The Greek Attempt to Establish an Autonomous Administration in Bursa during the Turkish War of Independence

Celil Bozkurt; Erdal Korkmaz

Article Details

The Greek Attempt to Establish an Autonomous Administration in Bursa during the Turkish War of Independence

Authors:

Celil Bozkurt | Erdal Korkmaz

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Genel Türk Tarihi (Diğer)

Journal:

Yakın Dönem Türkiye Araştırmaları Issue 47, pp.99-113

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001355975

pISSN:

1304-9720

Keywords:

Abstract:

 After their defeat by the Turkish army at the Battle of Sakarya, it became clear that the Greeks could no longer maintain control in Anatolia. In an attempt to preserve their presence, the Greek government sought to establish autonomous administrations in certain regions. The first such plan involved creating the Ionian State in İzmir. A parallel initiative aimed to establish an autonomous entity centered in Bursa. A meeting was held at Bursa Municipality with religious leaders to discuss the nature of this autonomy. Aziz Nuri Bey, Director of the Bursa Immigration Office, was appointed as the proposed autonomous states first governor. Pro-autonomy rallies were organized in districts with significant Greek populations, such as Mustafa Kemal Paşa, Gemlik, and Karacabey. This study examines the Greek attempts to create an autonomous administration in Bursa during the Turkish War of Independence. It draws on archival documents from the Presidential State Archives and the Military History Directorate, as well as memoirs and periodicals of the period. The findings show that the Greeks aimed to control Bursa and its surroundings through political means after military failure. However, these efforts were ultimately thwarted by the victories of the Turkish National Movement under Mustafa Kemal Pashas leadership.

 After their defeat by the Turkish army at the Battle of Sakarya, it became clear that the Greeks could no longer maintain control in Anatolia. In an attempt to preserve their presence, the Greek government sought to establish autonomous administrations in certain regions. The first such plan involved creating the Ionian State in İzmir. A parallel initiative aimed to establish an autonomous entity centered in Bursa. A meeting was held at Bursa Municipality with religious leaders to discuss the nature of this autonomy. Aziz Nuri Bey, Director of the Bursa Immigration Office, was appointed as the proposed autonomous states first governor. Pro-autonomy rallies were organized in districts with significant Greek populations, such as Mustafa Kemal Paşa, Gemlik, and Karacabey. This study examines the Greek attempts to create an autonomous administration in Bursa during the Turkish War of Independence. It draws on archival documents from the Presidential State Archives and the Military History Directorate, as well as memoirs and periodicals of the period. The findings show that the Greeks aimed to control Bursa and its surroundings through political means after military failure. However, these efforts were ultimately thwarted by the victories of the Turkish National Movement under Mustafa Kemal Pashas leadership.

 After their defeat by the Turkish army at the Battle of Sakarya, it became clear that the Greeks could no longer maintain control in Anatolia. In an attempt to preserve their presence, the Greek government sought to establish autonomous administrations in certain regions. The first such plan involved creating the Ionian State in İzmir. A parallel initiative aimed to establish an autonomous entity centered in Bursa. A meeting was held at Bursa Municipality with religious leaders to discuss the nature of this autonomy. Aziz Nuri Bey, Director of the Bursa Immigration Office, was appointed as the proposed autonomous states first governor. Pro-autonomy rallies were organized in districts with significant Greek populations, such as Mustafa Kemal Paşa, Gemlik, and Karacabey. This study examines the Greek attempts to create an autonomous administration in Bursa during the Turkish War of Independence. It draws on archival documents from the Presidential State Archives and the Military History Directorate, as well as memoirs and periodicals of the period. The findings show that the Greeks aimed to control Bursa and its surroundings through political means after military failure. However, these efforts were ultimately thwarted by the victories of the Turkish National Movement under Mustafa Kemal Pashas leadership.

 Sakarya Meydan Muharebesinde Türk ordusuna yenilen Yunanlıların Anadoluda tutunamayacağı anlaşılmıştı. Bunun üzerine Yunan Hükümeti, Anadoludaki bazı şehirlerde muhtar idareler kurarak işgalini sürdürmek istedi. Bu hususta ilk olarak İzmirde İyonya Devletinin kurulması kararlaştırıldı. Yunanlılar, İyonya Devletine koşut olarak Bursa merkezli bir muhtar devlet daha kurmak amacındaydı. Bu kapsamda, Bursa Belediyesinde bütün dini temsilcilerin katıldığı bir toplantı yapılarak, muhtariyetin şeklinin nasıl olacağı konuşuldu. Ardından Yunanlılar, Bursada muhtar devletin ilk valisi olarak Bursa Vilayet Göçmen Müdürü Aziz Nuri Beyi atadı. Daha sonra Bursanın Mustafa Kemal Paşa, Gemlik ve Karacabey gibi Rum nüfusun olduğu ilçelerinde muhtariyet mitingleri düzenlendi. Yunanlıların muhtar devlet kurma çabaları, Mustafa Kemal Paşanın liderliğindeki Türk ordusunun Anadoluda kazandığı zaferle son buldu. Bu çalışmada, Millî Mücadele döneminde Yunanlıların Bursa ve çevresinde muhtar bir idare kurmaya yönelik girişimleri ile bu süreçte yaşanan gelişmeler ele alınmaktadır. Araştırma, Cumhurbaşkanlığı Devlet Arşivleri Başkanlığı ile Millî Savunma Bakanlığı Arşivi ve Askeri Tarih Daire Başkanlığı ATASE Arşivinden temin edilen belgeler ile dönemi yansıtan tetkik eserler, hatıratlar ve süreli yayınlar temel alınarak yürütülmüştür. Elde edilen bulgular, Yunanlıların askeri yöntemlerle elde tutamadıkları Bursa ve çevresini siyasi ve idari yollarla kontrol altına almayı hedeflediklerini; ancak Mustafa Kemal Paşa önderliğinde yürütülen Millî Mücadele sayesinde bu amacın gerçekleşemediğini ortaya koymaktadır.

Article Details

The Greek Attempt to Establish an Autonomous Administration in Bursa during the Turkish War of Independence

Authors:

Celil Bozkurt | Erdal Korkmaz

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Genel Türk Tarihi (Diğer)

Journal:

Yakın Dönem Türkiye Araştırmaları Issue 47, pp.99-113

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001355975

pISSN:

1304-9720

National Struggle

Greeks

Occupation

Bursa

AutonomyMillî Mücadele

Yunanlılar

İşgal

Bursa

Muhtariyet

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Celil Bozkurt | Erdal Korkmaz

Publisher: Istanbul University

Main Topics: Genel Türk Tarihi (Diğer)

Journal: Yakın Dönem Türkiye Araştırmaları Issue 47, pp.99-113

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001355975

pISSN: 1304-9720

Issues

Authors:

Celil Bozkurt | Erdal Korkmaz

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Genel Türk Tarihi (Diğer)

Journal:

Yakın Dönem Türkiye Araştırmaları Issue 47, pp.99-113

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001355975

pISSN:

1304-9720