Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Abdul-Hamid II.

ABDUL-HAMID II., 34th Sultan of Turkey, born Sept. 22, 1842, the second son of the Sultan Abdul-Medjid; succeeded to the throne in 1876, on the deposition of his brother, Murad V.

ABDUL-HAMID II.

Defeated in the war of 1877–1878 with Russia, he was compelled by the Treaty of Berlin to surrender a small portion of territory in Europe and Asia, to recognize the independence of the suzerain states in Europe, and to acknowledge Bulgaria as a tributary principality. In 1895-1896, during the massacres of the Armenians, he took an active part in the negotiations with the European powers, and communicated personally with Lord Salisbury, protesting his intention to grant an investigation and the reforms urged by the powers. In 1897, Greece forced war on Turkey in behalf of the Cretans, and in 1898 Great Britain and Russia forced Turkey to evacuate the island. As the years progressed, the Sultan's rule became steadily more despotic and sanguinary, until he had won the sobriquet of "Abdul the Damned." It was only when a rebellion broke out in Macedonia, July 22, 1908, that Abdul became alarmed and restored the Constitution which he had abrogated thirty years before. The new Turkish Parliament opened Jan. 15, 1909. On April 14 following, the Sultan instigated a counter-revolution that failed. April 24, forces of the Young Turks entered the capital and took possession of the person of the Sultan. He was banished temporarily to Salonica, whence he was brought back, Nov. 12, 1912, to Constantinople and confined in a palace on the Asiatic side of the Bosporus. He died Feb. 10, 1918.