Çerkes Ethem
Çerkes Ethem (1886 – 21 September 1948), known in English as Ethem the Circassian, was a Circassian Ottoman guerilla leader, social bandit, efe and soldier. He initially gained fame for establishing the Kuva-yi Seyyare and putting down multiple large-scale rebellions and gaining key major victories against the Greek armies invading Anatolia during the Turkish War of Independence.
Çerkes Ethem | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1886 Bandırma, Hüdavendigâr Vilayet, Ottoman Empire (present-day Balıkesir, Turkey) |
| Died | September 21, 1948 (aged 61–62) Amman, Jordan |
| Buried | Cemetery of Habjouka in Al-Misdar, Amman, Jordan |
| Allegiance | Ottoman Empire (1900-1919) Ankara Government (1919-1920) |
| Service/ | Kuva-yi Seyyare |
| Battles/wars | Balkan Wars World War I Turkish War of Independence |
| Alma mater | Bakırköy Cavalry Junior Officer School |
| Relations | House of Dipsheu |
In time, as Ethem's Islamic socialist views clashed with the Turkish nationalism of the Turkish National movement, he cut ties with them to act independently, and was later attacked and defeated by İsmet İnönü. İnönü later claimed that Ethem subsequently cooperated with the Greek army, a claim which has been rejected by Ethem himself and disputed by most historians.