Famous Turkish Men

Find out more about the greatest Turkish Men, including Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Elia Kazan, Orhan Pamuk, John Chrysostom and Abdullah Öcalan.
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 1 
Suleiman The Magnificent
(10th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire)
Suleiman The Magnificent
82
Birthdate: November 6, 1494
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Trabzon, Turkey
Died: September 6, 1566
Suleiman The Magnificent ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1520 to 1566 and was instrumental in the empire’s expansion, leading the conquests of Belgrade, Rhodes, and Hungary. He was a patron of art and culture, and a talented poet and goldsmith himself. He married Roxelana, a Christian-turned-Muslim from his harem.
 2 
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
(Founder of the Republic of Turkey,)
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
60
Birthdate: May 19, 1881
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Thessaloniki
Died: November 10, 1938
Kemal Atatürk, known as the founding father of the Republic of Turkey, was its first president. He unified Turkey into a secular country and invested in education and women’s rights. He also popularized the Latin-based Turkish alphabet and made minorities speak Turkish in public. His policies are known as “Kemalism.” 
 3 
Mehmed II
(Sultan of the Ottoman Empire)
Mehmed II
16
Birthdate: March 30, 1432
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Edirne, Rumelia Eyalet, Ottoman Sultanate
Died: May 3, 1481

Mehmed II reigned as the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire on two separate occasions; from 1444 to 1446 and again from 1451 to 1481. During his first reign, Mehmed II defeated the military expedition led by John Hunyadi. During his second reign, Mehmed II strengthened the Ottoman navy and conquered Constantinople at age 21, which ended the Byzantine Empire. 

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 4 
Rumi
(Persian Poet)
Rumi
60
Birthdate: September 30, 1207
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Balkh, Afghanistan
Died: December 17, 1273

Rumi was a Persian poet and Sufi mystic whose spiritual legacy has been attracting praises for the past 800 years! Often described as the best-selling and most popular poet in the US, Rumi's poems are widely read today in many countries. His poetry has influenced the literary traditions of many languages, such as Pashto, Urdu, Chagatai, and Ottoman Turkish.

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 5 
Osman I
(Political Leader)
Osman I
37
Birthdate: 1258 AD
Birthplace: Söğüt, Turkey
Died: August 1, 1326

Osman I was the founder of the Ottoman dynasty, which ruled the Ottoman Empire between 1299 and 1922. One of the most important historical figures in Turkey, Osman I is often depicted in popular culture. Interestingly, he is also one of the least documented leaders of the Ottoman Turks, making the factual information of his biographies questionable.

 6 
Can Yaman
(Actor)
Can Yaman
17
Birthdate: November 8, 1989
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Istanbul, Turkey
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 7 
Ertuğrul
(Turkish Chieftain Who was the Father of Osman I, the Founder of the Ottoman Empire)
Ertuğrul
12
Birthplace: Ahlat, Turkey
Died: 1280 AD
 8 
Hayreddin Barbarossa
(Ottoman Navy Admiral )
Hayreddin Barbarossa
15
Birthdate: 1478 AD
Birthplace: Paleokipos, Greece
Died: July 4, 1546
Remembered as the Pirate of Algiers and Redbeard, legendary Hayreddin Barbarossa from Lesbos, along with his brother Oruç, plundered ships and ports, terrorizing the Mediterranean coast. His exploits led him to become the admiral of the Ottoman Navy. His victory at Preveza remains his most celebrated one.
 9 
Mahmud of Ghazni
(Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire from 998 to 1030)
Mahmud of Ghazni
35
Birthdate: November 2, 0971
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Ghazni, Afghanistan
Died: April 30, 1030

Mahmud of Ghazni was the sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire on two separate occasions. He first ascended the throne upon the death of his father, Mahmud, in 1030. However, he was soon overthrown by his twin brother Ma'sud I. Years later, he was reinstated as sultan but was soon executed by his nephew Maw'dud. His entire family was also killed. 

 10 
Ahmed I
(Ottoman Emperor)
Ahmed I
16
Birthdate: April 18, 1590
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Manisa, Turkey
Died: November 22, 1617
Ahmed I reigned as the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1603 till 1617. He ended the Ottoman tradition of royal fratricide upon taking over the throne. He constructed the iconic Blue Mosque of Turkey. He also patronized art, especially calligraphy, and wrote poems under the pseudonym Bahti.
 11 
Uğur Şahin
(He is the CEO of BioNTech, which developed one of the major vaccines against COVID-19)
Uğur Şahin
12
Birthdate: September 19, 1965
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: İskenderun, Hatay Province, Turkey
 12 
Selim I
(ottoman Sultan)
Selim I
15
Birthdate: October 10, 1470
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Amasya, Ottoman Empire, Turkey
Died: September 22, 1520

Selim I reigned as the ninth Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Although his reign lasted only eight years, Selim I is credited for the vast expansion of the Ottoman Empire; his conquest of the entire Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt is widely regarded as his best achievement. A hardworking ruler, Selim was one of the most respected emperors of the Empire.

 13 
Abdul Hamid II
(Sultan of the Ottoman Empire)
Abdul Hamid II
15
Birthdate: September 21, 1842
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Istanbul Eyalet
Died: February 10, 1918
 14 
Kivanc Tatlitug
(Film actor)
Kivanc Tatlitug
5
Birthdate: October 27, 1983
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Adana, Turkey
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 15 
Engin Altan Duzyatan
(Actor)
Engin Altan Duzyatan
9
Birthdate: July 26, 1979
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Karşıyaka, İzmir Province İzmir, Turkey
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 16 
Caracalla
(Roman emperor)
Caracalla
5
Birthdate: April 4, 0188
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Lugdunum
Died: April 8, 0217
 17 
Constantine XI Palaiologos
(The Last Byzantine Ruler Who Died Defending Constantinople against the Turks)
Constantine XI Palaiologos
8
Birthdate: February 8, 1405
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Istanbul, Turkey
Died: May 29, 1453

The fourth son of Emperor Manuel II, Constantine XI Palaiologos was the last Byzantine emperor. He died in combat, while defending the city of Constantinople against the Ottoman Turks. In Greek folklore, he is known as the Marble Emperor, referring to a legend that he had turned into marble after his death.

 18 
Murad III
(Ottoman Sultan)
Murad III
10
Birthdate: July 4, 1546
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Manisa, Turkey
Died: December 31, 1595
Murad III, son of Şehzade Selim and Nurbanu Sultan, was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1574 to 1595. He was dominated by his mother and his harem, particularly by his favorite wife, Safiye Sultan. He also fought wars with the Safavid Empire and was an art connoisseur.
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 19 
Mehmed III
(Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1595-1603))
Mehmed III
5
Birthdate: May 26, 1566
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Manisa, Turkey
Died: December 22, 1603

Mehmed III reigned as the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 16 January 1595 until his death on 22 December 1603. He is best remembered for his role in the Long Turkish War, where he successfully led his army at the all-important Battle of Keresztes. Also remembered for his diplomacy, Mehmed III established communications with the court of Elizabeth I. 

 20 
Barıs Arduc
(Turkish Actor Best Known for His Role as ‘Tekin Atan’ in the TV Series ‘Racon: Ailem İçin’)
Barıs Arduc
24
Birthdate: October 9, 1987
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Münsterlingen, Switzerland

Barış Arduç is a Swiss-born Turkish actor best known for his portrayal of Ömer İplikçi in the romantic drama TV series Kiralık Aşk for which he won a couple of Golden Butterfly TV Awards. Also a humanitarian, Arduç has been serving as a goodwill ambassador for an organization called Life Without Cancer Society of Turkey since 2016.

 21 
Arda Turan
(Turkish Football Manager and Former Football Player Who Played Most Notably as a Winger)
Arda Turan
21
Birthdate: January 30, 1987
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 22 
Ibn Taymiyyah
(Scholar)
Ibn Taymiyyah
8
Birthdate: January 22, 1263
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Harran, Turkey
Died: September 26, 1328
 23 
Mehmed IV
(Sultan of the Ottoman Empire)
Mehmed IV
4
Birthdate: January 2, 1642
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Topkapı Palace, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
Died: January 6, 1693

Mehmed IV reigned as the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 8 August 1648 to 8 November 1687. After ascending the throne at age six following the dethronement of his father in a coup, Mehmed IV went on to become the second-longest reigning emperor in the history of the Ottoman Empire after Suleiman the Magnificent.

 24 
Cedi Osman
(Basketball player)
Cedi Osman
8
Birthdate: April 8, 1995
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Ohrid, North Macedonia Macedonia
Height: 6'7" (201 cm)
 25 
Bayezid I
(Sultan of Ottoman Empire)
Bayezid I
5
Birthdate: 1354 AD
Birthplace: Edirne, Turkey
Died: March 8, 1403

Bayezid I reigned as the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1389 to 1402. He is credited with building one of the largest armies of the world, with which he defeated the Crusaders at Nicopolis in 1396. His only defeat at the Battle of Ankara, which turned out to be fatal, became a subject for writers, painters, and composers.

 26 
Burak Yılmaz
(Turkish Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Forward)
Burak Yılmaz
7
Birthdate: July 15, 1985
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Antalya, Turkey
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 27 
Pliny the Younger
(Author, Lawyer)
Pliny the Younger
4
Birthdate: 0061 AD
Birthplace: Como
Died: 0112 AD

Pliny the Younger was an author, lawyer, and magistrate of Ancient Rome. Although Pliny the Younger wrote several letters, only 247 of them have survived and are of great historical value as they provide an insight into the relationship between provincial governors and the imperial office at that time.

 28 
Ali Kemal
(Minister of the Interior of the Ottoman Empire in 1919)
Ali Kemal
5
Birthdate: September 7, 1867
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Fatih, Turkey
Died: November 6, 1922

Ali Kemal was a Turkish journalist, poet, newspaper editor, government official, and liberal-leaning politician. He is best remembered for his brief service as the Minister of the Interior of the Ottoman Empire in 1919. During the Turkish War of Independence, Ali Kemal was assassinated by paramilitary officers.

 29 
Murad II
(Ottoman Sultan)
Murad II
2
Birthdate: 1404
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Amasya
Died: February 3, 1451
 30 
Mehmed V
(Ottoman King)
Mehmed V
5
Birthdate: November 2, 1844
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Topkapi Palace Museum, İstanbul, Turkey
Died: July 3, 1918

Mehmed V was the 35th and penultimate Ottoman Sultan who reigned from 1909 to 1918. One of the sons of Sultan Abdulmejid I, he succeeded his brother Abdul Hamid II after the Young Turk revolution. His reign was marked by the loss of the empire’s many territories and witnessed the Ottoman Empire’s entry into World War I.

 31 
Çağatay Ulusoy
(Model)
Çağatay Ulusoy
13
Birthdate: September 23, 1990
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bakırköy, İstanbul, Turkey
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 32 
Mahmud II
(Sultan of Ottoman Empire)
Mahmud II
7
Birthdate: July 20, 1785
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: İstanbul, Turkey
Died: July 1, 1839

Mahmud II reigned as the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1808 to 1839. His reign was marked by the extensive military, administrative, and fiscal reforms which he initiated. The reforms that he initiated eventually led to the formation of the modern Turkish Republic. He is also credited with rebuilding a strong naval force for the empire.

 33 
Orhan Pamuk
(Turkish Novelist and Recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature)
Orhan Pamuk
8
Birthdate: June 7, 1952
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Istanbul, Turkey

Orhan Pamuk is a Turkish novelist, screenwriter, and academic. He is the recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature. One of the best-known writers from Turkey, he has sold over 13 million books in 63 languages. He began writing in the 1970s and is the author of several novels and non-fiction works in both English and Turkish. 

 34 
Ibrahim of the Ottoman Empire
(Sultan)
Ibrahim of the Ottoman Empire
3
Birthdate: November 4, 1615
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: İstanbul, Turkey
Died: August 18, 1648
 35 
Osman II
(Sultan of the Ottoman Empire)
Osman II
4
Birthdate: November 3, 1604
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: İstanbul, Turkey
Died: May 20, 1622

Osman II reigned as the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1618 until his regicide in 1622. Despite becoming the emperor at the young age of 14, Osman II sought to exercise his powers as a ruler. Renowned for his bravery, Osman II led the Ottoman campaign against Sigismund III, the King of Poland, during the Moldavian Magnate Wars. 

 36 
Naim Suleymanoglu
(Bulgarian World Champion Weightlifter and 3-Time Olympic Gold Medalist)
Naim Suleymanoglu
7
Birthdate: January 23, 1967
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Ptichar, Bulgaria
Died: November 18, 2017

Nicknamed The Pocket Hercules for his 4’10” frame, Bulgarian weightlifter Naim Suleymanoglu was one of the world’s greatest in the sport. While he initially won 2 World Championships for Bulgaria, he later won 3 Olympic gold medals and 5 World Championships for Turkey. He has also joined the Nationalist Movement Party.

 37 
Abdülmecid I
(Sultan of the Ottoman Empire)
Abdülmecid I
2
Birthdate: April 23, 1823
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: İstanbul Eyaleti
Died: June 25, 1861

Abdülmecid I reigned as the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 2 July 1839 until his death on 25 June 1861. During his reign, Abdülmecid I tried to set up alliances with France and the United Kingdom. He also played an important role in the Crimean War against the Russians.

 38 
Ahmet Ertegün
(Co-founder and president of Atlantic Records)
Ahmet Ertegün
3
Birthdate: July 31, 1923
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: İstanbul, Turkey
Died: December 14, 2006
 39 
Hamdi Ulukaya
(Entrepreneur)
Hamdi Ulukaya
4
Birthdate: October 26, 1972
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Erzincan, Turkey

Hamdi Ulukaya is a Turkish businessman, activist, and philanthropist. He is the founder, owner, chairman, and CEO of Chobani, a company specializing in strained yogurt. Born in Turkey, he immigrated to US as a young man and established his yogurt empire there with no prior experience in the yogurt business. He is also known for donating generously to various causes.

 40 
Mehmed I
(Sultan of the Ottoman Empire)
Mehmed I
1
Birthdate: 1389 AD
Birthplace: Bursa, Turkey
Died: May 26, 1421

Mehmed I reigned as the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 5 July 1413 until his death on 26 May 1421. Prior to his reign as the emperor of the Ottoman Empire, Mehmed I ruled as the Sultan of Anatolia from 1403 to 1413. Nicknamed The Restorer, Mehmed I is credited with re-establishing central authority in Anatolia.

 41 
Alperen Şengün
(Basketball player)
Alperen Şengün
2
Birthdate: July 25, 2002
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Giresun, Turkey
Height: 6'10" (208 cm)
 42 
Cenk Uygur
(Political Commentator & Creator and Host of 'The Young Turks')
Cenk Uygur
13
Birthdate: March 21, 1970
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: İstanbul, Turkey

Cenk Uygur is a Turkish-American journalist, attorney, media host, and political commentator. He is credited with creating a commentary and sociopolitical news program titled The Young Turks (TYT). He is also credited with co-founding Justice Democrats, a progressive political action committee in the United States.

 43 
Hakan Şükür
(Turkish Former Professional Footballer Who Played as a Striker)
Hakan Şükür
1
Birthdate: September 1, 1971
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Sapanca, Turkey
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 44 
Selim II
(Sultan of the Ottoman Empire)
Selim II
15
Birthdate: May 28, 1524
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Topkapi Palace Museum, İstanbul, Turkey
Died: December 15, 1574

Known as a generous Ottoman monarch, Selim II was the successor of the empire’s longest-reigning sultan, Suleiman I. His reign saw his navy decisively defeated by the Holy League in the Battle of Lepanto before the Ottomans regained control of Tunis from Spain. Selim, who was married to Nurbanu Sultan, was noted for helping his subjects during a severe famine.

 45 
Tarkan
(Singer-songwriter)
Tarkan
5
Birthdate: October 17, 1972
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Alzey
 46 
Cengiz Coskun
(Actor Model)
Cengiz Coskun
5
Birthdate: April 29, 1982
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Istanbul, Turkey
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 47 
Ersan Ilyasova
(Basketball player)
Ersan Ilyasova
1
Birthdate: May 15, 1987
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Eskişehir, Turkey
Height: 6'10" (208 cm)
 48 
Nasreddin
(Philosopher)
Nasreddin
0
Birthdate: 1208 AD
Birthplace: Nasrettinhoca, Sivrihisar
Died: 1284 AD
 49 
Orhan
(The 2nd ruler of the Ottoman Dynasty)
Orhan
0
Birthdate: 1281 AD
Birthplace: Söğüt, Turkey
Died: February 29, 1362
Ottoman sultan Orhan I was the 2nd ruler of the Ottoman dynasty and the son of Osman I, the founder of the dynasty. He spent most of his reign trying to capture the regions of Anatolia occupied by the Byzantines. He built mosques and theological institutes, too.
 50 
İsmet İnönü
(Turkey's 2nd President and 1st Prime Minister)
İsmet İnönü
3
Birthdate: September 24, 1884
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: İzmir, Turkey
Died: December 25, 1973

The 2nd president of Turkey, İsmet İnönü had also been a 3-time prime minister of the country. Previously an efficient military commander, who had fought in World War I and the Greco-Turkish War, he later led the Republican People's Party in Turkey’s one-party state. He had also been Turkey's foreign affairs minister.