The Hidden Continuity - Sabbatean Legacy and the Roots of Turkey's Modern Elite

The modern Turkish Republic was built on the ashes of a crumbling empire. It presented itself as a nation reborn in secularism, nationalism, and reason. Yet, beneath the surface of the official narrative lies a complex network of identities and loyalties—hidden lineages that survived upheaval, adapted to power, and reemerged in elite positions. At the heart of this quiet continuity lies the legacy of Sabbatai Zevi, the 17th-century self-proclaimed Jewish Messiah, and the secretive sect he birthed: the Dönmeh. These crypto-Jews outwardly converted to Islam, yet secretly preserved a mystical messianic worldview that influenced generations of Turkish leadership. Today, their descendants are among the most powerful economic dynasties in the country.