A Life from Müşirlik (Marshalship) to Exile: Mustafa Zeki Pasha (1908-1914)
Pınar Çevik AzapThe career of Mustafa Zeki Pasha, who was among the most important soldiers and statesmen of his period began with his graduation from Mekteb-i Harbiye. He carried himself to the ministry of Mekatib-i Umumiye-i Askerîye and Müşir (Marshal) of Tophane-i Âmire. Müşir Mustafa Zeki Pasha was dismissed from both his positions because of the events following the declaration of Constitution II. Known for his closeness to Abdulhamid II, Müşir Mustafa Zeki Pasha could not escape the wrath of public, who were members and supporters of the Union and Progress Party. After increasing reactions a few days after his dismissal, Mustafa Zeki Pasha was taken to the Ministry of War. After one month, he was released after voluntarily returning the state properties he had taken on. He was taken to Büyükada and subjected to house arrest in his mansion for a few months. After being tried at Divan-ı Harp for the March 31 incident, his military ranks were taken, and he was exiled to Rhodes. This study attempts to expose the dismissal of Müşir Mustafa Zeki Pasha, who had the opportunity to hold important positions for many years during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II, from his duties owing to events after the declaration of Constitution II, his arrest as a result of intensified reactions, follow-up of his detention process by the public, the process of returning government properties from his spouses and himself, and the flow of events that resulted in his exile to Rhodes, according to the testimony of the media of the period, Ottoman archive documents, and Turkish literature.
Müşirlikten Sürgüne Bir Hayat: Mustafa Zeki Paşa (1908-1914)
Pınar Çevik AzapSultan II. Abdülhamid döneminin önemli asker ve devlet adamlarından olan Mustafa Zeki Paşa’nın Mekteb-i Harbiye’den mezun olmasıyla başlayan kariyeri onu, Mekatib-i Umumiye-i Askeriye Nazırlığı ve Tophane-i Âmire Müşirliği’ne kadar taşımıştır. Her iki görevi birlikte yürüten Müşir Mustafa Zeki Paşa, II. Meşrutiyetin ilan edilmesinin ardından yaşanan hadiseler neticesinde tüm görevlerinden azledilmiştir. Müşir Mustafa Zeki Paşa, Sultan II. Abdülhamid’e yakınlığıyla bilinen paşalardan biri olması hasebiyle diğer paşalarla beraber İttihat ve Terakki Cemiyeti mensuplarının ve taraftarı olan halkın hışmına uğramıştır. Tepkilerin artması üzerine henüz azledilmesinin üzerinden birkaç gün geçtikten sonra Harbiye Nezareti’ne götürülen Mustafa Zeki Paşa, bir aylık bir sürecin sonunda üzerine geçirdiği devlet mallarını gönüllü bir şekilde iade etmesi neticesinde serbest bırakılmış ve Büyükada’ya götürülerek birkaç ay kendi köşkünde zorunlu ikamete tabi tutulmuştur. En nihayetinde Otuzbir Mart Vakası neticesinde toplanan Divan-ı Harp’te yargılanan Mustafa Zeki Paşa, sahip olduğu askerî rütbeleri alınarak Rodos’a sürülmüştür. Bu çalışma, Sultan II. Abdülhamid döneminde uzun yıllar önemli makamlarda idarecilik yapma imkânına sahip olan Müşir Mustafa Zeki Paşa’nın, II. Meşrutiyet’in ilanı ve sonrasında gelişen hadiseler nedeniyle görevlerinden azledilmesi, tepkilerin şiddetlenmesi neticesinde tutuklanması, tutukluluk süresinin kamuoyunca takibi, kendisinin ve eşlerinin üzerlerinde bulunan devlet mallarını iade süreci ve Rodos’a sürgünü ile neticelenen olayların akışını, dönemin basınının tanıklığı, Osmanlı Arşivi belgeleri ve Türkçe literatür doğrultusunda ortaya koymaya çalışmaktadır.
Known as one of the favorite pashas of Sultan Abdulhamid II, Müşir Mustafa Zeki Pasha, graduated from Mekteb-i Harbiye in 1872 with the rank of captain. Zeki Pasha, who had the opportunity to be the aide-de-camp to Müşir Süleyman Pasha during the Ottoman-Russo War in 1877-1878, caught Sultan Abdulhamid II’s attention with his good impression during his duty. Therefore, Sultan Abdulhamid soon appointed him as one of his aides. Zeki Pasha, successful in utilizing these opportunities, soon gained Sultan Abdulhamid’s trust, and was promoted to the rank of Mirliva in 1883 and appointed to the ministry of Mekatib-i Umumiye-i Askerîye. Promoted to the rank of Ferik (lieutenant general) in 1884, he sustained this duty until 1891. After Saib Pasha, the Müşir of Tophane, died in 1891, he was appointed to Tophane-i Âmire Müşiriyeti and promoted to the rank of “Müşir,” the highest rank in the Ottoman military system. As of this date, Müşir Zeki Pasha, who was also the Sultan’s aide-de-camp, continued his duties at Müşiriyet of Tophane, one of the most significant military institutions of the Ottoman Empire, and the Ministry of Military Academies.
Because he was one of Sultan Abdulhamid’s favorite pashas, he held these offices for many years. His fate changed in July 1908, which was similar to that of Sultan Abdulhamid II. Incidents in Rumelia resulted in Abdulhamid’s declaration of Kanun-i Esasi and the reopening of the Parliament, which he closed indefinitely after the Ottoman-Russo War. However, although Sultan Abdulhamid declared the Kanun-i Esasi, the Union and Progress supporters and the people’s reactions did not subside. People developed a feelings of hatred and revenge against the administrators who occupied the Ottoman Empire’s most important and strategic positions for many years because of their closeness to the Sultan. Moreover, despite the increasing among the public, Sultan Abdulhamid’s flexibility in removing the statesmen close to the palace caused the reaction to increase. With the growth of events, Sultan Abdulhamid II dismissed the pashas holding other important positions after Seraskier Rıza and Grand Vizier Ferit Pashas. Therefore, Müşir Zeki Pasha, appointed as the Minister of Mekatib-i Umumiye-i Askerîye in 1883 and Müşir of Tophane in 1891, was dismissed from both positions on July 30, 1908. Thus, Zeki Pasha’s twenty-five year ministry position in military academies and seven-year Müşir position in of Tophane-i Âmire ended. These developments, resulted in the dismissal of Zeki Pasha from his Müşir position and the abolition of Tophane-i Âmire Müşiriyeti, changing the fate of Tophane-i Âmire (Müşiriyeti) established in 1832. Therefore, Tophane-i Âmire lost its identity as an independent institution, and Müşir Zeki Pasha went down in history as the last Müşir of Tophane-i Âmire.
The dismissal of other pashas, known as those close to Sultan Abdulhamid II, including Müşir Zeki Pasha, was not sufficient to suppress public reaction. Now, people ensured that these pashas, who enjoyed great wealth during their tenure, were arrested before they could escape. Thus, after his dismissal from his duties, Müşir Zeki Pasha was arrested together with other statesmen of the Abdulhamid era on August 5, 1908, and taken to the Ministry of National Police and then to the Ministry of War.
The Tanin newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Union and Progress Party during Zeki Pasha’s imprisonment in the Ministry of War, virtually declared war on him as the former Müşir of Tophane, known for passing on the state-owned foundation real estate. The series of articles on the subject discovered the foundation estate Zeki Pasha passed on to himself and his wives and forced him to return it voluntarily. After a fifteen-day detention, Zeki Pasha was released after returning the foundation real estate owned by him and his spouses and donated a large amount of money. After a few months, Zeki Pasha, who had been kept under house arrest in Büyükada together with other pashas, was tried in Divan-ı Harb-i Örfi, established after the March 31 events and the arrival of the Operational Army in Istanbul. According to the decision made at Divan-ı Harp, all of Zeki Pasha's ranks, medals and marks were to be withdrawn, he was to be banned from retirement rights, all of his assets were to be confiscated, and he was to be exiled to Rhodes Castle indefinitely. Zeki Efendi, whose military ranks were taken, was sent to Rhodes Castle the day after the decisions of the Divan-ı Harb-i Örfi were approved by the Meclis-i Vükela on May 26, 1909. He stayed in Rhodes Castle until 1911 and returned to Istanbul in 1911 because of the Balkan Wars. He took advantage of the general amnesty of political criminals in 1913 and stayed abroad for a while. Zeki Efendi, once one of the favorite pashas of Abdulhamid II; who was in the Ministry of Tophane-i Âmire and Military Academies, one of the most important military institutions of the Ottoman Empire, passed away in his mansion in Büyükada in 1914.
