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SINKING OF THE OTTOMAN FRIGATE ERTUGRUL IN JAPAN, 16 SEPTEMBER 1890
(600 NAVAL MARTYRS OF OTTOMAN EMPIRE IN JAPAN)
Facebook: OTTOMAN HISTORY PICTURE ARCHIVES
The Ertugrul Frigate, which departed from İstanbul on July 14, 1889, upon the decree of Sultan Abdulhamid II, continued its travel by visiting the ports along the route. The crew was carefully selected by navy officials and comprised 44 officers, 14 engineers, 591 sailors, five civilian experts and a poet, 655 men in total. The vessel was welcomed by the Muslims living in the visited places. Large groups head to the frigate to see what is inside. Eleven months after departure the frigate arrives in Japan. The date is June 7, 1890, when the vessel arrives in Yokohama port in Japan. This was also a sign of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Ottoman state. Magnificent ceremonies were held there to welcome the frigate's crew. The frigate commander, Adm. Osman Pasha, was received by Emperor Meiji. Osman Pasha conveyed the Ottoman Empire's good wishes. The Ertugrul's crew was received hospitably by the Japanese people. While cannons were sounding the salute, Japanese people rushed to see the Ottoman ship.
In response to a visit of friendship paid by the uncle of the Japanese Emperor to İstanbul in 1887, Sultan Abdulhamid II ordered a reciprocal visit. The Ertugrul, constructed at the İstanbul shipyards, was able to move both by sail and by steam engine. The primary means of movement was, however, the sail. The engine was supplemental. It was a wooden vessel with a weight of 2,400 tons and was 25 years old. One year prior to its final journey, its wooden parts were repaired, but its machinery and boilers remained untouched. The delegation leader was Col. Osman Bey and the vessel’s commander was Lt. Col. Ali Bey. That year young lieutenants who graduated from the naval college were assigned to duty on the vessel. The frigate was charged with carrying valuable gifts from Sultan Abdulhamid II for the Japanese Emperor while young graduates would also have the opportunity to further their experience on the open seas. At the same time, the power and strength of the Ottoman Empire would be displayed. It would also be stressed that Muslims living in different parts of the world were not alone. The caliph and sultan’s determination and will to protect Muslims throughout the world would be demonstrated. During the journey of the frigate, Col. Osman was promoted to the rank of admiral.
During the course of its long trip to Japan, the ship had a couple of small accidents in Suez. But these were minor and it carried on with its journey, passing through Jeddah, Aden, Bombay, Singapore and finally Japan. Muslims in all these ports welcomed the Ertugrul most warmly.
Ertugrul's visit was a show of force against Great Britain, indicating the Ottoman Empire's spiritual control over the colonized Muslim population. The ports the Ertugrul frigate anchored in during the course of its trip were specially chosen. Official correspondence reveals that the frigate was ordered to stop in those areas where there was a great Muslim population, in a way threatening the order Great Britain had established in these areas. The crew was also ordered to participate in communal prayers.
The reports by Osman Pasha show that the Ertugrul crew was received quite warmly by local Muslim populations. Colorful welcoming ceremonies were held and people cheered for the caliphate. Therefore, Ertugrul's visit was a means to show Great Britain that the Muslim world was still unified and the caliphate still enjoyed firm control over the Muslim population of the world.
The Ertugrul's journey illustrated how successful Sultan Abdulhamid was in pursuing a foreign policy of preserving the Ottoman Empire in the face of continuous threats from the great powers.
The Japanese Emperor welcomed the Ottoman admiral and the delegation in a glorious ceremony when the Ertugrul arrived in Tokyo. The local people joyously and admiringly watched the Ottoman admiral and the delegation during their tour on the royal vessel. The delegation was received by the queen after briefly meeting with the Japanese emperor.
After a three-month visit to Japan, Ertugrul set sail from Yokohama for Istanbul on September 15, 1890 at noon. The very good weather conditions at the departure changed the next day in the morning. A reverse wind began to blow, getting stronger towards evening. By nightfall, the wind came from below the bow so that the sails had to be folded. The 40 m (130 ft) high mizzen mast collapsed.. While the storm continued gaining power, waves coming from the bow separated the deck boards from the front.
Despite all the efforts, the ship's disintegration was imminent and the only option was seeking sanctuary in a nearby port. They headed to Kobe, within 10 miles of the ship, in the gulf beyond the Kashinozaki Cape with Oshima Lighthouse. Seawater breaking through finally extinguished one of the furnaces in the engine room. Almost immobile without main sails and sufficient propulsion, and having only the wind and the waves behind, Ertugrul drifted towards the dangerous rocks at the eastern coast of Oshima Island. As the crew tried just to stop the ship before the rocks by emergency anchoring, the ship hit the reefs and fell apart at the first impact around midnight on September 18, 1890. Nearly 600 crew members, including Adm. Osman, died in this tragic incident.
This disaster helped establish the historical friendship between Japan and Ottoman (and then Turkey). The efforts made by the Japanese villagers in the surrounding area to rescue survivors and search for the bodies of the dead was amazing. The mayor of Oshima and other prominent people on the island worked hard to provide treatment for the survivors. A ship sent by the Japanese Navy took part in the efforts to collect the bodies of the dead.
Nurses and doctors were ordered by Emperor Meiji to go to Oshima to help look after the survivors. His Imperial Majesty Meiji also assigned a Japanese warship to take the survivors back home. The crew of the Japanese warship bringing the survivors to Istanbul were received most warmly. They stayed for 40 days in Istanbul as the guests of His Imperial Majesty Abdulhamid II and Dolmabahce Palace was given over to them.
The Ertugrul Frigate still has not been forgotten in the Japan and still live as a sign of friendship..
(600 NAVAL MARTYRS OF OTTOMAN EMPIRE IN JAPAN)
Facebook: OTTOMAN HISTORY PICTURE ARCHIVES
The Ertugrul Frigate, which departed from İstanbul on July 14, 1889, upon the decree of Sultan Abdulhamid II, continued its travel by visiting the ports along the route. The crew was carefully selected by navy officials and comprised 44 officers, 14 engineers, 591 sailors, five civilian experts and a poet, 655 men in total. The vessel was welcomed by the Muslims living in the visited places. Large groups head to the frigate to see what is inside. Eleven months after departure the frigate arrives in Japan. The date is June 7, 1890, when the vessel arrives in Yokohama port in Japan. This was also a sign of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Ottoman state. Magnificent ceremonies were held there to welcome the frigate's crew. The frigate commander, Adm. Osman Pasha, was received by Emperor Meiji. Osman Pasha conveyed the Ottoman Empire's good wishes. The Ertugrul's crew was received hospitably by the Japanese people. While cannons were sounding the salute, Japanese people rushed to see the Ottoman ship.
In response to a visit of friendship paid by the uncle of the Japanese Emperor to İstanbul in 1887, Sultan Abdulhamid II ordered a reciprocal visit. The Ertugrul, constructed at the İstanbul shipyards, was able to move both by sail and by steam engine. The primary means of movement was, however, the sail. The engine was supplemental. It was a wooden vessel with a weight of 2,400 tons and was 25 years old. One year prior to its final journey, its wooden parts were repaired, but its machinery and boilers remained untouched. The delegation leader was Col. Osman Bey and the vessel’s commander was Lt. Col. Ali Bey. That year young lieutenants who graduated from the naval college were assigned to duty on the vessel. The frigate was charged with carrying valuable gifts from Sultan Abdulhamid II for the Japanese Emperor while young graduates would also have the opportunity to further their experience on the open seas. At the same time, the power and strength of the Ottoman Empire would be displayed. It would also be stressed that Muslims living in different parts of the world were not alone. The caliph and sultan’s determination and will to protect Muslims throughout the world would be demonstrated. During the journey of the frigate, Col. Osman was promoted to the rank of admiral.
During the course of its long trip to Japan, the ship had a couple of small accidents in Suez. But these were minor and it carried on with its journey, passing through Jeddah, Aden, Bombay, Singapore and finally Japan. Muslims in all these ports welcomed the Ertugrul most warmly.
Ertugrul's visit was a show of force against Great Britain, indicating the Ottoman Empire's spiritual control over the colonized Muslim population. The ports the Ertugrul frigate anchored in during the course of its trip were specially chosen. Official correspondence reveals that the frigate was ordered to stop in those areas where there was a great Muslim population, in a way threatening the order Great Britain had established in these areas. The crew was also ordered to participate in communal prayers.
The reports by Osman Pasha show that the Ertugrul crew was received quite warmly by local Muslim populations. Colorful welcoming ceremonies were held and people cheered for the caliphate. Therefore, Ertugrul's visit was a means to show Great Britain that the Muslim world was still unified and the caliphate still enjoyed firm control over the Muslim population of the world.
The Ertugrul's journey illustrated how successful Sultan Abdulhamid was in pursuing a foreign policy of preserving the Ottoman Empire in the face of continuous threats from the great powers.
The Japanese Emperor welcomed the Ottoman admiral and the delegation in a glorious ceremony when the Ertugrul arrived in Tokyo. The local people joyously and admiringly watched the Ottoman admiral and the delegation during their tour on the royal vessel. The delegation was received by the queen after briefly meeting with the Japanese emperor.
After a three-month visit to Japan, Ertugrul set sail from Yokohama for Istanbul on September 15, 1890 at noon. The very good weather conditions at the departure changed the next day in the morning. A reverse wind began to blow, getting stronger towards evening. By nightfall, the wind came from below the bow so that the sails had to be folded. The 40 m (130 ft) high mizzen mast collapsed.. While the storm continued gaining power, waves coming from the bow separated the deck boards from the front.
Despite all the efforts, the ship's disintegration was imminent and the only option was seeking sanctuary in a nearby port. They headed to Kobe, within 10 miles of the ship, in the gulf beyond the Kashinozaki Cape with Oshima Lighthouse. Seawater breaking through finally extinguished one of the furnaces in the engine room. Almost immobile without main sails and sufficient propulsion, and having only the wind and the waves behind, Ertugrul drifted towards the dangerous rocks at the eastern coast of Oshima Island. As the crew tried just to stop the ship before the rocks by emergency anchoring, the ship hit the reefs and fell apart at the first impact around midnight on September 18, 1890. Nearly 600 crew members, including Adm. Osman, died in this tragic incident.
This disaster helped establish the historical friendship between Japan and Ottoman (and then Turkey). The efforts made by the Japanese villagers in the surrounding area to rescue survivors and search for the bodies of the dead was amazing. The mayor of Oshima and other prominent people on the island worked hard to provide treatment for the survivors. A ship sent by the Japanese Navy took part in the efforts to collect the bodies of the dead.
Nurses and doctors were ordered by Emperor Meiji to go to Oshima to help look after the survivors. His Imperial Majesty Meiji also assigned a Japanese warship to take the survivors back home. The crew of the Japanese warship bringing the survivors to Istanbul were received most warmly. They stayed for 40 days in Istanbul as the guests of His Imperial Majesty Abdulhamid II and Dolmabahce Palace was given over to them.
The Ertugrul Frigate still has not been forgotten in the Japan and still live as a sign of friendship..