Semsizade Ahmet Ziyaeddin Uluoglu's Contributions to the National Struggle

Abstract

In this article, it is aimed to reveal the life of Ahmet Ziyaeddin Uluoglu, the founder and president of Kastamonu Mudafaa-i Hukuk Cemiyeti/Kastamonu Association for the Defence of National Rights, his place in the community life and his services in Kastamonu during the National Struggle. In the research, Devlet Arsivleri Baskanligi Osmanli Arsivi/the Presidential State Archives, the work named "Bayrami in Kastamonu and the Semsizade Family", which is about the abandoned documents of the family, the sources that shed light on the local history and the Kastamonu press were used. The fact that no independent study has been carried out about Uluoglu until today is important in terms of revealing his contributions to the National Struggle at the local level. It is understood that Uluoglu was elected and served as a member of the board of directors in the 1918 and 1921 congresses of the Kastamonu Hilal-i Ahmer Society, as the president of the Kastamonu Himaye-i Etfal Society in the 1922 congress, and as a member of the board of directors in the 1923 general assembly of the Kastamonu Farmers Union. Uluoglu is the founder of Kastamonu Association for the Defence of National Rights, and as far as we can determine, he successfully carried out the duty of president of the society until the end of the War of Independence. During the National Struggle period, the wire held against the occupation of Urfa, Antep and Maras has his signature in the rallies and protest telegrams. He was awarded the "Medal of Independence, with white ribbon" for his sacrifice and heroism in the War of Independence. He was elected as an enterprising member of the provincial administrative committee in the transformation of the Association for the Defence of National Rights into the People's Party. In the study, Ahmet Ziyaeddin Uluoglu served under the difficult conditions of the period during the National Struggle and the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, and in addition to his benevolence, religious and national identity, he also took a place in the local history of Kastamonu with his social personality, such as "Nakibulesraf", Bayrami Dervish Lodge. In addition to his duties, it was concluded that he continued to serve as an orator in Atabey Gazi Mosque after the proclamation of the Republic. His situation highlights Uluoglu's manager and intellectual personality in terms of being a part of society life, as well as his cleric identity.