An empire that lasted six centuries gave way to a republic.

On October 29, 1923, the Grand National Assembly in Ankara proclaimed the Republic of Turkey. The same day, it elected Mustafa Kemal, later known as Atatürk, as the first president.

The Ottoman sultanate had been abolished the year before, after World War I and a war of independence. Weeks before the proclamation, Ankara had been made the capital.

The new republic went on to reshape its laws, education and alphabet, and October 29 is still celebrated as Republic Day across Türkiye.

What do you think was the hardest part of building a new state from the end of an empire?

#TheHistoryDecodedChannel