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{{Ottoman Succession box |Sultan_Name=Abdülmecid I|image_portrait=Portrait_of_Abdulmecid_at_the_Pera_Museum_in_Istanbul.jpg |Military=Stagnation of the Ottoman Empire |title=[[Ottoman Sultan]] |title2=[[Ottoman Caliphate|Caliph]] |before=[[Mahmud II]]|after=[[Abdülaziz]]|years=1839–61}}
'''Abdülmecid I''' ([[Ottoman Turkish language|Ottoman Turkish]]: عبد المجيد اول ''‘Abdü’l-Mecīd-i evvel'') ([[April 23]] [[1823]] – [[June 25]] [[1861]]) was the 31st [[sultan]] of the [[Ottoman Empire]] and succeeded his father [[Mahmud II]] on [[July 2]] [[1839]]. His reign was notable for the rise of nationalist movements within the empire's territories. Abdülmecid wanted to encourage [[Ottomanism]] among the secessionist subject nations and stop the rise of nationalist movements within the empire, but failed to succeed despite trying to integrate non-[[Muslims]] and non-Turks more thoroughly into the Ottoman society with new laws and reforms. He tried to forge alliances with the major powers of Western Europe, namely the [[United Kingdom]] and [[France]], who fought alongside the Ottoman Empire at the [[Crimean War]] against [[Russian Empire|Russia]]. In the following [[Congress of Paris]] on [[30 March]] [[1856]], the Ottoman Empire was officially included among the European family of nations. Abdülmecid's biggest achievement was the announcement and application of the [[Tanzimat]] (Reorganization) reforms which were prepared by his father [[Mahmud II]] and effectively started the modernization of [[Turkey]] in 1839.

Abdülmecid received a European education and was a fluent speaker of the [[French language]] while being interested in literature and classical music like [[Abdülaziz]] who succeeded him. He was an advocate of reforms like his father [[Mahmud II]], and was lucky enough to have the support of progressionist viziers like Mustafa Reşit Pasha, [[Mehmet Emin Ali Paşa]] and Fuat Pasha. Throughout his reign he had to struggle against conservatives who opposed his reforms. Abdülmecid was also the first emperor to personally listen to the public's complaints in special reception days, usually every Friday, without any middlemen. Abdülmecid toured the empire's territories to see in first person how the [[Tanzimat]] reforms were being applied; travelling to İzmit, Mudanya, Bursa, Gallipoli, Çanakkale, Lemnos, Lesbos and Chios in 1844. He toured the Balkan provinces in 1846.

When Abdülmecid succeeded to the throne, the affairs of the [[Ottoman Empire]] were in an extremely critical state. At the very time his father died, the news was on its way to [[Istanbul]] that the empire's army had been defeated at [[Nizip]] by that of the rebel [[Egypt]]ian [[viceroy]], [[Muhammad Ali of Egypt|Mehmet Ali]]. The empire's fleet was at the same time on its way to [[Alexandria]], where it was handed over to the same enemy by its commander [[Ahmed Fevzi Pasha]], on the pretext that the young sultan's advisers were sold to [[Russia]]. However, through the intervention of the European powers, Mehmet Ali was obliged to come to terms, and the Ottoman Empire was saved from further attacks while its territories in Syria, Lebanon and Palestine were restored.

[[Image:DolmabahceMainGate.JPG|thumbnail|right|250px|[[Dolmabahçe Palace]], the first European-style palace in [[Istanbul]], was built by Abdülmecid between 1842 and 1853, at a cost of five million Ottoman gold pounds, the equivalent of 35 tons of gold. 14 tons of gold was used only to adorn the interior ceiling of the palace. The world's largest Bohemian crystal chandelier, a gift from [[Queen Victoria]], is at the center 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.]]
In compliance with his father's express instructions, Abdülmecid immediately carried out the reforms to which Mahmud II had devoted himself. In November [[1839]] an edict known as the [[Hatt-i-sherif of Gulhane|Hatt-ı Şerif of Gülhane]], also known as Tanzimat Fermanı was proclaimed, consolidating and enforcing these reforms. The edict was supplemented at the close of the [[Crimean War]] by a similar statute issued in February [[1856]], named the [[Hatt-ı Hümayun]]. By these enactments it was provided that all classes of the sultan's subjects should have security for their lives and property; that taxes should be fairly imposed and justice impartially administered; and that all should have full religious liberty and equal civil rights. The scheme met with keen opposition from the [[Muslim]] governing classes and the ''[[ulema]],'' or religious authorities, and was but partially put in force, especially in the remoter parts of the empire; and more than one conspiracy was formed against the sultan's life on account of it.

The most important measures of reform promoted by Abdülmecid were:
* Introduction of the first Ottoman paper banknotes (1840)
* Reorganization of the army (1843-1844)
* Adoption of an Ottoman national anthem and Ottoman national flag (1844)
* Reorganization of the finance system according to the French model
* Reorganization of the Civil and Criminal Code according to the French model
* Establishment of the ''Meclis-i Maarif-i Umumiye'' (1845) which was the prototype of the First Ottoman Parliament (1876)
* Institution of a council of public instruction (1846)
* Establishment of the first modern universities and academies (1848)
* Abolition of an unfairly imposed capitation tax which imposed higher tariffs on non-Muslims (1856)
* Non-Muslims were allowed to become soldiers (1856)
* Various provisions for the better administration of the public service and for the advancement of commerce

Another notable reform was that the [[turban]] was officially outlawed for the first time during Abdülmecid's reign, in favour of the [[Fez (clothing)|fez]]. European fashions were also adopted in full swing by the Court. (The fez itself was later banned with the "Hat Law" in [[1925]] by the [[Grand National Assembly of Turkey|Republican National Assembly]] which had already abolished the sultanate and proclaimed the Turkish Republic in [[1923]]).

[[Samuel Morse]] received his first ever patent for the [[telegraph]] in [[1847]], at the old Beylerbeyi Palace (the present [[Beylerbeyi Palace]] was built in 1861-1865 on the same location) in Istanbul, which was issued by Sultan Abdülmecid who personally tested the new invention.<ref>[http://www.istanbulcityguide.com/history/body_mansions_palaces.htm Istanbul City Guide: Beylerbeyi Palace]</ref>

[[Image:turkish crimea medal.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The [[Crimean War medal]] issued by Abdülmecid to British, French, and Sardinian allied personnel involved in the Crimean War (Sardinian issue)]]
When [[Lajos Kossuth|Kossuth]] and others sought refuge in [[Turkey]] after the failure of the [[Hungary|Hungarian]] rising in [[1849]], the sultan was called on by [[Austria]] and [[Russia]] to surrender them, but he refused. He also would not allow the conspirators against his own life to be put to death. The [[1911 Encyclopædia Britannica|1911 ''Encyclopædia Britannica'']] says of him, "Abdülmecid bore the character of being a kind and honourable man, if somewhat weak and easily led. Against this, however, must be set down his excessive extravagance, especially towards the end of his life."

The Ottoman Empire took its first foreign loans on 25 August [[1854]] during the [[Crimean War]]. This major foreign loan was followed by those of [[1855]], [[1858]] and [[1860]], which culminated in default and led to the alienation of European sympathy from [[Turkey]] and indirectly to the dethronement and death of [[Abdülâziz]] in the following years.

Abdülmecid died of [[tuberculosis]] (like his father) at the age of 39 on [[25 June]] [[1861]] and was succeeded by his brother, Abdülâziz, the oldest survivor of the family of [[Osman I|Osman]]. He left several sons, of whom two, [[Murad V]] and [[Abdülhamid II]], eventually succeeded to the throne.

== Emblem ==

In [[1845]], the onset of the Great Irish Famine resulted in over 1,000,000 deaths. [[Ottoman]] [[Abdülmecid|Sultan Abdülmecid]] declared his intention to send 10,000 sterling to Irish farmers but [[Queen Victoria]] requested that the Sultan send only 1,000 sterling, because she had sent only 2,000 sterling. The Sultan sent the 1,000 sterling but also secretly sent 3 ships full of food. The English courts tried to block the ships, but the food arrived Drogheda harbor and was left there by Ottoman Sailors. <ref>[http://www.internetspor.com/v3/futbol/haber.php?haberID=61468 Why crescentstar on Drogheda Utd emblem?]</ref>

Due to this the Irish people, especially those in [[Drogheda]], are friendly to the Turks. This event led to the appearance of Ottoman symbols on Drogheda United's emblem.

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Wikisource1911Enc|Abd-ul-Mejid}}
*{{1911}}

{{Sultans of Ottoman Empire}}

[[Category:Sultans of the Ottoman Empire]]
[[Category:Turkic rulers]]
[[Category:People of the Revolutions of 1848]]
[[Category:Knights of the Garter]]
[[Category:1823 births]]
[[Category:1861 deaths]]

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