Çakırcalı Mehmet Efe

Who was Çakırcalı Mehmet Efe?

Çakırcalı Mehmet Efe was a Zeybek, who was active as an outlaw in the region enclosing İzmir, Aydın, Denizli, Muğla and Antalya in modern western Turkey, from 1893 to 1910. Born in Ödemiş in 1871, he went out to the Aegean mountains at the age of 22 seeking revenge for his father, Çakırcalı Koca Ahmet Efe, who was murdered by an Ottoman sergeant.

While the political standing of Çakırcalı is controversial, he is generally recognized as a legendary efe, who was protective of common people, fought against authority, and established justice in regions of his control. He also called by the Ottoman Empire "kirserdar" in other words commander-in-chief a military rank in Ottoman Empire. But he decided to be in charge on his own. In 1911, he was killed by Ottoman security forces during a fight and decapitated by his own men in order to prevent the identification of the body.

Until the year 1948 his body was on the mountain where he was killed; his younger daughter Hatice Akkas brought his body to the graveside Ödemis Kayaköy where her family has a glebe.

There are stories about him that he killed more than 1000 people; but he by himself killed no body.

The most famous folk song about him is Izmir'in Kavaklari. It used to be sang as Ödemis'in Kavaklari. In 2010 the Ankara State Ballet played for the first time his life on the stage. There are also many movies about his life: First one in the year 1950 Çakırcalı Mehmet Efe was directed by Faruk Kenc. Efe was performed by the famous Turkish actor Sadri Alisik. The following movie was the second part calling "Treasure of Çakırcalı Mehmet Efe" in the year 1952. In the year 1957 the movie "Dokuz Dagin Efesi" starring by Fikret Hakan was shot. Last but not least in the year 1969 starring by Kartal Tibet another movie is launched.