Era of Stagnation (1683-1808)

Rise of the Ottomans

History of the Islamic Ottoman Turkish Empire I (1299-1876)

By the year 1300, a weakened Byzantium had seen most of its Anatolian provinces lost among some ten Seljuk Ghazi principalities.

Ertugrul’s son Osman becomes Bey in 1281, by 1299 declared himself a sovereign from the Seljuk’s, establishing the Ottoman Empire.

- Flag of the Ottoman Empire 1299-1453

- Flag of the Osmanli 1326-1517

- Capture of Bursa – 1326

- Battle of Plocnik – 1386

- Ottoman Battle Flag

- Battle of Kosovo - 1389

- Constantinople - 1452

- Capture of Constantinople - 1453

- Ottoman Flag – 1453 – 1844

- Battle of Chaldiran - 1514

- Sultan Suleiman I – 1520-1566

- Battle of Mohacs - 1526

- Battle of Preveza – 1538

- Battle of Lepanto - 1571

- Capture of Yerevan – 1635

- Capture of Baghdad – 1639

- Second siege of Vienna - 1683

The Ottoman society comprised of many ethnicities: Greek, Armenian, Assyrian, Arab, Jew, Kurd, Persian, Georgian, Bulgarian, Serb, Hungarian, Croatian, Romanian, Albanian, etc. The Turk was the ruling and superior element to all others. The Sultanate, government sectors, viziers, pashas, judges, and the military establishment had to be Turkish and Muslim. The Janissary Corps was the backbone of the Military. Its members were forcefully taken from Christian families, converted and raised as Turks. The Ottoman traditionally got their wives and harem girls from Christian families.

Non-Muslims had to wear a different colour, they could not ride horses, nor carry weapons. Christians and Jews were called “Kafir” or “Gyavur” (Infidel). The Law of the land was Islamic Sharia Law.

After its defeat in 1983, the Ottoman Empire went through a stagnation period, during which many territories ceded. New forces appeared on the horizon, Austria, Britain, France and Russia. Peter the Great of Russia defeats the Ottomans in 1723 and takes Dorbent, Baku, and North Atrpatakan (Azerbaijan) from the Turks and Persians. In the decisive Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774, Catherine II brings Southern Ukraine, the Northern Caucasus, and Crimea within the orbit of the Russian Empire. The Turks try to regain the lost territories, but a united Russian-Austrian force defeats them in 1791 and 1792, and takes Transylvania, Bessarabia and Hungary.

Napoleon invades Egypt in 1798 and takes control over Christian Malta and Christian Palestine. However, Britain fights France defending the Ottomans. Napoleon withdraws, the Turks regain Egypt, and Britain is rewarded with Malta.

Following a short battle in 1807 with Britain, the enraged Janissaries depose Sultan Selim III for his cousin Mustafa IV. Mustafa is deposed after one year for his brother Mahmud II. Each Sultan subsequently murders his brother. The Ottomans lose more lands from their crumbling Empire. During the series of wars between 1806 and 1812, the Russians crush the Ottomans, who sign the Treaty of Bucharest. One day after the Treaty, Napoleon attacks Russia.

With the “Second Serbian Uprising” in 1815, Serbia gains independence from the Ottoman Empire with heroes like Karadorde Petrovic and Milos Obrenovic.

Influenced by the writings and murder of Greek author Rigas Feraios, The Greek War of Independence begins in 1821 and lasts for almost ten years. The Greek people struggle to rid themselves of Ottoman Turkish tyranny and win their recognised independence in 1832.

At the Battle of Navarino, the Sultan closes the Dardanelles for Russian ships and revokes the Akkerman Convention.

After the Russian-Persian and Russian-Turkish Wars of 1828-1829, the Ottomans recognise Russian sovereignty over Georgia and Eastern Armenia.

Starting in the 1830’s, the Ottoman Empire became known as the “Sick man of Europe”.

Дата добавления: 2015-05-31