Statesman, grand vizier of the Second Constitutional Monarchy (B.1856, Baghdad – D. July 11th, 1913, Istanbul).
He was known by the sobriquet of Arab because he was born and grew up in
Baghdad. He was the son of Chechenian- originated chamberlain Kethüdazâde Süleyman Bey, who was a mutasarrıf
(governor of sanjak) in Sultan Abdülmecid’s period. His mother was coming from
a deep- rooted Turkish family dating back to the period of Murat IV. After having
gone to rüştiye (secondary school) for a year in Baghdad, he went to Istanbul
to continue military school (1870). For two years, he continued to Üsküdar
Atlamataşı Military Junior High School, and then he went to Kuleli Military
İdadisi (High School). In 1876, he started the Mekteb-i Harbiye (Military
Academy) and graduated in 1878, after which he started the Erkan-ı Harbiye
(Staff Officer) class. He graduated from Erkan-ı Harbiye School with captain of
staff rank in 1880. He took up a position in Copyright and Translation Bureau
of the second Branch Office of Erkan-ı Harbiye Dairesi (the Office of Commander
in Chief). He knew German and French besides Arabic. He started to give courses
such as algebra and geometry, fenn-i silah (science of weapons), endaht
(shooting, training) theory in Military Academy and write in various
periodicals and publish translations. He worked as the assistant of German Von
der Goltz Pasha who continued studies to reorganize Military Academy. In 1884,
he was promoted to kolağası (lieutenant commander) rank.
Mahmud Şevket Bey, at the time of
purchasing new weapons largely from
Pasha came to Istanbul with
the Hareket Ordusu (T.N. the Hareket Army) of which he was in charge and which
headed for Istanbul after the March 31st incident (April 13th,
1909). Reaching to an effective role in a short time, he had an influence on the
reign change that ended in dethroning of Abdülhamid the second and acceding of
Sultan Reşad (Mehmed V) to the throne. He was appointed as the inspector of the
first, second and third armies on May 18th, 1909. Clamping down on
government and assembly, he displayed a strict and severe administration.
However, he gradually came into conflict with İttihat ve Terakki Cemiyeti (T.N.
the Committee of Union and Progress). Hüseyin Hilmi Pasha’s duty as the prime
minister was under the control of Mahmud Şevket Pasha and his becoming the
Minister of War (January 25th, 1910) in Hakkı Pasha Government
couldn’t be prevented. Moreover, he didn’t consent to resign form his position
as inspector of three armies.
Mahmud
Şevket Pasha’s suppressing the Albanian revolt started in the same year would
constitute one of the reasons for dissolution during Balkan Wars. Withdrawing
soldiers from Tripoli to suppress the Yemen revolts was regarded as one reason
for weak resistance to Italian strikes (1911) and it was another topic of
criticism for him. Even if initially he remained in his position as the Minister
of War also in Sait Pasha Government established upon overthrowing of İbrahim
Hakkı Pasha Government, after a while he was obliged to resign (July 1912).
Once Sait Halim Pasha Government resigned, even if the “Great Council of
Ministers” founded under the presidency of Gazi Ahmet Muhtar Pasha wanted to
appoint him to Alasonya Army Commandership during the Balkan Wars, he did not
accept the task. After the war, the press and opposition considered him as the one
responsible from the defeat. The Bulgarians’ coming to closer parts of Istanbul
as well as seizing Edirne dictated the peace inevitable.
As
Romania also joined Bulgaria in the war she had against its neighboring
countries, this was at least giving a chance to Ottoman Empire to save Thrace
and Edirne. The Committee of Union and Progress staged a coup by making a
sudden attack on Sublime
Porte (Seat of Government) provided the Great Council of Ministers consented
to the losses and thereby Grand vizier Kıbrıslı Kâmil Pasha was obliged to
resign (January 23rd, 1913). The new government was established by
Mahmud Şevket Pasha as he accepted such offer by the Committee of Union and
Progress. According to new grand vizier inspecting army’s condition in Çatalca
bulwarks, it was not possible for the army to fight again. However, strike
decision was taken to save Edirne due to the pressure made by İttihatçiler (T.N.
members of the Committee of Union and Progress, the Unionists). Under the
pressure of the war it has with its neighbors, Bulgaria was not in the position
to stand against the Turkish headway in Thrace. Recapturing of Edirne was as if
it was a maneuver and around the reputation of “Conqueror of Edirne”, a
ruthless race was run among many others, especially Enver Pasha being in the
first place and consequently began sowing the seeds of hostility.
Mahmud
Şevket Pasha had a personality that didn’t let his powers be shared as the
Grand Vizier with the forerunners of the Committee of Union and Progress, with
whom he didn’t get on well since then. Infightings with the Committee of Union
and Progress gradually increased and the committee considered him as a threat.
On the other hand, the opposition became severe against him, the Grand vizier.
M. Şevket Pasha didn’t credit warnings made by the Istanbul guardian Cemal Pasha
that there might be an assassination attempt to kill him at all. However, after
having finished his works at Ministry of War and then heading for the government
house, Mahmut Şevket Pasha was killed in an armed assault around Çarşıkapı on
11th day of June, 1913 and the other day he was buried in Hürriyet-i
Ebediyye Hill. Topal Tevfik, who pulled the trigger that killed the Pasha and
his co-conspirators, were soon captured and put to death. It is a common
opinion that the Committee of Union and Progress, which wanted to get rid of Pasha,
was involved in the assassination.
Mahmud Şevket Pasha was not a member
of the Committee of Union and Progress. Nevertheless, he felt a kind of
affinity for them as they gave him the chance to gain power and as long as they
didn’t want to become a partner of his reign. He was a quick-tempered person
with a rigid personality, who always acted rapidly and also requested others
act accordingly. That being said, he was weak-spirited, but very cautious and
leery. It is told he concealed some secrets of the state even from the sultan of
the period. Some newsman praised him with titles as Napolyon, Mithat Pasha and
Conqueror the Second because he came Istanbul as the head of the Hareket Army.
Some dictatorial activities of him might indicate that he was under the influence
of those expressions. He had some collation and translation books taught in
Military Academy and in other military schools. “Devlet-i Osmâniyye’nin Bidâyet-i Tesisinden
Şimdiye Kadar Osmanlı Teşkilât ve Kıyâfet-i Askeriyesi”, his most important work deals with Ottoman military
organizations from the foundation till 1902 and it is considered as a serious
study.
WORKS:
Logaritma Cedâvili Risalesi (from Jean Dupuis, H. 1301), Fenn-i
Esliha (H. 1301), Usûl-i
Hendese I-II
(H. 1302-1304), Asâkir-i
Şahanenin Piyade Sınıfına Mahsus 87
Modeli Mükerrer Ateşli Mavzer üzer Tüfeği (H.
1303), Mükerrer Ateşli
Tüfekler (H.1308), Küçük
Çaplı Mavzer Tüfekleri
Risâlesi (H. 1311), Küçük
Çaplı Mavzer Tüfeklerine Mahsus Atlas (H.1311), Devlet-i Osmâniyye’nin
Bidâyet-i Tesisinden Şimdiye Kadar
Osmanlı Teşkilât ve Kıyâfet-i
Askeriyesi” (I-III, H. 1320).