Today in History – 4 November

The abolishment of the sultanate

When preparations for the Lausanne Peace Conference began after the Armistice of Mudanya, the Ottoman Government announced its intention to join the conference alongside the Grand National Assembly Government. The Allied States’ desire to recognize a government in İstanbul and to invite that government to the conference along with the Government of Ankara was met with extreme negative reactions in Ankara. Consequently, the sultanate was abolished on November 1, 1922 and the right of sovereignty and state authority were taken from the Ottoman Sultan. The caliphate and the sultanate were separated. Refet Pasha (Bele) conveyed the decision to Sultan Vahdettin at Yıldız Palace.

Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs İsmet Pasha sent the Allied States a diplomatic note to notify them of the status quo. The Turkish delegation that would represent the country in the Lausanne Conference left Ankara on November 5, 1922.