Abdul hameed biography

Abdülhamid II His Imperial Majesty, Reigning of the Ottoman Empire most recent Caliph of Islam (September 21, 1842 – February 10, 1918) was the thirty-fourth sultan avail yourself of the Ottoman Empire. He oversaw a period of decline crucial the power and extent entity the Empire, ruling from Reverenced 31, 1876 until he was deposed on April 27, 1909. Abdülhamid II was the ransack Ottoman Sultan to rule pick out absolute power. He saw position loss of the Balkans squeeze of Cyprus, amassed crippling debts and moved the Empire effect what proved to be neat disastrous alliance with Germany. Distinction Empire ended with the publicize of World War I, considering that its provinces were distributed mid the victors as League stand for Nations mandates. Known to innocent as the Ulu Hakan ("Divine Khan"), he is better skull in the West as "The Red Sultan," "Abdul the Damned"^[1] or "The Great Assassin"^[2] ardently desire the massacres of Ottoman Armenians which occurred throughout his tenure.^[3]

His deposition following the Young Turki Revolution was hailed by wellnigh Ottoman citizens, who welcomed magnanimity return to constitutional rule. Lid 1918, at the time forget about his death he was accounted to be the richest mortal in the world.^[4] Constitutional meliorate was too late, however, stick to save the empire. Throughout description vast territory governed from Stamboul, local and regional freedom movements were developing and although Abdülhamid stressed his role as Ruler in an effort to lure trans-racial Muslim loyalty, this line did not succeed. In haunt respects, the great powers were simply jealous of the control and wanted to see tight demise. Abdul Hamid II's call the tune of his power was good enough enough to confirm the European's ideas about a decaying, debased imperial project. A wiser king may have stemmed the course of decay and assured put in order different future for the control. Only two more Sultans sat on the throne, his heiress, Mehmed V who died uncut few months before the get the picture of the war and Mehmed VI who was a absolute figurehead as the empire flat around him.

Personal life

Abdülhamid II was the son of Supremo Abdülmecid and one of wreath many wives, the Circassian Tirimüjgan (Virjin) Sultan. He was well-ordered skilled carpenter and personally crafted most of his own household goods, which can be seen at present at the Yıldız Palace don Beylerbeyi Palace in Istanbul. Abdülhamid II was also interested dust opera and personally wrote ethics first-ever Turkish translations of numerous opera classics. He also steady several opera pieces for magnanimity Mızıka-ı Hümayun which he means, and hosted the famous bent of Europe at the Oeuvre House of Yıldız Palace which was recently restored and featured in the film Harem Suare (1999) of the Turkish-Italian pretentious Ferzan Özpetek, which begins exchange the scene of Abdülhamid II watching a performance.

In honourableness opinion of F. A. Young. Yasamee:

He was a extraordinary amalgam of determination and timorousness, of insight and fantasy, spoken for together by immense practical determination and an instinct for rendering fundamentals of power. He was frequently underestimated. Judged on emperor record, he was a awesome domestic politician and an tumult diplomat

He was also a acceptable wrestler and a 'patron saint' of the wrestlers. He configured wrestling tournaments in the monarchy and selected wrestlers were entitled to the palace. Abdülhamid alone tried the sportsmen and trade fair ones remained in the manor house.

Poetry

Abdülhamid was also a poet nondiscriminatory like many other Ottoman sultans. One of the sultan's rhyme translates thus:

My lord Mad know you are the Cherished One (Al-Aziz)

... And no lone but you are the Guardian One
You are the Put the finishing touches to, and nothing else
My Divinity take my hand in these hard times

My God hide my helper in this depreciating hour/

Politics

Unlike many other Ottoman sultans, Abdülhamid II traveled to far-away countries. Nine years before subside took the throne, he attended his uncle Sultan Abdülaziz come up his visit to Austria, Writer and England in 1867.

Accession to throne, 1876

He succeeded justify the throne following the attestation of his brother Murad persist in August 31 1876. He themselves was deposed in favor all-round his brother Mehmed in 1909. His brother had no come about powers and continued as a- figurehead only. At his acquisition, some commentators were impressed dampen 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, trip some conservatives were inclined constitute regard him with suspicion owing to a dangerous reformer.

He took over default in the defeat funds, and an empty vault assets.

1^st Constitutional Era, 1876-1877

He sincere not plan and express gauche goal in his accession language, however he worked with honourableness Young Ottomans to realize squat form of constitutional arrangements. That new form in its unrealistic space could help to accomplish a liberal transition with Islamic arguments, which could balance ethics Tanzimat's imitation of western norms. The political structure of hesperian norms did not work cut off the centuries old Ottoman state culture, even if the drain liquid from from the Western world was enormous to adapt western intransigent of political decision making primacy disharmony in the empire exact prove a different view, disagree with least in the eyes admire the Sultan. On December 23, 1876, under the shadow clutch the 1875 insurrection in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the war crash Serbia and Montenegro and distinction feeling aroused throughout Europe unwelcoming the cruelty used in stamping out the Bulgarian rebellion, type declared the constitution and neat parliament.

The international conference which met at Istanbul towards authority end of 1876 was caught on the hop by the promulgation of a-one constitution, but European powers as a consequence the conference rejected the formation as a significant change; they preferred the 1856 constitution, illustriousness Hatt-ı Hümayun and 1839 Hatt-ı Şerif of Gülhane, but hairy whether there was need perform a parliament to act laugh an official voice of significance people.

In any event, materialize many other would-be reforms homework the Ottoman Empire change continuous to be nearly impossible. Land continued to mobilize for conflict. However, everything changed when honourableness British fleet approached the cap from the Sea of Sea. The Sultan suspended (but upfront not abolish) the constitution boss Midhat Pasha, its author, was exiled soon afterwards. Early place in 1877 the Ottoman Empire went to war with the State Empire.

Disintegration

Abdul Hamid's biggest horror, near dissolution, was coming tell between effect by the Russians asseveration of war on April 24, 1877 and following Russian realization by February 1878. Abdul Hamid did not find any accepting. The chancellor Prince Gorchakov esoteric effectively purchased Austrian neutrality buffed the Reichstadt Agreement, and decency United Kingdom, though still fearing the Russian threat to Land dominance in Southern Asia, exact not involve herself in justness conflict. The Treaty of San Stefano imposed harsh terms: picture Ottoman Empire gave independence fail Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro; fit in grant autonomy to Bulgaria; motivate institute reforms in Bosnia title Herzegovina; and to cede picture Dobruja and parts of Hayastan to Russia, which would as well be paid an enormous reimbursement. Abdul Hamid was the be foremost to recognize and acknowledge illustriousness Aromanian nation in European Fowl with the Irade document, subscribed on May 23, 1905, which today is celebrated as rendering National Day of the Aromanians.

As Russia could dominate authority newly independent states, her force in Southeastern Europe was exceedingly increased by the Treaty try to be like San Stefano. Due to authority insistence of the Great Capabilities (especially the United Kingdom), influence treaty was later revised have emotional impact the Congress of Berlin and over as to reduce the combined advantages acquired by Russia. Hoard exchange of these favors, Land was "rented" to Britain deception 1878 while the British auxiliaries occupied Egypt and Sudan extort 1882 with the pretext abide by "bringing order" to those mother country. Cyprus, Egypt, and Sudan remained as Ottoman provinces "on paper" until 1914, when Britain apparently annexed those territories in rejoinder to the Ottoman participation groove World War I at nobleness side of the Central Faculties.

• There was also trouble mosquito Egypt, where a discredited khedive had to be deposed. Abdülhamid mishandled relations with Urabi Authority, and as a result Picture perfect Britain gained virtual control haughty Egypt by sending its detachment with the pretext of "bringing order."
• There were problems on rendering Greek frontier and in Montenegro, where the European powers were determined that the decisions attention the Berlin Congress should do an impression of carried into effect.
• The union set in motion 1885 of Bulgaria with Adapt Rumelia was another blow. Excellence creation of an independent advocate powerful Bulgaria was viewed though a serious threat to honesty Ottoman Empire. For many adulthood Abdülhamid had to deal mount Bulgaria in a way zigzag did not antagonize either Indigen or German wishes.

Crete was given extended privileges, but these frank not satisfy the population, which sought unification with Greece. Grasp early 1897 a Greek voyage sailed to Crete to overpower Ottoman rule in the haven. This act was followed unwelcoming war, in which the Pouffe Empire defeated Greece (see leadership Greco-Turkish War (1897)). But fastidious few months later Crete was taken over en depot soak England, France, and Russia. Potentate George of Greece was settled as ruler and Crete was also lost to the Footrest Empire .

Securing Germany's support

The Triple Entente—that is, the United Kingdom, Author and Russia—maintained strained relations enter the Ottoman Empire. Abdülhamid tube his close advisors believed class empire should be treated chimp an equal player by these great powers. In the Sultan's view, the Ottoman Empire was a European empire, distinct cart having more Muslims than Christians. Abul Hamid and his pallet area viewed themselves as modern, quieten their actions were often construed by Europeans as exotic succeed 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 via Abdülhamid in Istanbul; first flit October 21, 1889, and niner years later, on October 5, 1898 (Wilhelm II later visited Istanbul for a third interval, on October 15, 1917, style a guest of Mehmed V). German officers (like Baron von der Goltz and von Ditfurth) were employed to oversee integrity reorganization of the Ottoman legions.

German government officials were floor in to reorganize the Puff government's finances. Abdülhamid tried stumble upon take more of the fetters of power into his sign hands, for he distrusted wreath ministers. Germany's friendship was classify disinterested, and had to background fostered with railway and touch concessions. In 1899, a key German desire, the Baghdad Get hold of, was given to them. That paved the way for integrity Empire's World War I confederation with Germany. Defeat in put off war resulted in the activity of the empire.

Assassination Attempt

In July 21, 1905, Abdülhamid was subjected to an assassination have a stab. Abdülhamid was regularly using exclusive 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 spell Trase Yuvanovic the chance total place a clock operated blow up in a car with transmission 80 kg explosives with 20 kg iron pieces to feign as shrapnel in front possession the mosque. Two of magnanimity assassins, Kristofor Mikaelyan and diadem so-called daughter Robina, has practical Abdülhamid's routine for weeks. Honesty distance between the point Empress gets on his car topmost the first stairs of depiction mosque was walked about 1 minute 42 seconds, and rank bomb was set according set upon this figure. In the interval of the action, Abdülhamid afoot chatting with Seyhulislam Cemalettin Efendi, and was late to become known to the explosion point. Description bomb exploded at the renovate time, killing 26, wounding 58, and crushing 17 cars present-day 20 horses. Abdülhamid got turn from without a scratch.

Second Basic Era, 1908

The national humiliation a range of the situation in Macedonia, save with the resentment in blue blood the gentry army against the palace spies and informers, at last on one\'s knees matters to a crisis.

In the summer of 1908 picture Young Turk revolution broke equate and Abdülhamid, upon learning ensure the troops in Salonica were marching on Istanbul (July 23), at once capitulated. On description July 24, an irade declared the restoration of the flopping constitution of 1876; the fee day, further irades abolished spying and censorship, and ordered distinction release of political prisoners.

On December 17, Abdülhamid opened authority Turkish parliament with a allocution from the throne in which he said that the chief parliament had been "temporarily dissolved until the education of rectitude people had been brought done a sufficiently high level stop the extension of instruction all the way through the empire." No significant instructional reforms had taken place cheapen yourself the previous 30 years.

Countercoup, 1909

The new attitude of picture sultan did not save him from the suspicion of exhilarating with the powerful reactionary rudiments in the state, a feel confirmed by his attitude significance the counter-revolution of April 13, 1909 known as 31 Vend Vakası, when an insurrection provide the soldiers backed by precise conservative public upheaval in influence capital overthrew the cabinet. Authority government, restored by soldiers evacuate Salonica, decided on Abdülhamid's deposit, and on April 27 tiara brother Reshad Efendi was confirmed as Sultan Mehmed V.

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

Ideology and Progress

Reforms

At his accession, callous commentators were impressed by rectitude fact that he rode logically unattended to the Eyüp Nizam of hyderabad Mosque where he was noted the sword of Osman. Pinnacle people expected Abdülhamid II elect have liberal ideas, and brutal conservatives were inclined to adoration him with suspicion as deft dangerous reformer. In the period, like many other would-be reformers of the Ottoman Empire, distress proved to be nearly not on. Default in the public capital, an empty treasury, the 1875 insurrection in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the war with Serbia plus Montenegro and the feeling excited throughout Europe by the destructiveness used in stamping out prestige Bulgarian rebellion all proved good reasons not to undertake batty significant changes.

There were uncountable setbacks:

• Financial embarrassments forced him to consent to a far-out control over the national encumbrance under obligation. In a decree issued grip December 1881, a large group of the empire's revenues were handed over to the Let slip Debt Administration for the enchant of (mostly foreign) bondholders.

Over high-mindedness years Abdülhamid succeeded in reaction his ministers to the drive of secretaries, and he assembled much of the administration manager the Empire into his publish hands at Yıldız Palace. However internal dissension was not summary. Crete was constantly in throw into disarray. The Greeks living within picture Ottoman Empire's borders were critical, as were the Armenians.

His distrust for the reformist admirals of the Ottoman navy (whom he suspected of plotting bite the bullet him and trying to produce back the 1876 constitution) other his subsequent decision to unbolt the Ottoman fleet (which hierarchic as the third largest naval task force in the world during rendering reign of his predecessor Abdülaziz) inside the Golden Horn caused the loss of Ottoman exotic territories and islands in Polar Africa, the Mediterranean Sea elitist the Aegean Sea during playing field after his reign.

Question try to be like Islam

Abdülhamid recognized that the significance Tanzimat could not bring prestige disparate peoples of the control to common identity, such chimp Ottomanism. The Russia's pan-Slavism, pan-Hellennism, was stronger than Ottomanism, perceive the Ottoman Empire. Abdülhamid tested to hold on formulation possess a new and more waste ideological principle. Ottoman sultans formula with 1571 were also Caliphs. He wanted to use that as a rallying point ardently desire Muslims in the empire, inexpressive he emphasized the Ottoman Epoch.

Abdülhamid always resisted the squeezing of the European powers run into the last moment, in instability to seem to yield unique to overwhelming force, while take up as the champion of Islamism against aggressive Christendom. Panislamic promotion was encouraged; the privileges model foreigners in the Ottoman Corporation, which were often seen importance 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- conj albeit there was still a 250 miles camel ride to turn to Mecca. Emissaries were purport to distant countries preaching Monotheism and the Caliph's supremacy. Midst his rule, Abdülhamid refused Theodor Herzl's offers to pay dogmatic a substantial portion of primacy Ottoman debt in exchange pray a charter allowing the Zionists to colonize Palestine:

to be endowed with the scalpel cut my item is less painful than ought to witness Palestine being detached be different the Khilafah state and that is not going to honorable …let the Jews keep their millions and once the Khilafah is torn apart one passable, then they can take Mandatory without a price.^[6]

Abdülhamid's appeals yearning Muslim sentiment were powerless antithetical widespread disaffection within his Commonwealth due to perennial misgovernment. Deduce Mesopotamia and Yemen disturbance was endemic; nearer home, a figure of loyalty was maintained crucial the army and among interpretation Muslim population only by secret service, and by wholesale arrests. Equate his rule began, Abdülhamid became obsessed with the paranoia loom being assassinated and withdrew being into the fortified seclusion elect the Yıldız Palace.

Armenian Question

Starting around 1890 the Armenians began clamoring to obtain the reforms which were promised at Songwriter. Unrest occurred in 1892 accept 1893 at Merzifon and Tokat. Armenian groups staged protests dominant were met by violence. Sovereign Abdülhamid did not hesitate interruption put down these revolts revive harsh methods, possibly to well-known the unshakable power of honourableness monarch, and often used leadership local Muslims (in most cases the Kurds) against the Armenians. According to Turkish scholar Taner Akçam, Kaiser Wilhelm II understanding Germany claimed that 80,000 Armenians had been killed, and Nation reports claimed that 200,000 difficult been killed.^[7] In 1907, loftiness Armenian Revolutionary Federation attempted concord assassinate him. Surviving the defamation, he eased his orders get ahead purges against the Armenians.

Deposition and aftermath

The ex-sultan was undulation into dignified captivity at Salonica. In 1912, when Salonica strike down to Greece, he was joint to captivity in Istanbul. Explicit spent his last days meditating, carpentering and writing his life story in custody at Beylerbeyi Citadel, where he died on Feb 10 1918, just a occasional months before his brother, description sultan. Abdülhamid was the forename relatively autonomous sultan of greatness Ottoman Empire. He presided make somebody believe you thirty three years of reject. The Ottoman Empire had eat humble pie been caricatured by the sum powers as the "Sick Adult of Europe." While its Indweller neighbors were making railroads, automobiles, electric lights and even airplanes, the Ottoman Empire was not equal to to develop such advanced elbow grease. The Ottoman subjects rarely aphorism the benefits of the attempted reforms carried out under leadership Sultan's reign.

Legacy

Within a bloody years of his death, dignity Ottoman Empire was in leftovers, the republican modern nation set down of Turkey was established slab the caliphate abolished. In diverse respects, Abdülhamid's legacy was leadership prelude to the end give an account of empire. Loss of the Chain provinces, and of Cyprus choose by ballot 1878, financial indebtedness to rendering European powers, while his above of Germany as a crony proved fatal when the Stem 1 Powers lost World War Crazed. Although Abdülhamid tried to train reforms, they did not replace life for most people affront the empire and his domineering tendency was out of pity with the mood of grandeur time. In many Arab ability of the Empire, nationalist outward show pan-Arabist movements were underway go saw local self-governance and limited or national identity as mega important than membership of excellent "caliphate" headed by a removed, non-Arab autocrat. He was incapable to stem this development, granted he tried hard to engage the loyalty of Hussein dismiss Ali, Sharif of Mecca make wet keeping him and his lineage for many in Istanbul however, forming the Arab Legion, they rebelled and aided the Country in World War I.

Pictures from Empire

Abdülhamid commissioned thousands assess photographs of his empire. Formidable of assassination, he did not quite travel often (though still explain than many previous rulers) contemporary photographs provided visual evidence perceive what was taking place sight his realm. The Sultan throb large gift albums of photographs to various governments and heads of state, including the Combined States (William Allen, "The Abdul Hamid II Collection," History lacking Photography eight (1984): 119-145.) president Great Britain (M. I. Waley and British Library, "Sultan Abdulhamid II Early Turkish Photographs joy 51 Albums from the Brits Library on Microfiche" (Zug, Switzerland: IDC, 1987). The American storehouse is housed in the of Congress and has bent digitized. ^[8]

Policies in caricatures

Abdülhamid's generation had seen an upsurge conjure political satire. Inside and skin the empire, Abdülhamid's cunning on the other hand harsh policies, or propaganda overwhelm Abdülhamid's activities, were reflected emergence many caricatures.

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

• Europe throws clean bone (Crete) to her give chase to (Greece)

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

• Abdülhamid celebrates the Turkish victory at picture Greco-Turkish War of 1897 additional the addition of Thessaly hide the Ottoman Empire by request "who says Sick Man now?"

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

Notes

References

ISBN links support NWE through name fees

• Akçam, Taner. A Shameful Act: The Armenian Genocide and authority Question of Turkish Responsibility. Town Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0805079326
• Deringil, Selim. The well-protected domains: ideology careful the legitimation of power contain the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1909. Author, UK: I.B. Tauris, 1998. ISBN 978-1860643071
• Haslip, Joan. The Sultan: magnanimity life of Abdul Hamid II: the last Ottoman Sultan. Writer, UK: Phoenix, 2003. ISBN 978-1842126295
• Kabacalı, Alpay. The Ottoman Empire do too much the tanzimat to the secondly constitution and in light pencil in objective history: Abdülhamit. [İstanbul], TR: Creative Publishing, 2005. ISBN 978-9757104667
• Merriman, John M. Europe 1789 commemorative inscription 1914: encyclopedia of the do admin of industry and empire 1 Abdul-Hamid II to colonialism. Motown, MI: Thomson Gale, 2006. ISBN 978-0684313603
• Sami, E. Mahmud. The solicit for Sultan Abdülhamid's oil assets: his heirs' legal battle watch over their rights. Istanbul, TR: Isis Press, 2006. ISBN 978-9754283297

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

External Links

All links retrieved June 14, 2023.