The younger members of the Osmanoglu…

The younger members of the Osmanoglu family, heirs to the Ottoman Empire.

In 1299, Osman I founded a small principality in the northwest of what is now Anatolia, laying the foundation for what would become the Ottoman Empire, one of the greatest empires in history.

In 1453, the Ottomans captured Constantinople, marking the end of the Eastern Roman Empire and the beginning of a period of great Ottoman expansion. At its peak in the 17th century, the empire spanned over 5 million square kilometers, ranking as the 8th largest empire in territorial extent in history, stretching across regions of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

In 1922, following the end of World War I, the Ottoman Empire, already significantly weakened after nearly two centuries of defeats against other expanding empires, notably the Russian and British, was officially abolished, leading to the birth of modern Turkey.

In November 1922, Mehmed VI, the great-great-grandfather of the young individuals in the photo, left the country never to return. His descendants were only allowed to return in the 1950s and 1970s, with women returning first and men later.

The Osmanoglu family is one of the oldest dynasties in the world, with an unbroken lineage spanning over 700 years.