Â鶹APP

Top 10 Facts about Abdülmecid I

Sultan Abdülmecid. Photo Sourced from

Abdulmecid 1 was the 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and succeeded his father Mahmud II on 2 July 1839. His reign was notable for the rise of nationalist movements within the empire’s territories.

Abdulmecid wanted to encourage Ottomanism among secessionist subject nations and stop rising nationalist movements within the empire. 

However, despite new laws and reforms to integrate non-Muslims and non-Turks more thoroughly into Ottoman society, his efforts failed. Let’s take a look at some of the facts about him;

1. He was born in 1823 in his father’s palace and his mother was the first wife

Abdulmecid was born on 25 April 1823 at the Besiktas Sahil Palace or the Topkapı Palace, both in Istanbul. His mother was his father’s first wife in 1839, Valide Sultan Bezmialem, originally named Suzi (1807–1853), either a Circassian or Georgian slave.

She became Valide Sultan, the equivalent of British Queen though more powerful even in politics and she oversaw a very huge staff. 

He ascended the throne as a mere boy a few days after the Ottoman defeat by the Viceroy of Egypt at the Battle of Nizip (June 1839). He was only 16 when he succeeded to the throne on 2 July 1839, he was young and inexperienced, and the affairs of the Ottoman Empire were in a critical state. 

2.Abdulmecid’s biggest achievement is the application of the Tanzimat reforms

Abdulmecid’s biggest achievement was the announcement and application of the Tanzimat (reorganization) reforms which were prepared by his father and effectively started the modernization of the Ottoman Empire in 1839.

For this achievement, one of the Imperial anthems of the Ottoman Empire, the March of Abdulmecid, was named after him. In November 1839 an edict known as the Hatt-ı Serif of Gulhane, also known as Tanzimat Fermanı was proclaimed, consolidating and enforcing these reforms. 

3. He formed alliances with major powers of Western Europe

Sultan Abdülmecid rode on the streets of Istanbul after attending Eif al-fitr’s prayer. Photo Sourced from

He tried to forge alliances with the major powers of Western Europe, namely the United Kingdom and France, who fought alongside the Ottoman Empire in the Crimean War against Russia.

In the following Congress of Â鶹APP on 30 March 1856, the Ottoman Empire was officially included among the European family of nations. He established modern universities and academies (1848).

Abdulmecid later established an Ottoman school in Â鶹APP. He also reorganised the finance system according to the French model. 

4. Abdulmecid received a European education and was fluent in French

Abdulmecid received a European education and spoke fluent French, the first sultan to do so. Like Abdulaziz who succeeded him, he was interested in literature and classical music.

Abdulmecid like his father Mahmud II was an advocate of reforms and was lucky enough to have the support of progressive viziers such as Mustafa Resit Pasha, Mehmet Emin Ali Pasa and Fuad Pasha.

Abdulmecid was also the first sultan to directly listen to the public’s complaints on special reception days, which were usually held every Friday without any middlemen. 

5. His reign outlawed the Turbans in favour of the Fez in one of his reforms

Portrait of Abdulmecid I, Drottningholm Palace, Sweden.
Author: Rupen Manas.

Another notable reform was that the Turban was officially outlawed for the first time during Abdulmecid’s reign, in favour of the Fez. He later decriminalized homosexuality. 

European fashions were also adopted by the Court. (The fez would be banned in 1925 by the same Republican National Assembly that abolished the sultanate and proclaimed the Turkish Republic in 1923).

6. Abdulmecid received numerous honours in his life

Abd-ul-Mejid (1823-1861), Sultan of Turkey
Author: David Wilkie.

Abdulmecid received numerous awards and honours in his life including; the Founder of the Order of the Medjidie (Ottoman Empire) in 1851, and the Grand Cross of the Tower and Sword (Kingdom of Portugal) in 1856.

He also received the Stranger Knight of the Garter (United Kingdom) on 5th November 1856.Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (military) (Belgium) on 20th March 1860 and the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (French Empire). 

7. The first European-style palace was built by Abdulmecid

Game
Photographed by: Rotaru Florin.

The Dolmabahce Palace is the first European-style palace in Istanbul and was built by Abdulmecid between 1843 and 1856, for five million Ottoman gold pounds, the equivalent of 35 tons of gold.

Fourteen tons of gold were used to adorn the interior ceiling of the palace. The world’s largest Bohemian crystal chandelier, a gift from Queen Victoria, is in the centre hall.

The palace has the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world, and even the staircases are made of Baccarat crystal. 

8. He brought reforms that made all religions have equal civil rights

He brought reforms that all people should have full religious liberty and equal civil rights. This scheme met with strong opposition from the Muslim governing classes and the ulema or religious authorities.

It was only however partially implemented, especially in the more remote parts of the empire. More than one conspiracy was formed against the sultan’s life on account of it.

9. He also made reforms that changed the education system based European model

During his reign, the Ottoman educational system was also mainly based on the European model and besides European style architecture and European style clothing adopted by the court.

The sultan’s educational reforms included the formation of a Ministry of Education and the establishment of military preparatory schools and secondary schools; he also established an Ottoman school in Â鶹APP (1855).

10. Abdulmecid’s forces lost several wars during his reign

His reign started with the defeat of his forces by the Viceroy of Egypt and the subsequent signing of the Convention of London (1840), which saved his empire from a greater embarrassment.

His success in foreign relations was not as notable as his domestic accomplishments. The Ottomans successfully participated in the Crimean War and were winning signatories to the Treaty of Â鶹APP (1856).

His attempts at strengthening his base in the Balkans failed in Bosnia and Montenegro, and in 1861 he was forced to give up Lebanon by the Concert of Europe. 

Although he emphasized his commitment to the ceremonial rules imposed by his ancestors at the ceremonies reflected outside, he adopted radical changes in the life of the palace. 

He also made other reforms including; In 1858 a new land law confirming the rights of ownership was introduced, and an attempt was made to establish a new system of centralized provincial administration.