Peace With Russia
A short time later, the Turco-Russian War, which broke out on April 27, 1877, gave birth to many problems. In this war, which was publicly called the “Ninety Three War”, the transfer of soldiers from the city to west, the sick coming from the front, and the Rumelian countrymen escaping from the war caused lots of troubles in Istanbul.
On February 13, 1878, Sultan Abdülhamid closed the Assembly. In March 3, 1878, upon the arrival of Russian armies at Yeşilköy (Ayastefanos), the Ayastefanos agreement was signed and a long peace period began. For broader historical background on the Ottoman Empire, readers may also consult Britannica.
Constitutional Period Ottoman Empire and the Issue of Education
During the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II, the issue of education gained importance. Many schools were opened in Istanbul, and at the beginning of 1900, the number of schools was almost 30.
Among the schools were the School of State Administration, School of Law, School of Fine Arts, School of Accounting, School of High Medicine, School of Teacher Education, School of Science and Accounting, School of Pharmacy, School of Commerce, Halkalı Advanced Studies of Agriculture, Hamidiye School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Forestry and Mining, School of Marine Trade, School for the Mute and Blind, Men’s and Girl’s Schools of Industry, universities, high schools, and secondary schools.
Inspired by these improvements, private schools such as Darülfeyz, Burhan-i Terakki, and Numune-i Irfan started their education in this period as well. This educational growth formed an important part of late Ottoman modernization in Istanbul.
II. Constitution
Sultan Abdülhamid II declared the II. Constitution on July 24, 1908 and was dethroned after the March 31 Incidence and was exiled. Sultan Mehmet Reşad V took up the throne in his place on April 27, 1909.
This moment marked a turning point in the political life of the empire and in the history of Istanbul. For a general overview of the constitutional era, see Wikipedia’s entry on the Second Constitutional Era.
Balkan War
After this, Istanbul experienced wars and turbulence. On January 19, 1910, Çırağan Palace was burned. This was the first of a series of bad omens to come. On February 6, 1911, a fire broke out in Babıali. On October 18, 1912, the Balkan War started. Once again Istanbul witnessed disastrous scenes like in the Ninety Three War.
These years were marked by instability, fear, and repeated shocks to the daily life of the capital.
Babiali Raid
On January 23, 1913, the Babıali Raid broke out. Kıbrıslı Kamil Pasha’s government was forced to resign under threat of a gun. On June 11, 1913, Vizier Mahmut Şevket Pasha was assassinated.
The wave of bribery, corruption, and theft started to shake the base of state structure. On December 14, 1914, the First World War broke out. In order to fight the famine and poverty brought by the war, hoarding and black market could not be prevented in spite of the efforts of official institutions.
Why This Period Matters in Istanbul History
The constitutional period is essential for understanding how Istanbul changed in the late Ottoman era. It was a time of reform, political rupture, war, and social strain. The city saw new educational institutions, constitutional experiments, military pressures, and daily hardship all within a few decades.
When exploring Ottoman Istanbul today, visitors often connect this history with major imperial and civic landmarks, from Sultanahmet Square to the palaces and administrative quarters that framed the empire’s final years.
