SULTAN ABDULHAMID II.

Abduhamid was born on September 21st, 1812. His parents were Sultan Abdulmecid and Lady Tirimujgan. After making an agreement with Mithad Pasha and his friends who established a constitutional government (Mesrutiyet), Abduhamid ascended to the throne in August 31, 1876. His reign ended in April 21, 1909. Although he did trust Grand Vizier Mehmed Rustu Pasha and Mithad Pasha, he respected the independence of Bab-I Ali, but at the same time, he selected the palace staff from people whom he trusted. Altogether, he tried to harmonize the relationship between the palace and Bab-Ali.

It was believed that Mithad Pasha could rescue the state from the crisis. Because of this, he was given the authority of the grand vizier, and the task of containing the Bosnia-Herzegovina and Bulgaria riots, and the Serbia and Karadag wars, which had started before, and were all still raging furiously across the area.

The Kanun-i Esasi, which is the first constitution of the Ottoman Empire, was announced in December 23, 1876.

The Turkish Army achieved important accomplishments in the war against Serbia. When Russia, trying to solve the Balkan situation by herself, sent an ultimatum to force the Ottoman Empire into making a treaty with Serbia, England demanded a conference in Istanbul to discuss the Eastern Situation (Sark Meselesi). The conference was held in Istanbul on January 18th, 1877. The Ottoman Government rejected the decisions of the conference because of the excessive demands of Western Governments.

Mithad Pasha informed England that, on the condition of guaranteeing a constitution, it was possible to come to an agreement with the Western states. England began working to hold a conference in London. As a result, Mithad Pasha was discharged from office and exiled on February 5th, 1877. Even though Abduhamid II exiled Mithad Pasha, he did not abandon the idea of a constitutional government. Elections were conducted according to the constitution within three months and the Padishah opened the Parliament. London Protocol, which included the offers of the Russians, and was presented to Bab-I Ali on April 3rd, 1877. The Ottoman government refused the protocol that consisted of heavy liabilities. Therefore, the decision was announced to the Western states, and Russia declared war on the Ottoman Empire on April 24th, 1877. Romania, Serbia, Karadag and Bulgaria sided with the Russians. Padishah, pursuant to the constitution, abolished the Parliament in February 13, 1878. After this, the Ayestafanox (Yesilkoy) Treaty was signed on March 3rd. 1878 with Russia. England demanded that the Ayestafanox Treaty should be examined because of the violation of the Paris Treaty. In the Berlin Treaty, which was signed on July 13th, 1878 with the support of Austria and Germany, the Ottoman Empire lost a huge amount of land and was forced to pay war compensation to Russia. Cyprus was left to England, and Bosnia-Herzegovina was handed over to Austria. In 1881, France invaded Tunis, in 1882 England invaded Egypt, and in 1885, the Bulgarians invaded Eastern Rumalia.

The various and extreme debts of the Administrative Reforms (Tanzimant) period left Padishah in a very difficult condition. The Public Debts Administration (Duyun-u Umumiye) governed financial and economical aspects of the government. However, the intellectuals of the time believed that constitutional monarchy was the only solution to their problems. Thus, the Turkish officers meeting in Macedonia forced the Paishah to declare Kanun-i Esasi, and Abduhamid II re-announced the validity Kanun-I Esasi. II. This very Constitutional Monarcy accelerated the collapse of the Empire. Sultan Abdulhamid was dethroned by the Parliament and sent to Selanik. He was forced to live in the Alatini Mansion. It is then that the Balkan Nations came together and started the Balkan War against the Ottoman Empire. When the enemy approached Selanik, it was decided that Abdulhamid should be brought back to Istanbul. He was forced to live in Beylerbeyi Palace on November 1, 1912. Abdulhamid died in February 10, 1918 and was buried in the Sultan Mahmud II Mausoleum with a grand ceremony. During Sultan Abdulhamid's reign, great developments in education took place. The following institutions of higher education were opened to train valuable specialist civil servants: the Civil Servants College (Merteb-i Mülkiye), the School of Law (Mekteb-i Hukuk), the School of Fine Arts (Sanay-i Nefise Mektebi), the College of Mathematics (Hendese-i Mülkiye), the Teacher's Training College (Darul Muaallimin-i Aliyye), the School of Commerce (Ticaret Mektebi), Halkaly Technical Agricultural School (Halkaly Ziraat Mektebi Alisi), Sea Commerce, Forests and Mines, Language schools, School for Mutes and Blinds, the Female Teacher's Training College (Darulmuallimat) and University (Darulfünun) consisting of School Female Arts (Kyz Sanayi Mektepleri) and Science and Literature Faculty. Cultural Institutions such as the Imperial Museum (Müze-i Humayun), the Military Museum, the Beyazid Public Library, the Yyldyz Archives and Libraries were established during his reign. All over the country, Chambers of agriculture, commerce and industry were established. Development of public improvements and facilities was accelerated. A large part of Anatolia and Rumelia railways and ports were completed. Telegraph lines to the Hejaz and Bosnia were completed. Specialists for military reforms were brought from Germany, while Turkish officers were sent to Germany for education. The Turkish army was equipped with modern weapons. Important achievements were made in legislation. Criminal law and commerce law became effective. The most successful characteristic of Sultan Abdulmecid was his skill in foreign policy. He established some kind of information center to follow the political developments in the world.

Through the certain developments of the government, Abdulhamid II showed his most important quality: the desire and drive to better the Turkish people.