Atatürk and Dolmabahçe Palace

In his life, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was a soldier, politician, and rebel leader. He started the Republic of Turkey and was its first president. People look up to him as the "father" of modern Turkey because he led the country through the Turkish War of Independence and then made changes that made the country more modern.

After World War I, the Allies took over parts of the Ottoman Empire. Atatürk became the leader of the Turkish fight against them. He was in charge of several successful military operations, the most important of which was the decisive victory at the Battle of Dumlupınar in 1922. This win protected Turkey's independence and kept the Ottoman Empire from falling apart.

The impact of Atatürk is complicated and debated. Many people respect his ability to lead, his vision, and his commitment to the Turkish people. But he is also criticised for being too authoritarian and for making it hard for people to speak out against him while he was in power.
No matter what, Atatürk is still a very important person in Turkish history. Secularism, republicanism, and populism were some of his main ideas that still shape Turkish society and are at the heart of Kemalism, the country's official philosophy.

After the Republic of Turkey was officially formed in 1923, Atatürk started living in Dolmabahce Palace as his summer home. Until his health got worse in 1938, he would work and rest at the palace during the summers. He spent his last days at the house and died there on November 10, 1938.

• Location: The house was on the European side of the Bosphorus Strait, so it had beautiful views and a nice breeze in the summer.
• Length: Atatürk had plenty of room to work, hold official meetings, and treat guests on the large grounds and in the many rooms.
• Symbolism: Dolmabahce Palace stood for the splendour and power of the Ottoman Empire. Atatürk wanted to bring it up to date while keeping its historical value.

Atatürk had a simple room in the part of the house that used to be the harem. This choice showed how simple his life was and how much he disliked showing off his money. He also did business in a number of other rooms, such as:

• The Yellow Drawing Room is where state leaders and foreign dignitaries meet.
• The Red Drawing Room: This is where public receptions and social events are held.
• The Council Chamber: Was for where meetings with advisers and cabinet members take place.