Editing Mehmed VI (section)

== Enthronement ==
[[File:Sultan Mehmed VI's Sword girding.jpg|thumb|Mehmed VI's [[coronation]], where he was girded the [[Sword of Osman]]]]On 3 June 1918, Talât Pasha, now the [[List of Ottoman grand viziers|Grand Vizier]], called Vahdeddin to tell him of [[Sultan Reşad]]'s death. Even though he was the crown prince and eligible to become the new Sultan as the eldest male of the Ottoman family, he was greatly shaken by the news and did not immediately accept his entitlement over this call. Later that day Talât, Enver, and Hayri, the Sheikh-ul-Islam, visited Vahdeddin in his palace, and he again wavered over becoming Sultan, suggesting they should focus on his half-brother's funeral, raising anxieties. Following a long night of contemplation, prayer, and even some sleep, Vahdeddin let Talât know he was ready to become Sultan during the funeral. They held an enthronement ceremony at [[Topkapı Palace]]. He delivered an oath to the [[General Assembly of the Ottoman Empire|National Assembly]] and [[Constitution of the Ottoman Empire|Constitution]], and he took the regal name Mehmed VI, though like his predecessor he was known by the people, and in modern Turkey, by his personal name, Vahdettin. He held his sword girding ceremony on 31 August.{{sfn|Sakaoğlu|2015|p=488}}<!-- a noteworthy drama of its own!(80) -->

Part of the reason for his hesitation was knowing that the [[World War I|Great War]] was going poorly for [[Ottoman Empire|Turkey]] and [[Central Powers|her allies]], and the compounding problems at home the CUP was inept at tackling. In addition, the last few sovereigns from his family had a bad track record ruling the empire: his uncle [[Abdulaziz|Abdul Aziz]] was deposed and died in suspicious circumstances, [[Murad V]] and [[Abdul Hamid II]] were also deposed, and [[Mehmed V]] never could wield power. He would later write that he decided to become Sultan because he believed it was his national duty and he didn't trust Abdul Mecid, but that this decision was a mistake. Sabiha recounted how her, her nurse, and her mother couldn't hold back their tears as they moved to the [[Dolmabahçe Palace]], and had to be admonished by the foremen and eunuchs to compose themselves otherwise entering the palace may bring bad luck.{{Sfn|Bardakçı|1998|p=77–78}}<ref name=":1" />