SULTAN ABDULHAMID II (1876-1909)

Sultan Abdulhamid II was born in Istanbul on the 21st of September, 1842. His father is Sultan Abdul Medjid and his mother is Tir-i Mujgan Kadin Efendi. His mother is a Circassian originated. He lost his mother as a little child and he was grown by his step mother Pristu Kadýn. He was weak child and used to fell sick often, by this reason, he was showed great interest especially during his father’s reign. He was very well educated and learnt to play piano besides his other courses.

Sultan Abdulhamid II lived a free life before he had married. After his marriage, he spent his all spare times with his family. He was inherited an empire which was about to collapse, by his political and social administrations, the empire was saved. He ruled the Ottomans for 33 years.

Abdulhamid was a religious, gracious and a generous man. He lived a life of a common person. During the Greece Campaign, it is informed him that, there was not enough money for a campaign. He spent his personnel wealth for the campaign.

He was also a brilliant carpenter, he used to make marvellous furniture and used to sell them gave that money to the poor. He was a really gracious man, he even forgave many people intended to him.

Sultan Abdul Hamid II had established universities, an Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Finance and Agriculture. Moreover, he openned a many primary schools, high schools, blind and dumb schools.

He had Sisli Etfal Hospital and Poorhouse built with his own money. He had the excellent drinking water called Hamidiye brought to Istanbul. He extended highways until the internal parts of Anatolia and had railways spread through Baghdad and Medina. He had rider trolley roads spread in capital cities.

1^st Constitution Period

The notables of Committee of Union and Progress (Ittihak ve Terrakki Cemiyeti) dethroned Sultan Abdulaziz under cover of the disorder in the Balkans and acssesed Sultan Murad V to the throne. After a short period, Sultan Murad V had left the throne because of his illness and Sultan Abdulhamid II was crowned.

Due to the relations with Europe, an intellectual group was emerged in the Ottoman Empire. Committee of Union and Progress was the voice of this intellectual group. They believed that the salvation of the empire is in Constitution. Abdulhamid had promised that, he will declare the Constitution before he was accessed. He kept his promise and in December, 23 1876 he declared the first constitution of the Ottoman Empire “The Main Laws” (Kanun-i Esasi).

The Period Constitution was not last so long. Because Mithat Pasha (Grand Vizier) was intending to restrict the Sultan’s authority. Abdulhamid hold Mithat Pasha responsible of the death of Sultan Abdulaziz and dismissed him. Mithat Pasha was exiled. Because of the Ottoman-Russian War, the members of the parliament had began to struggle with each other and they had not been working properly, the Sultan decided to dismiss the parliament as well and he had put an end to the Period Constitution.

1877-1888 the Ottoman-Russian war (93 war)

With the Treaty of Paris, the tension between the Ottomans and the Russians had been yielded. But Russia was not pleased with this condition. The neutralisation of the Black Sea had hindered Russia’s advantages. Moreover, Russia had been spreading the Pan-Slavist movement in the Balkans and the Black Sea. As a result of Russian propaganda, revolts had been risen in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, and Bulgaria. The Europeans had assembled a Conference by fear of a new war, the Ottomans declared the Constitution while the Conference was continuing. In this conference, autonomy of Bosnia-Herzegovina was decided. They wanted the Ottoman Army to leave Serbia. The Ottoman Government rejected this conference, and the Europeans assembled another conference in London but they could not have been accepted the Ottomans these articles. They could not have hinder another war in the Balkans.

The War had begun, by the Russian attack. They passed through the River Tuna and came to the Ottoman lands. They also marched through the Eastern Anatolia and captured, Kars and Ardahan, but, in Erzurum they were defeated by Ghazi Ahmed Muhtar Pasha. In the Western parts of the Ottoman territory had been defended by the Ottoman Army led by legendary commander Ghazi Osman Pasha, unfortunately the war took so long and he could not have taken the aid from Istanbul and he could not have been resist anymore. The Russians captured Plevne and Sapka. By capturing this region they opened a passage through Edirne. When the Russian Army had began to marched through Anatolia, the Ottoman Government had asked for peace.

The dissolution of the Ottoman Empire

After the Treaty of Berlin, the Ottoman Empire has entered the duration of dissolution. With the independence of the nations in the Balkans and the treaties signed after the Russian War the Empire began to loose power. Britain invaded Cyprus to hinder Russia’s policies about spreading through the Mediterranean Coast. The Ottoman Government temporarily had left Cyprus to Britain.

France has settled on Algeria and began to make plans on Tunisia. By the Treaty of Berlin France has gained the opportunity to dominate Tunisia. The Ottomans rejected French domination in Tunisia but they could not have been successful. After, French invasion in Tunisia, Britain got into action.

With the opening of the Suez Channel in 1839, Egypt’s geopolitical importance had increased. Britain and France became rivals on Egypt. Hidivi Ismail Pasha was failed to rule Egypt and economical problems had occurred, the European merchants began to attack the shops. These economical conflicts was threatening social peace there. Britain benefited from this chaotic condition and invaded Egypt (1882).

After, Greece became an independent state, the Greeks in the island of Kyrete had revolted in order to be occupied with it. The Ottomans stopped this revolt. But, Greece sent an army to the island and the Ottoman Government had declared war against Greece. The war was made in Teselya region and the Ottoman Army commanded by Ghazi Ethem Pasha defeated the Greeks in 1897. With reconciliation of the European countries a treaty was signed. With this treaty the island was given autonomy and in 1908 Greece invaded the island again. After the wars of Balkan, the Ottomans had completely lost the island.

The domination of Bosnia-Herzegovina was given temporally to Austria by the Treaty of Berlin. Austria invaded this region, after Sultan Abdulhamit declared the Second Constitution. There were internal conflicts going on and The Ottomans had to have accept the Austrian domination in Bosnia except the Yeni Pazar County 1908.

With the Treaty of Berlin, Bulgaria became a Princedom and divided into three regions. The East Roumelia and Macedonia were left to the Ottomans conditionally, and the condition was; a governmental restoration in these two regions. In the East Roumelia revolts had began in 1885 and Bulgaria declared that it has occupied the region. After the declaration of the Second Constitution, Bulgaria became independent and a Bulgarian Kingdom was established in 1908.

2^nd Constitution Period

The supporters of the Constitution had been emerged a group and named themselves “The Young Turks” (Jon Turkler). The Young Turks had put pressure on Sultan Abdulhamid for the declaration of the Second Constitution. Especially, the members of the Committee of Union and Progress in Macedonia had organised revolts and the Sultan declared the Second Constitution in July, 23 1908.

The declaration of The Second Constitution brought peace and harmony to the country, the censorship was abolished, the press was freed and new political parties had been began to be emerged. The Main Laws (Kanun-i Esasi) was renovated and the Turkish people had found the opportunity to represent themselves in the parliament beside the Sultan again.

31 March Event

After the declaration of the Second Constitution some conflicts and struggles had been occurred between different groups. The opponents of the Constitution had co-operated with the hunter troops in Istanbul and revolted. The Action Army had arrived from Salonica and ended the revolt. This revolt was called as the 31 March Event, after this event Committee of Union and Progress gained power and Sultan Abdulhamid was dethroned, Sultan Mehmed Resad replaced him.