18 Facts About Mehmed V

Mehmed V Resad reigned as the 35th and penultimate Ottoman Sultan.

Mehmed V reigned as a constitutional monarch, interfering little when it came to government affairs, though the constitution was held with little respect by his governments.

Mehmed V had three elder sisters, Fatma Sultan, Refia Sultan and Hatice Sultan.

Mehmed V had asked Abdulmejid to take the motherless children under her wing, and raise as her own, and carried out the duties of a mother who cares for her children with compassion and concern.

Mehmed V studied Arabic and Persian, and spoke the latter very well.

Mehmed V took piano lessons from an Italian pianist and calligraphy lessons from a famous Ottoman calligrapher, Kazasker Mustafa Izzet Efendi, who designed the giant pendant medallions of the Hagia Sophia.

Mehmed V's reign began at the conclusion of the 31 March Incident on 27 April 1909, but he was largely a figurehead with no real political power, as a consequence of the demonstration of the CUP's power in the 31 March Incident and the Young Turk Revolution.

At the age of 64, Mehmed V was the oldest person to ascend the Ottoman throne.

Mehmed V visited Uskup and Pristine, where he attended Friday prayers at the Tomb of Sultan Murad.

Mehmed V was actually said to look with disfavour on the pro-German policy of Enver Pasha, but could do little to prevent war due to the sultanate's diminished influence since the overthrow of Abdulhamid II in 1909.

Mehmed V hosted Kaiser Wilhelm II, his World War I ally, in Constantinople on 15 October 1917.

Mehmed V was made Generalfeldmarschall of the Kingdom of Prussia on 27 January 1916, and of the German Empire on 1 February 1916.

Mehmed V was made Generalfeldmarschall of Austria-Hungary on 19 May 1918.

Le Petit Journal, Mehmed V is proclaimed Sultan in 1909.

Mehmed V's grave is in the Eyup district of modern Istanbul.

The turbe of Mehmed V is located near the Eyup Sultan Mosque in Eyup, Istanbul.

Mehmed V had a small harem, as well as few children.

Mehmed V was the only sultan not to take new consorts after his accession to the throne.