Abdul Hamid II
Abdul Hamid II (21 September 1842 – 10 February 1918) was the 34th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.[1] He was the last sultan to have complete control over the Empire. He was responsible of the Hamidian massacres. Killing between 100.000 - 300.000 Armenians. He witnessed many revolutions and wars. Abdul Hamid II ruled from 1876 to 1909, until he was overthrown by a group of people calling themselves the "Young Turks".
| Abdul Hamid II | |
|---|---|
| Caliph of Islam Amir al-Mu'minin Sultan of the Ottoman Empire Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques | |
 Abdul Hamid II in the late 19th century as a Sultan. | |
| Sultan of the Ottoman Empire | |
| Reign | 31 August 1876 – 27 April 1909 |
| Sword girding | 7 September 1876 |
| Predecessor | Murad V |
| Successor | Mehmed V |
| Born | 21 September 1842 Topkapı Palace, Istanbul |
| Died | 10 February 1918 (aged 75) Beylerbeyi Palace, Istanbul |
| Burial | Sultan Mahmud II Tomb |
| Royal house | House of Osman |
| Father | Abdülmecid I |
| Mother | • Tirimüjgan Sultan • Rahime Perestu Sultan |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
| Tughra |  |
He modernized the Empire during his reign, by for example building many railways, schools and hospitals. He also seeked to unify the Muslims in the Empire under Pan-Islamism as opposed to others wanting to unify the Empire under Ottomanism which meant to unify both the Muslim and non-Muslim subjects of the empire.
Although the Empire was beginning to fall, he at least gave the Empire a lift in his reign.
His reign ended as Young Turks revolted against him, effectively deposing him and putting their favored sultan, Mehmed V.