Through thousands of years of history, Konya is an ancient city that has raised countless statesmen, scientists, artists and writers. This land, once the Seljuk capital, is where many of the figures who shaped the country from the Ottoman period through to the Republic were born or brought up. Let us get to know together the notable people born in central Konya and its districts who left their mark on the city and on the country.
Notable People Born in Central Konya
Ottoman-Era Statesmen and Scholars
- Piri Mehmed Pasha (1463–1532): Grand vizier of the Ottoman Empire between 1518 and 1523. Born in Konya, he served in the reigns of Selim I and Suleiman the Magnificent.
- Karamanî Mehmed Pasha (d. 1481): Grand vizier between 1477 and 1481, in the reign of Mehmed the Conqueror. A descendant of Rumi, he was born in Konya.
Politicians and Statesmen of the Republic
- Vecdi Gönül: Served for many years as Minister of National Defence, Minister of the Interior and President of the Court of Accounts.
- Mehmet Keçeciler: Former Minister of State, Minister of the Interior and member of parliament.
- Sami Selçuk: Former First President of the Court of Cassation, a leading jurist and academic.
- İsmet Ocakçıoğlu: Former First President of the Court of Cassation.
- Uğur İbrahim Altay: Mayor of the Konya Metropolitan Municipality and President of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).
Scientists and Academics
- Korkut Boratav (b. 1935): One of Türkiye's leading Marxist economists. He taught for many years at Ankara University and has written important works on the economic history of Türkiye.
- Prof. Hikmet Birand (1904–1972): The renowned botanist and writer, known for works of nature and science writing that have become classics, such as "Anadolu Manzaraları" and "Alıç Ağacı ile Sohbetler".
- Prof. Saim Sakaoğlu (b. 1939): An academic whose monumental studies are in Turkish folklore and literature.
Film, Television and Theatre Actors
- Hazal Kaya (b. 1990): Has appeared in internationally popular productions such as "Aşk-ı Memnu", "Adını Feriha Koydum", "Bizim Hikaye" and "Midnight at the Pera Palace".
- Murat Yıldırım (b. 1979): An actor who has taken leading roles in successful series such as "Asi", "Suskunlar", "Ramo" and "Teşkilat".
- Mine Tugay (b. 1978): A theatre, television and film actor, known for series such as "Medcezir" and "Zalim İstanbul".
- Mesut Akusta (b. 1964): Noted for his character acting in productions such as "Karagül", "Kurtlar Vadisi", "Muhteşem Yüzyıl" and "Teşkilat".
Music and Television
- Aleyna Tilki (b. 2000): A name in Turkish pop music who achieved international success at a young age, known for the songs "Cevapsız Çınlama" and "Sen Olsan Bari".
- Bendeniz (Deniz Çelik, b. 1973): A legendary pop musician and lyricist of the 1990s.
- Uğur Işılak (b. 1973): Singer, composer, lyricist and former member of parliament.
- Yıldo (Ahmet Yıldırım Benli, b. 1953): Showman, actor, and volleyball and football player.
Sport
- Nazmiye Muslu Muratlı (b. 1979): Paralympic weightlifter. She won gold at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in succession, breaking the world record.
- Aslı Demir (b. 1999): National wrestler.
- Şevket Yorulmaz (1925–2003): International footballer who wore the Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe shirts.
Figures Born and Raised in the Districts
- Akşehir — Tarık Buğra (1918–1994): One of the master writers of Turkish literature. He is the author of masterpieces such as "Küçük Ağa", which tells the War of Independence centred on Akşehir, "İbiş'in Rüyası" and "Osmancık".
- Akşehir — Nasreddin Hodja: The famous Turkish philosopher and master of humour who lived in the 13th century. Though born in Sivrihisar, Eskişehir, he spent most of his life in Akşehir, became a symbol of the culture of humour, and his tomb is in Akşehir.
- Taşkent — Prof. Ahmet Davutoğlu (b. 1959): Academic, diplomat, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and the 26th Prime Minister of the Republic of Türkiye. Born in Taşkent.
- Seydişehir — Prof. Sadi Irmak (1904–1990): Physician, academic and the 17th Prime Minister of the Republic of Türkiye (1974–1975). Born in Seydişehir.
- Ereğli — Mete Horozoğlu (b. 1975): A successful theatre and film actor known for "Öyle Bir Geçer Zaman ki", "Nefes: Vatan Sağolsun" and "Muhteşem Yüzyıl Kösem". Born in Ereğli.
- Hadim — Hadimî (Ebu Said Muhammed Hadimî, 1701–1762): One of the greatest scholars of Islamic jurisprudence and thinkers of the 18th-century Ottoman period. He was born in the district of Hadim and taught there.
Names Educated at Konya High School and Identified With the City
Konya has welcomed figures who shaped Türkiye not only as their birthplace but through its historic schooling. Founded in 1889, Konya High School (the Stone School) was a home to students from every corner of Türkiye:
- Turgut Özal: The 8th President of the Republic of Türkiye. Though born in Malatya, he completed his secondary education at Konya High School and formed strong ties with the city.
- Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar: One of the greatest novelists and poets of Turkish literature. Though born in İstanbul, he spent part of his childhood and youth in Konya and studied at Konya High School. He gave Konya a wide place in his monumental work "Beş Şehir" (Five Cities).
- Tarık Buğra and Cahit Zarifoğlu: Both drew on the climate of Konya and Konya High School at turning points in their education.
Konya's Cultural and Historical Legacy
Through the distinguished figures it has raised, Konya has shaped Türkiye's cultural, political, scientific and artistic life. Drawing on the climate of tolerance of Mevlânâ Celâleddin-i Rûmî, this city carries a deep-rooted heritage of civilisation, reaching from the Seljuks through the Ottomans to the Republic, into the future.
