Mehmed VI Vahdettin: The Last Ottoman Sultan and Caliph

Ottoman Sultan Mehmed VI, known as Sultan Vahdettin, was the last ruler of the Ottoman Empire to exercise both the sultanate and the caliphate simultaneously. His reign marked the closing chapter of a 600-year-old dynasty.

He was the last de facto Ottoman sultan to rule from Istanbul. After the abolition of the sultanate, his cousin Abdülmecid Efendi served only as caliph for a short period until the caliphate itself was abolished, ending a significant era in Islamic history.

Lineage and Family of Sultan Vahdettin

Contrary to some misconceptions that place him as a distant descendant of the late 19th-century rulers, Mehmed VI Vahdettin was actually the son of Sultan Abdülmecid I. This made him the younger brother of three previous sultans: Murad V, Abdulhamid II, and Mehmed V Reşad.

His lineage traces back directly to the dynasty’s founder, linking him to the very roots of the empire:

He was Vahdettin, son of Sultan Abdülmecid I, son of Mahmud II, son of Abdulhamid I, descending through the generations from Osman I.

This genealogy underlines that Mehmed VI was a direct descendant of the early Ottoman rulers, beginning with Osman I, the founder of the empire.

Sultan Vahdettin married several times during his life. His wives were:

• Nazikeda Hanım (He had three daughters with her.)
• Inşirah Hanım
• Müveddet Hanım (Mother of Prince Ertuğrul.)
• Nevvare Hanım
• Nevzad Hanım

Sultan Vahdettin’s Life Before Ascending the Throne

Sultan Vahdettin was born in Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul on January 14, 1861. Tragedy struck early; his father died when Mehmed was only five months old, leaving him fatherless as an infant.

His mother passed away when he was just four years old, so he was raised by his stepmother, Şayeste Hanım, within the strict yet cultured atmosphere of the imperial palace.

Dolmabahçe Palace, his birthplace, remains one of Istanbul’s most stunning landmarks. As of December 2025, the entrance fee for foreign visitors is 1,800 TL (approximately $42 USD). If you plan to visit, note that the palace is closed on Mondays and does not accept the standard Museum Pass Istanbul.

Education of Sultan Vahdettin

While still a student, Mehmed secretly attended madrasah lessons with his friends and also studied with private tutors. The religious education he received gave him the ability to examine complex religious questions brought before him when he became sultan and caliph.

Mehmed took courses in Islamic Sharia, Qur’anic exegesis (tafsir), and hadith, as well as Arabic and Persian. This education placed him firmly within the classical intellectual tradition of the Ottoman ulema and the Ottoman school system.

As a young prince, Mehmed became a disciple in a Naqshbandi Sufi lodge. His interest in Sufism mirrored the spiritual depth found in the works of poets like Yunus Emre, whose poetry has influenced Turkish culture for centuries. Alongside his religious studies, he had wide cultural interests, including the arts, and took numerous private lessons while reading extensively.

He was especially interested in literature, calligraphy, and music. He was an accomplished calligrapher and left behind many compositions.

Years of Sultan Vahdettin’s Reign

Mehmed VI came to the throne on July 3, 1918, after the death of his brother Sultan Mehmed Reşad (Mehmed V), at a time when the Ottoman Empire was on the brink of defeat in the First World War.

His primary concern was to extract the empire from the war with the least possible damage after the enormous human cost it had already suffered.

Shortly after Vahdettin ascended the throne, the Armistice of Mudros was signed. Under its terms, Allied forces were allowed to enter Istanbul and control key strategic points, including the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus.

The Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), which had controlled the state during the war, had suffered heavy losses. By the time Vahdettin came to power, the empire had already lost vast territories, including regions like Ottoman Jerusalem, which had been under Ottoman rule for four centuries.

As a result of the armistice, the Ottoman army was demobilized, and ports and railways were seized by Allied Powers. In the Caucasus, the Ottomans were forced to retreat to pre-war borders.

The National Struggle and Mehmed VI

After the surrender, the sultan appointed Mustafa Kemal Pasha as Inspector of the 9th Army and sent him to Eastern Anatolia. Officially, the mission was to ensure order and compliance with Allied conditions.

Historical interpretations of this period vary. Some argue the sultan sought to suppress resistance to appease the occupiers. Others emphasize that, as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk later recounted, the sultan called him to the palace before his departure and famously said:

“You have served the state many times so far, Pasha, you can save the country!”

Mustafa Kemal’s departure marked the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence. This period saw the rise of key figures in politics and literature, such as Halide Edip Adıvar, who mobilized the public for the national cause.

In response to the nationalist Kuva-yi Milliye forces, the Istanbul government formed a rival force called the Kuvâ-i İnzibâtiyye. Whether this was a stalling tactic to placate the Allies or genuine opposition to the Ankara government remains a subject of historical debate.

A new government was established in Ankara on April 23, 1920. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey declared it did not recognize Sultan Vahdettin’s authority. In 1920, the Istanbul government ratified the Treaty of Sèvres, which the Ankara government rejected outright, continuing the fight for independence.

Sultan Vahdettin’s Exile

The Grand National Assembly formally abolished the sultanate on November 1, 1922. From that moment, Mehmed VI was no longer recognized as sultan by the new Turkish state.

On November 17, 1922, fearing for his life, the sultan left Istanbul aboard the British warship HMS Malaya. He traveled first to Malta and later settled on the Italian Riviera.

Two days after his departure, his cousin Abdülmecid Efendi was elected caliph. Since the sultanate was abolished, Abdülmecid held only the religious title. Thus, Mehmed VI Vahdettin remained the last person to hold both titles of Sultan and Caliph simultaneously.

Death and Legacy of the Last Ottoman Sultan

Sultan Vahdettin died on May 16, 1926, in Sanremo, Italy. His final years were marked by financial hardship and isolation. His daughter, Sabiha Sultan, struggled to cover the funeral costs.

He was eventually buried in the Sulaymaniyya Takiyya (Tekkiye Süleymaniye) in Damascus, Syria. As of late 2024 and 2025, restoration works on the tomb complex, which had been stalled by the Syrian Civil War, have resumed. In December 2024, family members paid their respects at the site, signaling a renewed connection to this historical location.

Today, the legacy of the dynasty continues under the leadership of Harun Osman, the current Head of the House of Osman (as of 2025). The family remains active in protecting its history, recently taking legal action during the “Sina Osmanoğlu” controversy in late 2025 to clarify the true lineage against imposters.

Historians continue to debate Mehmed VI’s role: was he a victim of impossible circumstances at the collapse of an empire, or an obstacle to the birth of modern Turkey?