Bülent Osman

Bülent Osman was born in France in 1930 and was the grandson of Naime Sultan, daughter of Sultan Abdülhamid II. His father was Sultanzâde Mehmed Câhid Osman Bey and his mother was Çerkes Levrans Hanım. On his father’s side, he was connected to the family of Gazi Osman Paşa, known in Ottoman and European military history for the defence of Plevna.

Growing up in France during the exile years of the Ottoman dynasty, Bülent Osman built his life far from the palace circle, within the world of work. He began his career at Michelin as a worker and rose to senior management. He was awarded the Légion d’honneur and the Ordre National du Mérite by France.

Bülent Osman’s life story represents a distinct example of the European generations of the Ottoman dynasty after exile. Shaped far from the palace and within modern working life, this life nevertheless maintained the family memory and its connection with Istanbul and the Fatih circle.

Before his death, he asked to be buried in the Fatih Mosque Cemetery. This wish joined both the historic cemetery around the tomb of Mehmed the Conqueror and the family memory of Gazi Osman Paşa, who is also buried in the same cemetery.

Bülent Osman died in Paris on 8 February 2017. His body was brought to Istanbul, and after the funeral prayer at Fatih Mosque he was buried in the Fatih Mosque Cemetery with the permission of the Council of Ministers.