Who is Nene Hatun?

Nene Hatun is a Turkish woman renowned for her heroism during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877. This courageous woman, who lived in Erzurum, ran to the front line one morning, leaving behind her child and family. In her hand she held a rifle; in her heart, love for the homeland. From that day forward, Nene Hatun became one of the female heroes of the Turkish nation.

Nene Hatun was born in 1857 in Erzurum. Like many families of the time, she lived a simple and modest life. She helped with household chores and lived with her siblings. From an early age, she was a strong, compassionate, and devout child.

In 1877, the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, known as the 93 War, began. The Aziziye Tabyası in Erzurum was secretly captured by Russian forces during the night.

Nene Hatun, then only twenty years old, heard the news at dawn with the call to prayer.

🧣 She put on her headscarf.

🔪 She took a hatchet or a cleaver from the kitchen.

🚪 She stepped out the door and ran to the front line alongside other women of Erzurum.

Barefoot, she fought the enemy on the snow-covered ground in the cold winter morning. Together with our soldiers, she helped retake the Aziziye Tabyası. In this battle, she lost her brother Hasan and many neighbors, but she did not give up.

Her courageous actions were passed down from generation to generation. In 1955, when the Turkish Armed Forces visited her, she was awarded the title “Heroic Turkish Mother,” a testament to how deeply she was loved and respected.

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Nene Hatun’s courage was not merely an act of wartime heroism; it also became a symbol of:

- Love for the homeland

- Mutual aid

- Solidarity

- The strength of women.

Today, many schools, streets, parks, and children’s stories bear her name.

Nene Hatun died in Erzurum in 1955. She was buried near the Aziziye Tabyası, on the very land she bravely defended. Every year, thousands of people visit her grave, and her story is told to children.

“I fought not only to leave this homeland to my children, but to my grandchildren as well!”

Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye. “Nene Hatun.” Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye. Accessed 26 May 2025. https://www.ktb.gov.tr/TR-96302/nene-hatun.html

Turkish Historical Society. “Nene Hatun.” TTK Official Website. Accessed 26 May 2025. https://www.ttk.gov.tr/tarih/nene-hatun/

Atatürk Research Center. “The Place of Turkish Women in Our History.” Atam.gov.tr. Accessed 26 May 2025. https://atam.gov.tr/turk-kadinlari/

KÜRE Encyclopedia. “Nene Hatun.” KÜRE. Accessed 26 May 2025. https://preprod.kureansiklopedi.com/tr/detay/nene-hatun-502198