Abdülmecid I

Reign: 1839 – 1861
Life: 1823–1861

Abdulmejid's greatest achievement was the announcement of the Tanzimat Edict upon his accession, prepared by his then Foreign Minister Mustafa Reshid Pasha, which effectively began the Tanzimat era, or era of reorganization, in the Ottoman Empire. One of the main goals of the Tanzimat was to encourage Ottomanism among the millets to stop rising nationalist movements within the empire, but despite new laws and reforms to integrate non-Muslims and non-Turks more thoroughly into Ottoman society, in the long term, the movement failed. Abdulmejid forged alliances with the major powers of Western Europe, namely the United Kingdom and France, which fought alongside the Ottoman Empire in the Crimean War against Russia. During the Congress of Paris on 30 March 1856, the Ottoman Empire was officially included among the Concert of Europe.

During Abdülmecid I's reign, Isabella II of Spain ruled Spain, Frederick William IV of Prussia ruled Prussia, and Nicholas I of Russia ruled Russia.

Want to learn more? Further reading

Osman's Dream: The History of the Ottoman Empire 1300–1923 by Caroline Finkel

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The World During Their Reign

The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

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From the library

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