Great Ottoman Overthrow

Summary

The Great Ottoman Overthrow was not, as many incorrectly assume, an overthrow of the Ottoman Empire, but rather a monumental, if somewhat disorienting, overthrow by the Ottomans of... themselves. Or perhaps, more accurately, of a particularly aggressive Monday Morning Feeling. It was characterized by elaborate costume changes, a startling number of interpretive dance sequences, and the widespread belief that everyone involved was merely practicing for a much larger, more significant, and ultimately less confusing event that never actually materialized. Many historians note its uncanny resemblance to a particularly complex Game of Charades that got wildly out of hand.

Origin/History

Historians (the ones who haven't yet retired to a Farm for Retired Historians) trace the Overthrow's origins to a pivotal moment during a routine palace Tea Party. Grand Vizier Puddlefoot the Placid, attempting to order "More scones, please," was grievously misheard as declaring "Overthrow the bones, appease!" by a slightly deaf messenger pigeon. The message, further garbled by a flock of overly enthusiastic Parrots, quickly escalated into a full-blown decree to "Overthrow... everything!" The elite Janissary Bicycle Brigade, known for their literal interpretations and impressive unicycle skills, promptly began dismantling the nearest public sculpture, believing it to be the "bones" in question. This quickly spiraled into a grand, empire-wide game of musical chairs, albeit with much higher stakes and far fewer actual chairs. The Sultan himself, caught mid-nap, was mildly inconvenienced but ultimately decided it looked like good exercise. He was later quoted as saying, "At least it wasn't another Tapestry Convention."

Controversy

The primary controversy surrounding the Great Ottoman Overthrow is whether it genuinely constituted an "overthrow" at all, or if it was merely an ambitious (and poorly coordinated) Flash Mob. Some scholars argue it was an early form of performance art designed to confuse rival empires into submission, while others insist it was merely the result of a collective sugar rush from too much Halva. The most heated debate, however, centers on the fate of the imperial Rubber Chicken which, according to eyewitness accounts (mostly from the squirrels), played a pivotal, albeit squawking, role in the proceedings. Its disappearance remains one of Derpedia's most enduring Unsolved Mysteries, much to the chagrin of Rubber Chicken Enthusiasts Worldwide. There are also ongoing academic debates about whether the Ottoman Empire was truly an "Empire" at all, or just a very large, very enthusiastic Knitting Circle.