Kenan Evren
Who was Kenan Evren?
Turkish military officer who led the 1980 military coup and served as President from 1982 to 1989 during a period of military rule.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Kenan Evren (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Ahmet Kenan Evren was born on July 17, 1917, in Kula, a district in the Manisa province of western Turkey. He received a military education at Balıkesir Lisesi, Maltepe Military High School, and the Turkish Military Academy. He later continued his training at the School of Artillery and Missiles and the Army War Institute. Throughout his career in the Turkish Armed Forces, he rose steadily through the ranks and eventually became Chief of the General Staff in 1978, the top military position in the country. He was married to Sekine Evren for much of his adult life.
Before Fame
Evren grew up during the early years of the Turkish Republic, a state that had risen from the ruins of the Ottoman Empire not long before he was born. Influenced by Kemalist ideology, which put the military at the heart of national identity and political life, he followed a path common to many ambitious young men of his time by enrolling in military preparatory schools. His journey through military academies and training programs gave him both tactical skills and a broad understanding of the Turkish armed forces, setting the stage for his rise to the top of the military ranks.
Key Achievements
- Led the military coup of 12 September 1980 that overthrew the elected government of Prime Minister Süleyman Demirel
- Served as the 7th President of Turkey from 1982 to 1989 following the transition to a controlled civilian government
- Oversaw the drafting and ratification of the 1982 Turkish Constitution, which restructured the country's political framework
- Received the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, one of the United Kingdom's highest honors
- Attained the rank of Army General and served as Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces from 1978 to 1983
Did You Know?
- 01.On 18 June 2014, at the age of 96, Evren was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the 1980 coup, making him one of the oldest individuals ever sentenced in a Turkish court.
- 02.His military rank was posthumously demoted from Army General all the way down to private as part of his criminal sentencing, a rare and symbolic punishment.
- 03.Evren received the Gold Olympic Order in 1987, an award presented by the International Olympic Committee to individuals who have rendered distinguished service to the Olympic movement.
- 04.He was awarded the Atatürk International Peace Prize in 1990, an honor that drew international criticism given his record of authoritarian governance following the 1980 coup.
- 05.The 1982 Turkish constitution, drafted and ratified under his oversight during military rule, remained in use with significant amendments for decades after his presidency ended.
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Olympic Order | 1987 | — |
| Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath | — | — |
| Atatürk International Peace Prize | 1990 | — |