Yılmaz Öztuna

Historian (b. 20 September 1930, İstanbul). His real name is Abdullah Tahsin Yılmaz. He attended primary and elementary school in İstanbul and studied at the Conservatory. He took lessons from many teachers such as Sadeddin Arel, Dr. Suphi Ezgi, Sadeddin Nüzhet Ergun, Ömer Ferid Kam, Cevdet Perin and Edip Ayel. He lived in Paris for some time (1950-57). He studied at Paris University, Institute of Political Sciences and Sorbonne University, Department of French Civilization while attending the Paris Conservatoire as well. When he returned home (1960) he embarked on a career in professional journalism and worked as a redactor (1961-62), Head of the Editorial Department (1962-65) and editor-in-chief (1965-74) at the review Hayat. He also edited the books and encyclopedias published by this organization.

In 1969, he was elected parliamentary deputy of Konya for the Justice Party and settled in Ankara. He worked as a member of the commission for auditing, content and education at the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (1966-73), cultural advisor to the general directorate (1974-77), lecturer at İstanbul Technical University, Department of History of Turkish Classical Music (1975-78), member of the executive board of the State Classical Turkish Music Choir (after 1975), lecturer of Ottoman Political and Civil History at the Common Higher Education University (1975-78) and during the publication of the section from the letters K to T (1974-80) he was the editor-in-chief of the Türk Ansiklopedisi (Turkish Encyclopedia), which was published by the Ministry of National Education and Culture. In May 1983, he was among the founders of the National Democracy Party. He was elected to the central executive committee of the party, however, later on he resigned. After 1985, he worked as a consultant at the Faisal Finance Foundation.

He was famous for his skillful use of the Turkish language. His literary style, even in his scientific works and in the presentation of his studies with regard to the past and the future, was with a deep knowledge of geography and literature. He suggested that “The Sultan’s private gallery at Hagia Sophia should be opened for worship” and that “The Koran should be read at the room for the Mantle of the Prophet at Topkapı Palace.”

The articles of Öztuna, who also wrote compositions and poems, were published in the newspapers and reviews Hayat, Tercüman, Son Havadis and Dünya.

He was honored with the Turkish Air Force Shield (1970) and the Foundation for the National Culture of Turkey grand award (1970). He worked as a member of the İstanbul Journalists Association, Ankara Guild of Intellectuals, the Anatolian Club, the Association of Admirers of Yahya Kemal, the Orientalist Society, WACL, APACL, the NATO Parliamentary Union, the Inter-parliamentary Associations for Friendship between Turkey and Japan, Turkey and Korea and Turkey and Saudi Arabia and the European Council Association

WORKS:

1902 Ankara Muharebesi (The War in Ankara in 1902), Bayezid ile Timur'un Ölümü ve Fetret Devri (Death of Timur and Bayezid and the Interregnum, 1946), Türk Musikisi Lugati (Dictionary of Turkish Classical Music, 1949-55), Dünya Tarihi (World History, 1963), Türkiye Ansiklopedisi (Encyclopedia of Turkey, in collaboration with Prof. Metin Tuncel, 1964), Türkiye Tarihi (History of Turkey, 12 volumes, 1964-67), Vilayetlerimizin Tarihi (The History of our Provinces, 1968), Osmanlı Padişahlarının Hayat Hikâyeleri (Life Stories of the Ottoman Sultans, 1969), Türk Tarihinden Yapraklar (Pages from the History of the Turkish, 1969), Resimlerle 93 Harbi (The War of ‘93  in Pictures, Turkish-Russian War between 1877-78, 1969), Türk Bestecileri Ansiklopedisi (Encyclopedia of Turkish Composers, 1969), Türk Musikisi Ansiklopedisi (Encyclopedia of Turkish Classical Music, 1969), Resimlerle Türkiye Tarihi (The History of Turkey in Pictures, 1970), Büyük Türk Sözlüğü (Grand Dictionary of Turkish, in collaboration with Muharrem Ergin), Havacılık Tarihinde Türkler (The Turks in the History of Aviation, in collaboration with Y. Kansu and Şensöz, 1970), Türk Musiki Klasikleri (Classics of Turkish Music, 1972), Osmanlı Tarihi ve Medeniyeti (Ottoman History and Civilization, course notes, 1976), Tarih Lise III (History for High School Students, 3rd Grade, 1976), Osmanlı İmparatorluğu (The Ottoman Empire, 1972), Türk Musikisi Tarihi (The History of Turkish Classical Music, course notes, 1977), Büyük Türkiye Tarihi (The Great History of Turkey, 1977), Bir Darbenin Anatomisi (Anatomy of a Military Coup, 1984), Sadeddin Arel (Sadeddin Arel, 1986), Osmanlı Devleti Tarihi (The History of Ottoman Empire, 2 volumes, 1986), Hacı Arif Bey (Hacı Arif Bey, 1986-87), Osmanoğulları ve Türk Musikisi (Osmanoğulları and Turkish Classical Music, 1987), Rumelini Kaybımız (Our Loss of Rumelia, 1990), Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa'nın Hatıraları (Memoirs of Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa), Kanuni Sultan Süleyman (Kanuni Sultan Süleyman), Türkler, Araplar, Yahudiler (The Turkish, Arabs and Jews). 

RFERENCE: TDE Ansiklopedisi (1980), Büyük Larousse (c. 15, s 9086, 1986), Onur Akdoğu / Tarihçi Müzikolog Yılmaz Öztuna (1990), İhsan Işık / Yazarlar Sözlüğü (1990, 1998) - Türkiye Yazarlar Ansiklopedisi (2001, 2004) – Encyclopedia of Turkish Authors (2005) - Resimli ve Metin Örnekli Türkiye Edebiyatçılar ve Kültür Adamları Ansiklopedisi (2006, gen. 2. bas. 2007) – Ünlü Bilim Adamları (Türkiye Ünlüleri Ansiklopedisi, C. 2, 2013) - Encyclopedia of Turkey’s Famous People (2013), TBE Ansiklopedisi (2001), Türklerin Hedefi Hep Batı Olmuştur (Almanya Haber, 23.2.2010), Türkiye Yazarlar Birliği / Türkiye Kültür Sanat Yıllığı (2013), Prof. Dr. Ekrem Buğra Ekinci / Tarihi Sevdiren Adam (ekrembugraekinci.com, 15 Şubat 2012 Çarşamba).