Turkish historian and public intellectual Professor Ilber Ortayli, one of the most widely recognized figures in the study of Ottoman and Turkish history, has died at the age of 78 following a period of serious health complications, APA reports, citing Türkiye Today.
The historian had recently undergone surgery and had been receiving treatment in intensive care for several days. Earlier updates shared through his official social media account had said his condition was stable and that he was being monitored by a specialized medical team.
Who was Ilber Ortayli?
Ilber Ortayli was born on May 21, 1947, in Bregenz, Austria, where his family had taken refuge after fleeing Soviet repression under Joseph Stalin.
His parents were Crimean Tatars, a Turkic Muslim community historically connected to the Crimean Peninsula.
When Ortayli was two years old, the family moved to Türkiye, where he would spend the rest of his life building a reputation as one of the country’s most prominent historians.
He grew up in a multilingual environment, learning German from his father and Russian from his mother.
Over time he became known as a polyglot scholar able to read and write in numerous languages, including Turkish, English, French, Arabic, Persian, Russian, and Ottoman Turkish, the historical form of Turkish used during the Ottoman Empire.
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