THE SWORD OF OSMAN

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 505, 12 May 1909, Page 7

THE SWORD OF OSMAN

, ■« GIRDED ON MOHAMMED V* STATELY CEREMONY IN STAMBOUL. MILITARY DISPLAY. (m TBLBOttArU—PRESS ASSOCIATION—OOrmiOHT.) Constantinople, May 10. Tho new Sultan, Mohammed V, was invested at the Mosquo of Byub with the Sword of Osman, tho founder of the Ottoman Empire. There was a great military display; Enormous crowds enthusiastically clicored the Sultan. ~■■■■■'■. ' - .- : "WORTHY OF A WARRIOR NATION." THE MOSQUE OP EYUB. The investiture took place at the Mosque of Eyiib (Job), a companion of tho Prophet, who fell in the first siego of Constantinople, 668. According to the story, to Sultan Muhinud tho Conqueror was revealed the burial pjaco of this worthy of Islam, a spot not far outside the old city walls at the north-west end, and souths of the Golden Horn. On this* spot tho Conqueror built a mosque, and around it a suburb has grown up, which is a favourite burial place of tho Turks. The coronation -. ceremony is striking in its simplicity, and worthy of a war- , rior nation. The sword of Ottoman, the founder of the house, is brought forth, and girded on the new sovereign. This must be done by a Mevlevi dervish from Konioh. Ottoman Dynasty The Ottoman Turks, who belong to the Turanian stock, also represented in Europp by the Finns and the Magyars (Hungarians), did not appear in Anatolia (Asia Minor) till about 1225, their leader being Suleiman. They settled down in the south-east under Ertogral, hie son and successor, who died in 12SS. Ottoman, or Osman, his son, born in 1259, may be regarded as tho founder of tho family, and from his name comes the term "Ottoman Turks. According to some authorities, Osman took the title of Sultan in 1299 A.D.; others say that in that year ho took the title of Emir, not of Sultan. It was not till the capture of Constantinople in 1853 that tho Ottoman sovereigns assumed the titlo of Padishah,' equivalent to Emperor, claiming thereby to be tho successor of Augustus Caesar and of Constantino, just as tho Byzantium emperors did.- And throughout Asia the Sultan of Turkey is known as the Sultan of Koum, that is, the'old Eastern Empire. . -..*. | The Khallfate. By 1518 the Ottomans had conquered half way down Arabia, inoluding Mecca and Medina, , and assumed tho coveted title of Khalif, a vice-, regent of Mahomet which is bitterly resented by the Arabs, who contend that the title can only be held by a descendant of the Prophet. This title of Khalif is the most valued one of those possessed by tho Ottoman sovereigns. "Servant" (or ilave) of Medina and Mecca and Kurds Jerusalem) is a minor title. In 1538 tho Ottoman Khalifa took; the : title of. , Sultan-es-Selatimi equivalent to the; Persian , Shah-in-Shah,. or lung of Kings. In the Europo of that age and the three centuries following, tho Sultan of Turkey was known.as tho Grand Signor,whi?h was an attempt to translate Sultan-es-Sclntiin. They still retain the old Turk'title of Khakhan; that is, Khan of Khans, or Lord of Lords. \ ■ THE EX-SULTAN AND THE KAISER. s CORRESPONDENCE FOUND. PRINCELY CLOTHES WITH -A^RICBV ■■. ■ '■"-■. ■-.LINING..-'■"-■,./■■."■■•" i .'; : / : : Constantinople, May 10. Among the papers belonging to, tho Meposod Sultan, seized at Yildiz Palace, 1 were letters from the Kaiser, and the private Imperial correspondence with Abdul Hamid during tho. Kaiser's visit-in 1898. , •"•"■ ' Documents woro also found, showing that' some reputed exiles wore Abdul Hamid's chosen agents. '."-. :'',''.- ..'"'■■" .'." Many bonds, were, discovered in tho linings of Prince Halmi's..clothes. Halmi had desired that: his , wardrobe 'should*'.be? sent to Salonika. , : . ~.,.. .... ; ... ... '-■~