Where is Ottoman Royal Family now?
Remembering Dündar Abdülkerim Osmanoğlu: The Last Heir of the Ottoman Dynasty
Early Life and Heritage
Dündar Abdülkerim Osmanoğlu, the final heir to the once-mighty Ottoman Empire, was born in Damascus, Syria, following the expulsion of his family from Turkey in 1924 after the abolition of the caliphate. As the grandson of Prince Mehmet Selim Efendi, son of Sultan Abdülhamid II, Dündar embodied the rich legacy of the Ottoman dynasty. His lineage traces back to Sultan Abdülmecid I, highlighting a heritage that spanned centuries and continents. Despite the dissolution of the empire, Dündar remained a symbol of the enduring spirit and historical significance of the Ottoman legacy.
Life in Exile
Throughout his 90 years, Osmanoğlu lived a life marked by resilience and adaptation. Following the exile, his father, Mehmed Abdülkerim Efendi, settled in Beirut before moving to Damascus, where he passed away in 1935. Dündar and his sister were raised in Syria, maintaining the family’s noble heritage despite living away from their ancestral homeland. In 2017, after the death of Osman Bayezid Osmanoğlu, Dündar became the head of the Ottoman family, a role he carried with dignity. His wife, Yüsra Osmanoğlu, had passed away in 2017, leaving him to reside alone in Damascus. The Ottoman descendants, scattered across the globe, seldom returned to Turkey, having established new lives abroad over the decades.
His Passing and Legacy
Late Monday, Dündar Abdülkerim Osmanoğlu passed away in Damascus at the age of 90, marking the end of an era for the Ottoman royal lineage. Orhan Osmanoğlu, a family member, announced his death on Twitter, expressing heartfelt condolences: “Father of our family and the Ottoman dynasty, our uncle Prince Dündar Abdülkerim Osmanoğlu passed away in Syria’s Damascus. May his soul rest in peace.” With his passing, his brother Harun Osmanoğlu, aged 88, has assumed the role of the head of the Ottoman family. Harun resides in Istanbul and continues to uphold the legacy of a dynasty that once ruled a vast empire. Dündar’s death not only signifies a personal loss for his family but also serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring legacy of the Ottoman Empire, whose influence continues to shape modern Turkey and its surrounding regions.
