republic · Anatolia and the Levant

Hatay State

1938 CE – 1939 CE · capital Antakya

A transitional state created from the Sanjak of Alexandretta in 1938, which joined Turkey within a year.

Origins

After elections held under Turkish military supervision gave Turks a majority, the assembly of the Sanjak of Alexandretta proclaimed the State of Hatay in September 1938, with Antakya (Antioch) as capital. France, seeking Turkish support against Germany, accepted the change.

Rule and society

Tayfur Sokmen was elected head of state and Abdurrahman Melek prime minister. The state used a flag modelled on Turkey's, adopted Turkish laws and currency and was closely tied to Ankara, functioning as a stage towards annexation rather than as an independent country.

Decline and legacy

On 29 June 1939 the assembly voted to join Turkey, which formally annexed Hatay in July. Many Armenians and Arabs left for Syria and Lebanon, including the Armenians of Musa Dagh, who resettled at Anjar.

Lineage

Sanjak of Alexandretta 1921 CE – 1938 CEHatay StateRepublic of Turkey 1923 CE – present

More states of Anatolia and the Levant →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Hatay State. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/hatay-state
MLA
“Hatay State.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/hatay-state. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Hatay State.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/hatay-state.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Hatay State’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/hatay-state (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻