Week 6
Young Ottomans and Constitutionalism
Criticized existing governance system and advocated parliamentary (constitutionalism) system
Advocated preparing a constitution incorporating modern state administration and Islamic events from ottoman system
to establish a legitimate foundation for the parliamentary system
Constitutional text written by midhat pasha
Directed most of their critism towards tanzimat also wanted to depose sultan abdulaziz
Believed too many concessions were made to western powers
were sent to exile and most had to escape to Europe afterwards
midhat pasha, serasker huseyn avni pasha, with support of sheikh ul islam obtained fatwa and staged coup
dethroned sultan4 days later sultan abdulaziz found dead unsure whether assassination or sucide
sultan murat V ascended (considered to have mental problems) lasted only 3 months replaced by abdul hamid
10 days later cerkes hasan raided a meeting under leadership of midhat pasha and killed huseyn avni pasha and other
statesmen there
Balkan Wars
Herzegovina uprising
Bulgarian revolt
Serbian ottoman wars
Montenegrin ottoman war
In response to the Balkan wars, Constantinople conference held with European states in 1876
Facing risk of losing the Balkans, ottoman empire pressured to declare constitutional rule under sultan abdulhamid II
Hence states didn’t implement conference decisions
Kanun-i- Esasi (Ottoman Constitution)
Formulated by ideas of jurist Kirkor Odyan under leadership of midhat pasha
Prepared after French and Belgian constitutions
Consists of 199 articles, regulates state’s executive mechanism
113th article would given abdulhamid II significant leverage in suspending constitution
Article 4 sultan under title ‘supreme caliph’ is protector of muslim religion
Article 7 sultan has right to all decisions
Article 8 all subjects of empire are called Ottomans without discrimination
Article 11 islam is the state religion but state will protect free exercise of faiths
Article 113 incase of disturbance imperial govt has right to state of siege. Sultan can expel anyone dangerous to state’s
safety and affair
After year long war with Russia ottoman lost and signed treaty of San Stefano in Yesilkoy
Treaty guaranteed autonomy and independace to many Balkan regions and granted Russia influence over them
To avoid this ottoman empire signed treaty of berlin so treaty of san Stefano became null and void
Treaty of Berlin 1878
Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Montenegro gained their independence
Bosnia and Herzegovina gained autonomous status
Cyprus leased to Britain
Kars, Batum, Ardahan and Artvin ceded to Russia
Ottoman empire promised to implement reforms in eastern provinces
Ciragan Incident may 1878
Young Ottomans and Constitutionalism
Criticized existing governance system and advocated parliamentary (constitutionalism) system
Advocated preparing a constitution incorporating modern state administration and Islamic events from ottoman system
to establish a legitimate foundation for the parliamentary system
Constitutional text written by midhat pasha
Directed most of their critism towards tanzimat also wanted to depose sultan abdulaziz
Believed too many concessions were made to western powers
were sent to exile and most had to escape to Europe afterwards
midhat pasha, serasker huseyn avni pasha, with support of sheikh ul islam obtained fatwa and staged coup
dethroned sultan4 days later sultan abdulaziz found dead unsure whether assassination or sucide
sultan murat V ascended (considered to have mental problems) lasted only 3 months replaced by abdul hamid
10 days later cerkes hasan raided a meeting under leadership of midhat pasha and killed huseyn avni pasha and other
statesmen there
Balkan Wars
Herzegovina uprising
Bulgarian revolt
Serbian ottoman wars
Montenegrin ottoman war
In response to the Balkan wars, Constantinople conference held with European states in 1876
Facing risk of losing the Balkans, ottoman empire pressured to declare constitutional rule under sultan abdulhamid II
Hence states didn’t implement conference decisions
Kanun-i- Esasi (Ottoman Constitution)
Formulated by ideas of jurist Kirkor Odyan under leadership of midhat pasha
Prepared after French and Belgian constitutions
Consists of 199 articles, regulates state’s executive mechanism
113th article would given abdulhamid II significant leverage in suspending constitution
Article 4 sultan under title ‘supreme caliph’ is protector of muslim religion
Article 7 sultan has right to all decisions
Article 8 all subjects of empire are called Ottomans without discrimination
Article 11 islam is the state religion but state will protect free exercise of faiths
Article 113 incase of disturbance imperial govt has right to state of siege. Sultan can expel anyone dangerous to state’s
safety and affair
After year long war with Russia ottoman lost and signed treaty of San Stefano in Yesilkoy
Treaty guaranteed autonomy and independace to many Balkan regions and granted Russia influence over them
To avoid this ottoman empire signed treaty of berlin so treaty of san Stefano became null and void
Treaty of Berlin 1878
Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Montenegro gained their independence
Bosnia and Herzegovina gained autonomous status
Cyprus leased to Britain
Kars, Batum, Ardahan and Artvin ceded to Russia
Ottoman empire promised to implement reforms in eastern provinces
Ciragan Incident may 1878
