The Greatest Turkish Military Leaders

This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

1 Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

Famous As: Founder of the Republic of Turkey,

Birthdate: May 19, 1881

Sun Sign: Taurus

Nationality: Turkish

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.”

2 Osman I

Famous As: Political Leader

Birthdate: 1258 AD

Nationality: Turkish

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.

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3 Hayreddin Barbarossa

Famous As: 16th Century Naval Commander

Birthdate: 1478 AD

Nationality: Turkish

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.

4 Enver Pasha

Famous As: Military Officer

Birthdate: November 22, 1881

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Nationality: Turkish

Died: August 4, 1922

Ottoman military officer Enver Pasha is remembered as one of the main figures of the Armenian Genocide. The Young Turk leader was one of the Three Pashas who ruled over the Ottoman Empire during World War I. He was killed by the Soviets during the Basmachi Revolt.

5 Piri Reis

Famous As: Ottoman Admiral, Geographer, Cartographer.

Birthdate: 1465 AD

Nationality: Turkish

Died: 1553 AD

Piri Reis was an Ottoman navigator, admiral, cartographer, and geographer. He is best remembered for his Book of Navigation, which contains maps and charts and information on navigational techniques. He gained international recognition in 1929 when a portion of his first world map was discovered at the Topkapı Palace in Turkey. Piri Reis finds mention in several popular video games.