Was Abdul Hamid II underrated? - Historum

**infestør** · August 30th, 2012, 02:04 AM

since he ruled in the dissolution period of the ottoman empire i think this sultan was overlooked by many. as i remember from my mid and high school lessons he was always emphasized as an oppressive ruler, if not the most. how true is this? aren't all sultans, kings etc. oppressive anyways?

he probably had mistakes but he made many reforms (â€¢ ilk defa elektriÄŸi, gazÄ± getiren, ilk modern eczanemizi aÃ§tÄ±ran, â€¢ il - Pastebin.com in turkish, maybe google translate can help) and the empire did not lose much land.
don't you think this guy was discredited?

**Efendi** · August 30th, 2012, 04:08 AM

He ruined Ottoman navy locking them into bosphorous, because he thought that they would threaten him in the saray located by the sea.

He was very paranoyach that they might kill him after seeing that the previous Sultan was killed by being cut from his nerves.

**Efendi** · November 29th, 2012, 10:22 PM

The reforms in his times was mandatory changes, I think If there were another Sultan instead of him, things would have been better.

I like his facial expression, It really tells the paranoya.

Btw her grandaugher is very beautifull lady. Allah may grant her to her lovers.

**infestør** · November 30th, 2012, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Efendi

He ruined Ottoman navy locking them into bosphorous, because he thought that they would threaten him in the saray located by the sea.

He was very paranoyach that they might kill him after seeing that the previous Sultan was killed by being cut from his nerves.

afaik those ships which were left to rot were old ones. he bought new warships from europe.

Quote:

The reforms in his times was mandatory changes, I think If there were another Sultan instead of him, things would have been better.

maybe but we will never know.

mansamusa · December 6th, 2012, 03:23 AM

I would say underated definitely. He seemed wise enough to know that Western style democratic reforms only made sense in the right doses.

**infestør** · December 10th, 2012, 06:51 AM

he also made the hejaz railway for easier access to medina—if it counts for smth.
it is said that as the train neared medina, sleepers were from wood and there was hairfelt underneath them so it dampens the noise.

Ayazid · December 10th, 2012, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infestør

he also made the hejaz railway for easier access to medina—if it counts for smth.
it is said that as the train neared medina, sleepers were from wood and there was hairfelt underneath them so it dampens the noise.

That was a remarkable achievement, but it didn't exactly win to the empire popularity among local tribes and feudal-religious elite (notably the Sharif Hussein). The Ottomans rather should have neglected the area as much as they could, instead of developing it and trying to change their way of life anyhow.

**infestør** · December 10th, 2012, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayazid

That was a remarkable achievement, but it didn't exactly to the empire popularity among local tribes and feudal-religious elite (notably the Sharif Hussein). The Ottomans rather should have neglected the area as much as they could, instead of developing it and trying to change their way of life anyhow.

probably.
i think abdul hamid II tried to serve to islam as the caliph.
today only the jordanian and syrian parts of the railway remain afaik. the saudi part is long gone (no surprises there)

Farinal · December 10th, 2012, 08:58 AM

What do you mean underrated?

**infestør** · December 10th, 2012, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Farinal

What do you mean underrated?

by underrated i mean his deeds were ignored, unknown, forgotten or belittled; he did not get the credit he deserved.
i don't know what they taught you until the end of highschool but i was taught nothing but he was a oppressive and paranoid evil sultan.