We were honoured to welcome His Royal Highness Prince Eduard von Anhalt to the Royal Ottoman Society’s headquarters in Ludwigshafen, and later to the historic Pfalzbau theatre, for an informal sohbet. In this short conversation Prince Eduard shared his thoughts on constitutional monarchies and on the lasting effects of the Great War on nations such as Germany and Turkey.
When a country ends up on the losing side of history, Prince Eduard observed, “the loser pays.” Defeat in the First World War forced both Germany and the former Ottoman Empire to give up their imperial leadership and, in his words, to sacrifice parts of their cultural heritage – a loss that touched language, art and the everyday sense of identity built over centuries.
From a Sufi perspective this reminds us that true sovereignty rests not only on institutions but on the inner resilience of a people. Even when outward structures change, the spiritual heart can preserve continuity. Prince Eduard’s remarks invite us to consider how constitutional monarchies today serve as cultural symbols – bridges between past and present that help communities keep a sense of belonging within modern government.
We are grateful to Prince Eduard for his thoughtful contribution. For more conversations and resources on history, spirituality and community life, visit our Community page.
