The Republic of Turkey Is Proclaimed

Setting the scene

The Ottoman Empire collapsed after World War I; Mustafa Kemal Atatürk led nationalist forces against Greek occupation and Sultanate authority, winning the War of Independence and abolishing the caliphate in favor of secular nationhood.

What happened

The Republic of Turkey was proclaimed on October 29, 1923, replacing the sultanate with a Grand National Assembly presidency and moving the capital from occupied Istanbul to Ankara.

Why it still matters

Latin script and secular reforms followed through hat laws, women's suffrage, and state-controlled religion; Atatürk's portrait still anchors Turkish identity debates between NATO membership, EU candidacy, and Erdogan-era re-Islamization.

Background

Latin script and secular reforms followed.