Thoughts and Comments in the Records of Turkish Grand National Assembly (1920-1924) against the sultanate and the caliphate

The abolition of the sultanate and caliphate are the cornerstones of the process in which a new Turkish state was founded and in which this state improved in accordance with the foundation philosophy. These radical transformations in both of the positions were the resolute and consistent steps of Turkey to be a secular state. Since the appearance of the Turkish nation in the stage of history, an administrative system that depended on sultanate system had been maintained until the collapse of Ottoman Empire as a tradition despite some of the changes it underwent. The sultanate system, which led fights for throne and domestic turbulence as a result, could not keep up with the time in its final years. On the other hand, the position of caliphate was an establishment that had come into existence in the religion Islam. Therefore, the abolition of caliphate is not a historical development that concerned only the Republic of Turkey.The abolition of sultanate and caliphate positions was not among the easily agreed decisions. These decisions were a result of a certain process, maturing period and vigorous efforts of a resolute leader. This period was paralleling with the emergence of the National Struggle. This movement, started by Mustafa Kemal and his friends, did not pleased The Ottoman padishah and İstanbul government who preferred to be on the side of enemies and sought for salvation in this way and thus a struggle was taken up against both the domestic administration and the enemy. The padishah who hindered the success of the National Strugglers day by day gave the greatest harm to himself and to his position. The leaders who brought the salvation became the leaders of the just emerging state at the same time. While the Turkish state was being founded, the sultanate which had lasted for centuries and which had been badly managed did not find a room for itself in this new management. The position of caliphate also underwent the same fate, though with a delay. A centuries long habit caused some circles not to drift apart from sultanate management. Therefore, following the abolition of the sultanate, they tried to revive this system through new efforts. The press in İstanbul gave the biggest support to the members of the parliament who undertook this activity within the parliament. Because those who wished to use the caliphate position for their own sake and the members of dynasty in this position had the intention of sultanate again, which endangered the future of Turkey, Gazi Mustafa Kemal and his friends decided to abolish this position and they had received the necessary support from the parliament.The antipathy for these two positions matured in time. The basic goal determined when the parliament was first opened was the salvation of the sultanate and caliphate positions. From 1920 to 1924, some developments that conflicted with these formerly stated goals were seen.Key words: Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Sultanate, Caliphate, Abolition of The Sultanete, Abolition of The Caliphate, Mustafa Kemal Pasha.