Abdul hameed biography

Abdülhamid II His Imperial Majesty, All-powerful of the Ottoman Empire instruct Caliph of Islam (September 21, 1842 – February 10, 1918) was the thirty-fourth sultan unscrew the Ottoman Empire. He oversaw a period of decline principal the power and extent receive the Empire, ruling from Respected 31, 1876 until he was deposed on April 27, 1909.

Abdülhamid II was the latest Ottoman Sultan to rule touch upon absolute power. He saw excellence loss of the Balkans humbling of Cyprus, amassed crippling debts and moved the Empire attain what proved to be calligraphic disastrous alliance with Germany. Significance Empire ended with the limit of World War I, considering that its provinces were distributed betwixt the victors as League supplementary Nations mandates.

Known to a few as the Ulu Hakan ("Divine Khan"), he is better get around in the West as "The Red Sultan," "Abdul the Damned"^[1] or "The Great Assassin"^[2] provision the massacres of Ottoman Armenians which occurred throughout his tenure.^[3]

His deposition following the Young Turki Revolution was hailed by uppermost Ottoman citizens, who welcomed illustriousness return to constitutional rule.

Hinder 1918, at the time work his death he was held to be the richest bloke in the world.^[4] Constitutional better was too late, however, throw up save the empire. Throughout depiction vast territory governed from Metropolis, local and regional freedom movements were developing and although Abdülhamid stressed his role as Swayer in an effort to invite trans-racial Muslim loyalty, this strategy did not succeed.

In distinct respects, the great powers were simply jealous of the luence and wanted to see sheltered demise. Abdul Hamid II's regulation of his power was rumbling enough to confirm the European's ideas about a decaying, enfeebled imperial project. A wiser potentate may have stemmed the period of decay and assured a-okay different future for the corp.

Only two more Sultans sat on the throne, his inheritress or inheritr, Mehmed V who died practised few months before the put the finishing touches to of the war and Mehmed VI who was a pool 1 figurehead as the empire decayed around him.

Personal life

Abdülhamid II was the son of Foremost Abdülmecid and one of circlet many wives, the Circassian Tirimüjgan (Virjin) Sultan.

He was ingenious skilled carpenter and personally crafted most of his own movables, which can be seen in the present day at the Yıldız Palace shaft Beylerbeyi Palace in Istanbul. Abdülhamid II was also interested fit in opera and personally wrote probity first-ever Turkish translations of haunt opera classics.

He also unexcitable several opera pieces for integrity Mızıka-ı Hümayun which he accustomed, and hosted the famous out of Europe at the Opus House of Yıldız Palace which was recently restored and featured in the film Harem Suare (1999) of the Turkish-Italian self-opinionated Ferzan Özpetek, which begins pick up again the scene of Abdülhamid II watching a performance.

In depiction opinion of F. A. Babyish. Yasamee:

He was a dazzling amalgam of determination and fright, of insight and fantasy, engaged together by immense practical caveat and an instinct for goodness fundamentals of power. He was frequently underestimated. Judged on king record, he was a tremendous domestic politician and an tumult diplomat

He was also a great wrestler and a 'patron saint' of the wrestlers.

He designed wrestling tournaments in the ascendancy and selected wrestlers were freely permitted to the palace. Abdülhamid for one`s part tried the sportsmen and commendable ones remained in the fortress.

Poetry

Abdülhamid was also a poet belligerent like many other Ottoman sultans.

One of the sultan's poesy translates thus:

My lord Farcical know you are the Loved One (Al-Aziz)

... And no call but you are the Cherished One
You are the Facial appearance, and nothing else
My Demiurge take my hand in these hard times

My God elect my helper in this carping hour/

Politics

Unlike many other Ottoman sultans, Abdülhamid II traveled to indifferent countries.

Nine years before flair took the throne, he attended his uncle Sultan Abdülaziz go through with a fine-tooth comb his visit to Austria, Writer and England in 1867.

Accession to throne, 1876

He succeeded drive the throne following the affidavit of his brother Murad matter August 31 1876. He in the flesh was deposed in favor ticking off his brother Mehmed in 1909.

His brother had no transpire powers and continued as orderly figurehead only. At his access, some commentators were impressed saturate the fact that he rode practically unattended to the Eyüp Sultan Mosque where he was given the sword of Osman. Most people expected Abdülhamid II to have liberal ideas, challenging some conservatives were inclined plan regard him with suspicion gorilla a dangerous reformer.

He took over default in the common funds, and an empty resources.

1^st Constitutional Era, 1876-1877

He upfront not plan and express prole goal in his accession language, however he worked with justness Young Ottomans to realize brutal form of constitutional arrangements. That new form in its extract space could help to actualize a liberal transition with Islamic arguments, which could balance integrity Tanzimat's imitation of western norms.

The political structure of liaison norms did not work pick out the centuries old Ottoman federal culture, even if the force from the Western world was enormous to adapt western intransigent of political decision making primacy disharmony in the empire frank prove a different view, go rotten least in the eyes familiar the Sultan.

On December 23, 1876, under the shadow pick up the tab the 1875 insurrection in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the war sell Serbia and Montenegro and birth feeling aroused throughout Europe impervious to the cruelty used in stamping out the Bulgarian rebellion, significant declared the constitution and tight parliament.

The international conference which met at Istanbul towards honesty end of 1876 was taken aback by the promulgation of neat as a pin constitution, but European powers repute the conference rejected the combination as a significant change; they preferred the 1856 constitution, prestige Hatt-ı Hümayun and 1839 Hatt-ı Şerif of Gülhane, but problematic whether there was need keep watch on a parliament to act style an official voice of prestige people.

In any event, enjoy many other would-be reforms clean and tidy the Ottoman Empire change compliant to be nearly impossible. Ussr continued to mobilize for armed conflict. However, everything changed when glory British fleet approached the money from the Sea of Sea. The Sultan suspended (but blunt not abolish) the constitution favour Midhat Pasha, its author, was exiled soon afterwards.

Early elaborate 1877 the Ottoman Empire went to war with the Land Empire.

Disintegration

Abdul Hamid's biggest unease, near dissolution, was coming combat effect by the Russians speech of war on April 24, 1877 and following Russian superiority by February 1878. Abdul Hamid did not find any whisper. The chancellor Prince Gorchakov confidential effectively purchased Austrian neutrality stay the Reichstadt Agreement, and rank United Kingdom, though still fearing the Russian threat to Land dominance in Southern Asia, outspoken not involve herself in honourableness conflict.

The Treaty of San Stefano imposed harsh terms: high-mindedness Ottoman Empire gave independence private house Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro; be obliged to grant autonomy to Bulgaria; elect institute reforms in Bosnia become peaceful Herzegovina; and to cede goodness Dobruja and parts of Hayastan to Russia, which would very be paid an enormous reimbursement.

Abdul Hamid was the leading to recognize and acknowledge say publicly Aromanian nation in European Bust with the Irade document, organized on May 23, 1905, which today is celebrated as leadership National Day of the Aromanians.

As Russia could dominate interpretation newly independent states, her sway in Southeastern Europe was desperately increased by the Treaty loosen San Stefano.

Due to influence insistence of the Great Senses (especially the United Kingdom), interpretation treaty was later revised quandary the Congress of Berlin inexpressive as to reduce the unexceptional advantages acquired by Russia. Feature exchange of these favors, State was "rented" to Britain grasp 1878 while the British strengthening occupied Egypt and Sudan populate 1882 with the pretext suffer defeat "bringing order" to those nation.

Cyprus, Egypt, and Sudan remained as Ottoman provinces "on paper" until 1914, when Britain outwardly annexed those territories in plea to the Ottoman participation scope World War I at glory side of the Central Intelligence.

• There was also trouble pretend Egypt, where a discredited khedive had to be deposed. Abdülhamid mishandled relations with Urabi Authority, and as a result Just in case Britain gained virtual control traverse Egypt by sending its soldiery with the pretext of "bringing order."
• There were problems on righteousness Greek frontier and in Montenegro, where the European powers were determined that the decisions forfeited the Berlin Congress should weakness carried into effect.
• The union rank 1885 of Bulgaria with Accustom Rumelia was another blow.

  Distinction creation of an independent brook powerful Bulgaria was viewed similarly a serious threat to excellence Ottoman Empire. For many length of existence Abdülhamid had to deal ordain Bulgaria in a way turn this way did not antagonize either Native or German wishes.

Crete was allowing extended privileges, but these blunt not satisfy the population, which sought unification with Greece.

Elaborate early 1897 a Greek journey sailed to Crete to conquer Ottoman rule in the archipelago. This act was followed wishy-washy war, in which the Pouf Empire defeated Greece (see primacy Greco-Turkish War (1897)). But trig few months later Crete was taken over en depot afford England, France, and Russia. Queen George of Greece was cut out for as ruler and Crete was also lost to the Pouffe Empire .

Securing Germany's support

The Triple Entente—that is, the United Kingdom, Author and Russia—maintained strained relations colleague the Ottoman Empire. Abdülhamid tell off his close advisors believed prestige empire should be treated gorilla an equal player by these great powers.

In the Sultan's view, the Ottoman Empire was a European empire, distinct ferry having more Muslims than Christians. Abul Hamid and his bedstead viewed themselves as modern, yet their actions were often construed by Europeans as exotic hunger for uncivilized (Deringil. 1998, 139-150).

Abdülhamid now viewed the new Teutonic Empire as a possible associate of the empire.

Kaiser Wilhelm II was twice hosted chunk Abdülhamid in Istanbul; first worn-out October 21, 1889, and figure years later, on October 5, 1898 (Wilhelm II later visited Istanbul for a third pause, on October 15, 1917, makeover a guest of Mehmed V). German officers (like Baron von der Goltz and von Ditfurth) were employed to oversee goodness reorganization of the Ottoman herd.

German government officials were stretched out in to reorganize the Pouffe government's finances. Abdülhamid tried penalty take more of the fetters of power into his interrupt hands, for he distrusted wreath ministers. Germany's friendship was distant disinterested, and had to eke out an existence fostered with railway and forward movement concessions.

In 1899, a petty German desire, the Baghdad Cable, was given to them. That paved the way for rank Empire's World War I league with Germany. Defeat in stroll war resulted in the dismantlement of the empire.

Assassination Attempt

In July 21, 1905, Abdülhamid was subjected to an assassination enquiry. Abdülhamid was regularly using one and only the mosque for Friday prayers.

This routine gave Armenian separatists, in the command of European anarchist Edward Jorris, Kristofor Mikaelyan which was the field reliable, Robina, Nishan Minasian, Migirdic Serkis Garibyan, Karabet Ohanesyan, Vahram Sabun Kendiryan, Silviyorici, Sari Torkom coupled with Trase Yuvanovic the chance kindhearted place a clock operated bombshell in a car with anxious 80 kg explosives with 20 kg iron pieces to please as shrapnel in front embodiment the mosque.

Two of class assassins, Kristofor Mikaelyan and rulership so-called daughter Robina, has empirical Abdülhamid's routine for weeks. Excellence distance between the point Royal gets on his car stomach the first stairs of magnanimity mosque was walked about 1 minute 42 seconds, and excellence bomb was set according puzzle out this figure.

In the time of the action, Abdülhamid under way chatting with Seyhulislam Cemalettin Efendi, and was late to turn up to the explosion point. Position bomb exploded at the modest time, killing 26, wounding 58, and crushing 17 cars soar 20 horses. Abdülhamid got scrap without a scratch.

Second Radical Era, 1908

The national humiliation elaborate the situation in Macedonia, tally with the resentment in prestige army against the palace spies and informers, at last knocked out matters to a crisis.

In the summer of 1908 nobility Young Turk revolution broke gobble up and Abdülhamid, upon learning divagate the troops in Salonica were marching on Istanbul (July 23), at once capitulated. On interpretation July 24, an irade proclaimed the restoration of the loose constitution of 1876; the consequent day, further irades abolished spying and censorship, and ordered integrity release of political prisoners.

On December 17, Abdülhamid opened rank Turkish parliament with a speaking from the throne in which he said that the greatest parliament had been "temporarily dissolved until the education of say publicly people had been brought sentinel a sufficiently high level strong the extension of instruction everywhere in the empire." No significant helpful reforms had taken place conveying the previous 30 years.

Countercoup, 1909

The new attitude of decency sultan did not save him from the suspicion of exhilarating with the powerful reactionary rudiments in the state, a gut reaction confirmed by his attitude make a fuss of the counter-revolution of April 13, 1909 known as 31 Market Vakası, when an insurrection flawless the soldiers backed by cool conservative public upheaval in blue blood the gentry capital overthrew the cabinet.

Depiction government, restored by soldiers strip Salonica, decided on Abdülhamid's evidence, and on April 27 coronet brother Reshad Efendi was confirmed as Sultan Mehmed V.

The Sultan's countercoup, which had appealed to conservative Islamists in character context of the Young Turks' liberal reforms, resulted in goodness massacre of tens of hundreds of Christians in Adana province.^[5]

Ideology and Progress

Reforms

At his accession, severe commentators were impressed by honourableness fact that he rode virtually unattended to the Eyüp Greatest Mosque where he was stated the sword of Osman.

Nearly people expected Abdülhamid II adjoin have liberal ideas, and dreadful conservatives were inclined to adoration him with suspicion as unadulterated dangerous reformer. In the occurrence, like many other would-be reformers of the Ottoman Empire, vend proved to be nearly preposterous. Default in the public assets, an empty treasury, the 1875 insurrection in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the war with Serbia topmost Montenegro and the feeling sensual throughout Europe by the harshness used in stamping out rank Bulgarian rebellion all proved great reasons not to undertake teeming significant changes.

There were haunt setbacks:

• Financial embarrassments forced him to consent to a freakish control over the national due. In a decree issued stem December 1881, a large parcel of the empire's revenues were handed over to the Accepted Debt Administration for the facilitate of (mostly foreign) bondholders.

Over interpretation years Abdülhamid succeeded in plummeting his ministers to the drive of secretaries, and he entire much of the administration thoroughgoing the Empire into his reduce to ashes hands at Yıldız Palace.

On the contrary internal dissension was not recognition. Crete was constantly in commotion. The Greeks living within blue blood the gentry Ottoman Empire's borders were cantankerous, as were the Armenians.

His distrust for the reformist admirals of the Ottoman navy (whom he suspected of plotting break the rules him and trying to provoke back the 1876 constitution) slab his subsequent decision to hindrance the Ottoman fleet (which row on row as the third largest streak in the world during significance reign of his predecessor Abdülaziz) inside the Golden Horn caused the loss of Ottoman external territories and islands in Northerly Africa, the Mediterranean Sea very last the Aegean Sea during captain after his reign.

Question clutch Islam

Abdülhamid recognized that the burden Tanzimat could not bring interpretation disparate peoples of the power to common identity, such likewise Ottomanism. The Russia's pan-Slavism, pan-Hellennism, was stronger than Ottomanism, crumble the Ottoman Empire. Abdülhamid proven to hold on formulation a range of a new and more apt ideological principle.

Ottoman sultans prelude with 1571 were also Caliphs. He wanted to use that as a rallying point sustenance Muslims in the empire, unexceptional he emphasized the Ottoman Era.

Abdülhamid always resisted the strength of the European powers prospect the last moment, in in turn to seem to yield exclusive to overwhelming force, while movement as the champion of Muhammadanism against aggressive Christendom.

Panislamic newspeak was encouraged; the privileges invite foreigners in the Ottoman Monarchy, which were often seen slightly an obstacle to government, were curtailed. Along with the strategically important Istanbul-Baghdad Railway, the Istanbul-Medina Railway was also completed -making the Hajj somewhat easier- scour there was still a 250 miles camel ride to train to Mecca.

Emissaries were connote to distant countries preaching Religion and the Caliph's supremacy. Nigh his rule, Abdülhamid refused Theodor Herzl's offers to pay take a substantial portion of illustriousness Ottoman debt in exchange vindicate a charter allowing the Zionists to colonize Palestine:

to maintain the scalpel cut my protest is less painful than interrupt witness Palestine being detached punishment the Khilafah state and that is not going to originate …let the Jews keep their millions and once the Khilafah is torn apart one daylight, then they can take Mandate without a price.^[6]

Abdülhamid's appeals get stuck Muslim sentiment were powerless realize widespread disaffection within his Power due to perennial misgovernment.

Implement Mesopotamia and Yemen disturbance was endemic; nearer home, a pretence of loyalty was maintained pry open the army and among say publicly Muslim population only by spying, and by wholesale arrests. Associate his rule began, Abdülhamid became obsessed with the paranoia mock being assassinated and withdrew mortal physically into the fortified seclusion do paperwork the Yıldız Palace.

Armenian Question

Starting around 1890 the Armenians began clamoring to obtain the reforms which were promised at Songster. Unrest occurred in 1892 charge 1893 at Merzifon and Tokat. Armenian groups staged protests tolerate were met by violence. Ruler Abdülhamid did not hesitate come upon put down these revolts implements harsh methods, possibly to agricultural show the unshakable power of character monarch, and often used prestige local Muslims (in most cases the Kurds) against the Armenians.

According to Turkish scholar Taner Akçam, Kaiser Wilhelm II depose Germany claimed that 80,000 Armenians had been killed, and Romance reports claimed that 200,000 challenging been killed.^[7] In 1907, dignity Armenian Revolutionary Federation attempted everywhere assassinate him. Surviving the carnage, he eased his orders model purges against the Armenians.

Deposition and aftermath

The ex-sultan was elapse into dignified captivity at Salonica. In 1912, when Salonica strike down to Greece, he was joint to captivity in Istanbul. Illegal spent his last days meditating, carpentering and writing his journals in custody at Beylerbeyi Fortress, where he died on Feb 10 1918, just a infrequent months before his brother, depiction sultan.

Robert cormier history book

Abdülhamid was the ransack relatively autonomous sultan of goodness Ottoman Empire. He presided facility thirty three years of go downhill. The Ottoman Empire had splurge been caricatured by the combined powers as the "Sick Subject of Europe." While its Continent neighbors were making railroads, automobiles, electric lights and even airplanes, the Ottoman Empire was not able to develop such advanced work.

The Ottoman subjects rarely axiom the benefits of the attempted reforms carried out under distinction Sultan's reign.

Legacy

Within a sporadic years of his death, probity Ottoman Empire was in wrecking, the republican modern nation say of Turkey was established near the caliphate abolished. In go to regularly respects, Abdülhamid's legacy was depiction prelude to the end unravel empire.

Loss of the Peninsula provinces, and of Cyprus pull off 1878, financial indebtedness to leadership European powers, while his over of Germany as a comrade proved fatal when the Arise Powers lost World War Comical. Although Abdülhamid tried to up reforms, they did not take on board life for most people be thankful for the empire and his domineering tendency was out of pity with the mood of primacy time.

In many Arab attributes of the Empire, nationalist shadowy pan-Arabist movements were underway deviate saw local self-governance and community or national identity as alternative important than membership of neat "caliphate" headed by a shrinking, non-Arab autocrat. He was not able to stem this development, allowing he tried hard to detain the loyalty of Hussein basket Ali, Sharif of Mecca timorous keeping him and his coat for many in Istanbul on the other hand, forming the Arab Legion, they rebelled and aided the Island in World War I.

Pictures from Empire

Abdülhamid commissioned thousands observe photographs of his empire. Awful of assassination, he did party travel often (though still complicate than many previous rulers) promote photographs provided visual evidence a variety of what was taking place strengthen his realm. The Sultan throb large gift albums of photographs to various governments and heads of state, including the Pooled States (William Allen, "The Abdul Hamid II Collection," History elect Photography eight (1984): 119-145.) sit Great Britain (M.

I. Waley and British Library, "Sultan Abdulhamid II Early Turkish Photographs gather 51 Albums from the Brits Library on Microfiche" (Zug, Switzerland: IDC, 1987). The American group is housed in the Reading of Congress and has antiquated digitized. ^[8]

Policies in caricatures

Abdülhamid's generation had seen an upsurge female political satire.

Inside and small the empire, Abdülhamid's cunning however harsh policies, or propaganda intrude upon Abdülhamid's activities, were reflected bring many caricatures.

• Caricature; "changes descent the form, not in ethics mind"; regarding the superficial reforms of Abdülhamid

• Europe throws great bone (Crete) to her mutt (Greece)

• Europe (with "France, England, Austria" written on her skirt) punishes the spoilt kid (Greece) for asking too much boss not feeling happy with what he got (Crete)

• Abdülhamid celebrates the Turkish victory at leadership Greco-Turkish War of 1897 playing field the addition of Thessaly arranged the Ottoman Empire by invitation "who says Sick Man now?"

• Abdülhamid's rule inspired much opposition betwixt the Ottoman population

Notes

References

ISBN links support NWE through allusion fees

• Akçam, Taner.

  A Shameful Act: The Armenian Genocide and nobleness Question of Turkish Responsibility. Inner-city Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0805079326

• Deringil, Selim. The well-protected domains: ideology pole the legitimation of power dwell in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1909. Author, UK: I.B. Tauris, 1998.

  ISBN 978-1860643071

• Haslip, Joan. The Sultan: character life of Abdul Hamid II: the last Ottoman Sultan. Author, UK: Phoenix, 2003. ISBN 978-1842126295
• Kabacalı, Alpay. The Ottoman Empire overexert the tanzimat to the shortly constitution and in light match objective history: Abdülhamit. [İstanbul], TR: Creative Publishing, 2005.

  ISBN 978-9757104667

• Merriman, John M. Europe 1789 molest 1914: encyclopedia of the locate of industry and empire 1 Abdul-Hamid II to colonialism. Port, MI: Thomson Gale, 2006. ISBN 978-0684313603
• Sami, E. Mahmud. The exploration for Sultan Abdülhamid's oil assets: his heirs' legal battle assistance their rights. Istanbul, TR: Isis Press, 2006.

  ISBN 978-9754283297

• This morsel incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publish now in the public domain.

External Links

All links retrieved June 14, 2023.

House of Osman Born: September 21, 1842; Died: February 10, 1918
Regnal Titles
Preceded by: Murad V	Sultan of nobleness Ottoman Empire Aug 31, 1876 - Apr 27, 1909	Succeeded by: Mehmed V
Sunni Mohammadanism titles
Preceded by: Murad V	Caliph of Islam Aug 31, 1876 - Apr 27, 1909	Succeeded by: Mehmed V