Mehmed V Reshad

Mehmed V Reshad (Ottoman Turkish: Turkish: Mehmed V Reþad or Reþat Mehmet) (2/3 November 1844 – 3/4 July 1918) was the 35th Ottoman Sultan. He was the son of Sultan Abdülmecid I. He was succeeded by his half-brother Mehmed VI.

Birth
He was born at Topkapý Palace, Constantinople. Like many other potential heirs to the throne, he was confined for 30 years in the Harems of the palace. For nine of those years he was in solitary confinement. During this time he studied poetry of the old Persian style and was an acclaimed poet. On his ninth birthday he was ceremoniously circumcised in the special Circumcision Room (Sünnet Odasi) of Topkapý Palace.

Reign
His reign began on 27 April 1909 but he was largely a figurehead with no real political power, as the Ottoman state affairs were largely run by the Three Pashas since the Young Turk Revolution in 1908. Mehmed V's only significant political act was to formally declare jihad against the Entente Powers (Allies of World War I) on 11 November 1914, following the Ottoman government's decision to join the First World War on the side of the Central Powers. He was actually said to look with disfavor on the pro-German policy of Enver Pasha.

This was the last genuine proclamation of jihad in history by a Caliph, as the Caliphate lasted until 1924. The proclamation had no noticeable effect on the war, despite the fact that many Muslims lived in Ottoman territories. The Arabs eventually joined the British forces against the Ottomans with the Arab Revolt in 1916.

Mehmed V hosted Kaiser Wilhelm II, his World War I ally, in Constantinople on 15 October 1917. He was made Generalfeldmarschall of the Kingdom of Prussia on 27 January 1916, and of the Empire of Germany on 1 February 1916

Death
Mehmed V died at Yýldýz Palace on 3 July 1918 at the age of 73, only four months before the end of World War I. Thus, he did not live to see the downfall of the Ottoman Empire. He spent most of his life at the Dolmabahçe Palace and Yýldýz Palace in Constantinople. His grave is in the historic Eyüp district of the city.

Family life
First marriage and issue
He married firstly at Constantinople, Ortaköy Palace, on 30 September 1872 to Azerbaijani HH Kamres Kadýn Efendi (Ganja, Caucus, 5 March 1855 – Kuruçesme, Istanbul, 30 April 1921)

Second marriage and issue
He married secondly at Constantinople, Ortaköy Palace, on 10 October 1876 to Georgian HH Dürr-i Aden Kadýn Efendi (Kars, Caucus, 16 May 1860 – Istanbul, 17 October 1909)

Third marriage and issue
He married thirdly at Constantinople, Ortaköy Palace, on 4 April 1887 to HH Mihrengiz Kadýn Efendi (Adapazarý, 15 October 1869 – Alexandria, 12 December 1938 and buried in Cairo), and had:

Fourth marriage and issue
He married fourthly at Constantinople, Ortaköy Palace, in 1888 to HH Nazperver Kadýn Efendi (1870 - Istanbul, 1930) and had one child.

Fifth marriage and issue
He married fifthly at Constantinople, Ortaköy Palace, in 1907 to HH Dilfirib Kadýn Efendi (1890 - Istanbul, 1953) without issue.