scholars, Bahaeddin Veled…SULTAN SENCERSencer, the son of great Seljukian Sultan, Meliksah, was born in Sincar in 1086. Sencer, who got experienced in state affairs as from his childhood, p…ASKAR AKAEVAskar Akaev was born on 10 Kasım 1944 in Kızılbayrak village of Kemindey Region. His father was a kolkhoz worker. He worked as a metal worker in Fdurz…SAH ISMAILShah Ismail, the founder of Iran Safevi State, was born in 1487. His father Sheik Haydar died in a war against Sirvan Ruler Ferruh Yesar and Yakup Bey…SATUK BUGRA KHANAbdulkerim Satuk Bugra Khan is the first Muslim-Turk ruler. His exact birth date is not known. His father was Bezir Khan, from Karahanli ruler family.…SEHRIYARHis full name is Doktor Seyyid Mehemmed Hüseyin Behçet Tebrizi. Mehemmed (Muhammad), is his first name, Behçet Tebrizi his surname, (Seyyid) is his ni…SELCUK BEYSeljuk Bey, who gave his name to Seljukian state, is the son of Dukak Subaşı, one of the commanders of Oghuz State dominating over the region between…SEYDI ALI REISSeydi Ali Reis was born in Galata. His date of birth is not certain. He was the son of a sailor family who settled down in Sinop after conquest of Ist…SEYH EDEBALIHe was born in Merv city of Horasan in 1206. He migrated to Anatolia in his youth and settled down in Karaman first, and then in Eskişehir. He receive…VLADIMIR N. STIGASEVVladimir Nikolayeviç Ştigaşev was born in 1938 in Hakasya Tatıp province center. He is a member of a family with many children.SULEYMAN CELEBIOttoman Sultan Yildirim Beyazid completed construction of Ulu Mosque, in the capital city Bursa with 20 domes in 1399 and appointed Suleyman Celebi as…SULEYMAN PASHASuleyman Pasha is referred to as "Şıpka Hero" since he had hard wars against Russians in Şıpka and defeated them. However, his services to our country…SULEYMAN SAHOttoman Turks are from Kayi tribe of Bozok Branch of Oghuzes. Kayihan is the son of Gunhan. The word Kayi means flood from mountain, avalanche. Oghuze…ULUG BEYWorldwide famous Turkish mathematician and astronomer ruler. He was born in Semerkant on 22 March 1395. He is one of the grandsons of Tamerlane and th…ABDULHAMIT IISon of Abdulmecid. His mother is Tir-i Mujgan, wife of Abdulmecid of Circassian origin. He was born in Çıragan Palace on 21 September 1842. He was bro…ENVER PASHAIsmail Enver was born in Istanbul in Divanyolu in 1881. He is the son of Ahmet Bey, who became a Pasha and Surre Emin by influence of his son. Both hi…ALPARSLAN TURKESAli Arslan (Alparslan Türkeş), was born in Lefkoşe region of Cyprus on 25 November 1917. His father Ahmet Hamdi Bey was the son of Tuzlalı Ali Ağa, fr…YUNUS EMREYunus Emre, who was a great folk poet and a sufist whose poems provided spiritual bases to Turkish people, is full of myths. It is not certain when an…FUZULIFuzuli was born in Hille town of Iraq, in 1494. He is from Turk Bayat tribe in origin. He is the son of Hille Mufti Suleyman. His real name is Mehmet.…NAIMANaima is the first official historian and most famous historian of Ottomans. He was born in 1652 in Aleppo. His father was one of the notables of Alep…NENE HATUNThe Turkish woman who wrote her name into Turkish history with her heroism in Aziziye bastion of Erzurum during Turkish-Russian war known as "93 War"…KATIP CELEBIThere are some people in history who were a treasure of knowledge. Former people called these "hezarfen" or "library with feet". Some of them take the…YORUK ALI EFEYoruk Ali Efe, one of the heroes of National Struggle, was born in 1896 in Aydın. Yoruk Ali Efe, who was from Sarı Tekeli tribe of Aydin region yoruks…ASIK VEYSELOur famous folk minstrel. He was born in Sivrialan village of Sivas in 1894. He generally lived in this village. He lost his eyes due to smallpox when…ADNAN MENDERESPolitician and statesman who gave his name to a period. He was born in 1895 in Aydın. His mother is the daughter of Ali Rıza Pasha and from one of the…SULTAN IV.MURATHe is the Ottoman Sultan known for important role in the fate of the Empire by eliminating the anarchist and despots and known as "Baghdad Conqueror".…ASIK PASAZADEAsik Paşazade was born in 1393 in Elvan Çelebi village of Amasya. His real name is Dervish Ahmed Asiki. He lived through the conquest of Istanbul toge…VANI MEHMET EFENDIHe is one of our scientists who gained much credit with the name of Hunkar Sheik in Sultan Mehmet the 4th period and who gave his name to a village in…IBRAHIM HAKKIErzurumlu ibrahim Hakkı was born in 1705 in Hasankale. He is the son of a Sheik named Osman Effendi. His father was a respected Sufi, and brought İbra…YAHYA K. BEYATLIYahya Kemal, who is one of the most powerful poets of today, was born in 1884 in Uskup. He died in Istanbul in1958. He never forgot the glorious perio…NASREDDIN HODJAAll nations from west to east love our well-known folk philosopher and great genius of Turkish joke. Everybody adores the beautiful jokes of this grea…AHMET KABAKLIAhmet Kabaklı was born in Harput as the son of Ömer Effendi, working as the muezzin of Harput Sarayhatun Mosque and Munire Hanim from Pertekli Bölükba…FUAD KOPRULUHe was born in Istanbul on 4 December 1890. He is the grandson of Köprülü Mehmed Pasha from his father. His mother is the daughter of Arif Hikmet Effe…MUTERCIM ASIM EFENDIInterpreter Asim Effendi is considered to be the father of Turkish words. He served our language much by showing the richness of Turkish language in h…HAYDAR ALIYEVA LIFE DEDICATED TO HIS PEOPLE He was born in Nahcivan on 10 May 1923 as the son of a labor family. He graduated from History department of Azerbaijan…ATATURKMustafa Kemal Atatürk was born in Salonika in 1881. His father is Ali Rıza Effendi, his mother is Zübeyde Hanim. Ali Rıza Effendi was from the local p…TIMURTimur, is the founder of great Turkish Empire established with his name. He was born in Keş city of Turkistan on 8 April 1336. The city was in south o…HUSEYIN NIHAL ATSIZHüseyin Nihal Atsız (Atsız), was born on 12 January 1905 in Istanbul Kadıköy. His father is a navy officer Nail Bey, and his mother is Zehra Hanim.ATTILAGreat Turk-Hun emperor. He was born in 395. He is the son of Muncuk, one of the founders of Hun State. He ascended the throne in 434 with his brother…BABUR SAH16th century, in which Ottoman Empire possessed a land of 8 million square kilometers in Asia, Europe and Africa continents is one of the golden eras…B. HAYRETTIN PASHABarbarossa Hayrettin Pasha is one of the most famous captains of our naval history. He was born in Midilli Island in 1473. His father is one of the Tu…SULTAN BAYBARSwas a Kıpçak Turk and the son-in-law of Berke Khan who was Altınordu Khan and grandson of Genghis Khan.BILGE KAGANBilge Khan was born in 683. His father is İlteriş Kutlug Khan who re-founded Gokturk State, and his mother is Ibilge Hatun. He lost his father when he…BIRUNIBiruni, who is one of the greatest scientists and theologists of Turkish-Islamic world, was born in 973 in Kas city which is within the borders of Ira…CAKA BEYAfter Alpaslan conquered Anatolia, many Turkmen beys went on their conquest toward Mid-Anatolia. Turkmen beys Afşin, Suleyman Bey son of Kutulmuş, and…CELALEDDIN HARZEMSAHCelaleddin Harzemşah, who was the last ruler of Harzemşahlar State, was appointed as the governor of Gazne and its environs and took part in all exped…CEMAL GURSELThe leader of 27 May coup d'état, distinguished member of the Army and fourth President of Republic of Turkey.MUSTAFA CEMILOGLUI was born in Kirim on 13 November of 1943. We were sent to exile to Middle Asia with all our people with accusation of traitor in May in 1944. Our fa…CENGIZ KHANGreat conqueror, statesman and law executor. He is the ruler who named his rules as law. He was born in 1155. His real name is Temuchin. He is the son…G. HASAN PASHAA Turkish captain and vizier who demonstrated mythical heroism in marine wars.CEZZAR AHMED PASHAThe exact date of birth of this historical Turkish soldier is not known. The soundest resources say that he is from Bosnia. Ahmed, who came to Istanbu…CIHANGIRHe is the son of Ekber, one of Delhi Turkish Indian rulers. His real name is Selim. He ascended the throne upon his fathers death with Nureddin Cihan…DEDE KORKUTOur knowledge about the creator of Great Turkish epic, Dede Korkut, is inadequate. The rumors say that Dede Korkut, also known as Korkut-Ata, is the s…DUNDAR TASERDündar Taşer, the great Turkish nationalist, action man and heart man, was born in 1925 in Gaziantep. He is from a rooted family. He was brought up wi…EBUSSUUT EFENDIHis real name is Mehmet. He lived between 1491 and 1575.EKBER SAHEkber Shah is one of the biggest and strongest rulers of Turk-Mongol Empire established in India. Ekber Shah was born in 1542. He is the grandson of B…EBULFEZ ELCIBEYI worked to evoke national awareness among the students with all my power. I accounted to nobody. I was hiding many things from even my close friends.…EMIR SULTANToward the end of 14th century, a new sun of science and wisdom started to shine over the horizons of Bursa. This sun was a Turkish scholar from Buhar…ERTUGRUL GAZISuleyman Shah's son Ertuğrul Gazhi is a personage who had served much to establishment of Ottoman State. Ertuğrul was a stouthearted person like his f…EVLIYA CELEBIThe information compiled mostly from what he said reveals that he was born on 25 March 1611 in Istanbul in Unkapani. His father was the chief jeweler…EVRENGZIBIn the period of sultanate of Evrengzib (Alemgir the 1st) in India until 1707, the empire reached its broadest borders and all India underwent Turkish…FARABIA great thinker and famous music master. He was born in Farab town by Seyhun river in Turkistan in 870. His real name is Ebu Nasır Muhammed ibn Türkan…FATIH SULTAN MEHMETSeventh Ottoman Sultan who opened a new age by conquering Istanbul and turned Ottoman State into an empire. He was born in 1430. He is the son of Mura…M. FEVZI CAKMAKThe great member of our army, the only field marshal after Ataturk, was born in Istanbul Cihangir in 1876. He is the son of a soldier family. After ha…GAZAN KHANGazan Khan was born in 1271. He is the son of Argun Khan.GAZI EVRENOSGhazi Hadji Evrenos Bey, has taken a distinguished place in our national history due to his big services in establishment of Ottoman state. This valua…GAZI OSMAN PASHAA golden gilded page of Turkish history all pages of which is full of heroism stories, is the defense of Plevna. This is such a page that enemy comman…GAZNELI SULT.MAHMUTGazneli Sultan Mahmut, was the greatest ruler of Gazneli State and conqueror of India. He was born on 2 November 971. He had a good education. He was…GULSEHRIGülşehri is one of our troubadours writing and speaking in Turkish like Sultan Veled, Yunus Emre, Aşık Pasha, in late Anatolian Seljukian State period…ALEMDAR M. PASHAOne of the grand viziers of Mahmut the second period. He was born in Rusçuk in 1750. However, some historians say that he was born in Hatin in 1765. H…HACI BAYRAM VELIHe is a famous Turkish Sufi end the founder of famous Bayramiye sect. He was born in Solfasol village of Ankara in 1352. His father was Koyunluca Ahme…HACI BEKTAS-I VELIHe is the leader of Bektaşi sect. He was born in Nisabur city of Horasan in 1216. His real name is Mehmet, but he is known as Bektaş. Rumors have it t…HACI ILBEYWhen Turks conquered all Marmara coasts, they began to long to possess the European continent. The crusaders threatening Anatolia's unity during the p…HALIDE EDIP ADIVARShe was born in Istanbul in 1884. After having graduated from Uskudar American College for Girls, she attended philosophy, sociology and mathematics c…HAREZMIHarezmi is a Muslim Turkish scientist who lived in 9th century and wrote the first book on algebra. Harezmi was born in Harezm in 780. He went to Bagh…HOCA ISHAK EFENDIHodja Ishak Effendi was born in Narda town of Yanya. The exact year of his birth is not known. He died in 1834. Hodja Ishak Effendi is a Turkish schol…EBU MUSLIM-I HORASANIEbu Muslim Horasani is one of the great heroes in Turkish history. He is a hero who opened a new era in the history of Oghuz Turkmens. Umayyads began…HULAGU KHAN (ILHANHulagu was born in 1217. He is the founder of Ilhanli State which ruled in Iran. He is the famous Turkish-Mongol warrior and ruler who caused collapse…HUSEYIN BAYKARAHuseyin Baykara was born in 1430 in Herat.IBNI KEMALHe is one of the Sheik of Islams of Suleyman the Magnificent period and one of the famous scholars of sixteenth century. His year of birth is not cert…ALI KUSCUAli Kuşçu, the greatest astronomy and theology scholar of Turkish-Islamic world was born in Semerkant in the beginning of 15th century. Since his fath…IBNI SINAAvicenna was a great Turkish scholar. His family came from Belh and settled down in Buhara. Avicenna was born in Afşan when his father was there for a…SULTAN MAHMUT II.He was born in 1785. He is the Ottoman Sultan reputed for his reforms and lifting the Janissary Organization with the event known as "Vaka-i Hayriye (…IMAM-I BUHARIThe real name of Imam-ı Buhari, who was born in Buhara in 810, is Muhammad bin Ismail, birth name being Ebu Abdullah. Buhari, who lost his father in h…ISLAM KERIMOVKerimov was born on 30 January 1938 in Samarkand. He had high education in two majors. The first is mechanical engineering, and the other one is econo…GASPIRALI ISMAIL BEYGaspirali Ismail is a famous educator, journalist, pedagogist and philosopher from Crimea who strove to realize world Turkish union and awakening of T…ITRIWe have to remember the great Turkish composer Itri, who excited, sublimated, fascinated hearts with classical Turkish music raising to domes, with a…KADI BURHANEDDINAnatolia was ruled by Turkish Emirates established in various regions of Anatolia under the name of Anatolian Emirates in 14th century. These independ…KANUNI SULT.SULEYMANHe is the Ottoman sultan whom the world knows as magnificent and Turks know as Kanuni. He was born in Trabzon on 27 April 1495 where his father Yavuz…KAPAGAN KAGANIlteris had left two sons one 8 years old (Bilge) and one 7 years old (Kül Tegin). His brother Kapagan (or Kapgan), 27 years old, became the khan (692…ALI SIR NEVAIAli Sir Nevai is a scholar and statesman trying to make Turkish a supreme language of art, advocating this idea and valuing Turkish language. He was b…KARACAOGLANHe is one of our saz poets who lived in 17th century. These poets strolled in many villages and told poems in the coffeehouses, quarters and weddings.…KASGARLI MAHMUTHe is a Turkish linguist who lived in 11th century. He is famous with his book named Divân-ı Lügati't-Türk. He is from Karahanli lineage. He presented…KAZIM KARABEKIRHe was born in Istanbul in 1822. His father is Mehmet Emin Pasha. He was admitted to the army as a staff officer in 1905. He took part in the putting…KEMAL BEYKemal Bey, who was a head district official in Boğazlıyan during First World War, was unjustly executed upon the pressure of occupying English-French…KEMAL REISOne of the greatest Turkish seamen. He was born in Gelibolu. It is not certain in which year he was born. He passed his youth being engaged in piracy…KILICARSLANKılıçarslan is one of the greatest heroes of Turkish history. He is one of the founders of Anatolian Seljukian Sultanate, and a Turkish Ruler who defe…MUSTAFA A. KIRIMOGLUHe was born in Bozköy on 13 November 1943. All his family and he was banished to Andican region of Uzbekistan being accused as a "traitor" when he was…KOCA YUSUFThe great wrestler with worldwide reputation. He was born at Karalar village of Şumnu in 1857. He started to quarrel with calves in the village when h…KOROGLUHe is a public hero who is the subject of a famous epic. There is a troubadour bearing the same name who lived in 16th century too. But real Koroglu,…KUBILAY KHANKubilay Khan is a great emperor who dominated over whole China. He is a ruler who governed the greatest number of people overshadowing all rulers befo…ALPARSLANwho was born in 1030, is the son of Çağrı Bey and nephew of Tuğrul Bey. He drew attention in the battle he won a great victory against Gazne Ruler Mev…KUL TEGINKul Tegin was born in 684. When his father Ilteris died, his elder brother Bilge was 8, and Kul Tegin was 7. He was brought up by his uncle Kapagan Kh…MEHMET AKIF ERSOYAkif, by crying out "Korkma! Sönmez bu şafaklarda yüzen al sancak!" to the nation who was gradually losing his hopes in the most disastrous and dark d…MEHMET EMIN YURDAKULMehmet Emin Yurdakul was born in Istanbul in 1869 in Beşiktaş. His father was a fisherman, Salih Reis, and his mother was Emine Hanim, who migrated fr…MELIKSAHHe is the third and greatest of Turkish Seljukian rulers dominated in Iran. He was born in Isfahan in 1054, and died in Baghdad in 1092 when he was 38…MIMAR SINANGreat architect, who was born in Agirnas village of Kesi district of Kayseri on 29 May 1490. He entered Janissary organization as a devşirme. He left…MOLLA FENARIMolla Fenari is the first sheik-of-Islam of Ottomans. He is a scientist who wrote more than a hundred books. His father's name is Hızır. He was born i…NAMIK KEMALPoet, novel-writer, journalist and statesmen. He was born in Tekirdağ in 1840. He was brought up with special education under the education of his gra…NUR SULT.NAZARBAYEVNursultan Nazarbayez, a statesman who was the most effective person in USSR following Mihail Gorbaçov and Boris Yeltsin, was born in Çemolgan village…NECIP ASIMHe is one of our opinion-leaders who worked for Turkish history and nation ideal. He was born in Kilis in 1861. He is from a Spahi family called Bal H…NIZAMULMULKHis real name is İbu Ali Hasan. He is one of the greatest statesmen of eastern history. He was not only a fair grand vizier, but also worked to spread…ALP TEGINHe is the person who first founded Gaznevî state. His date of birth is not known exactly. Alp Tegin, was trained from the hassa army of Samanoğulları…OGUZ KHANHis date of birth could not be found. He is the son of first Hun ruler Teoman. The mother of another son of Teoman, who was younger than Oghuz Khan, s…ORHAN GAZIOrhan Ghazi is the person who turned a small country from his father into a big state, and who took steps toward being an emirate to a kingdom.ORUC REISOruc Reis, one of the greatest Turkish seamen, is the elder brother of Barbarossa Hayrettin Pasha, that is, Hızır Reis. He is the son of a spahi named…OSMAN GAZIOsman Ghazi is the founder of Ottoman Empire. His state was called Ottoman (Osmanli), in reference to his name. Establishment of Ottoman state constit…OMER SEYFETTINFamous short story writer Omer Seyfettin was born in 1884 in Gönen. His father was major Omer Bey. After having completed Military College, he was com…PIR SULTAN ABDALHe is a dervish whose birth and death date is not certainly known. He lived near Sivas. He is a Shiite and Kizilbas. It is said that he was arrested a…PIRI REISMuhiddin Piri was born in Gelibolu, one of the important centers of Turkish navigation between 1465 and 1470. The exact date of his birth is not known…RAUF DENKTASRauf Raif Denktaş was born in Baf Region of Cyprus on 27 Ocak 1924. Rauf Denktaş lost his mother when he was 1,5. His father is judge Raif Bey. He was…MEHMET EMIN RESULZADEMehmet Emin Resulzade, who stuggled for Azerbaijan's independence all of his life, was born in Novhani village of Baku on 31 January in 1884. He recei…SAH CIHANShah Cihan is the grandson of Ekber Shah and son of Cihangir Selim Shah. He was born in 1591. He was enthroned in 1628. Shah Cihan, who was the fifth…MAJOR TURKSC - Ç