The Reform policy of the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Aziz 1861-1876 (A Historical Study)

Abstract

The Ottoman Empire reached its peak and expansion during the reign of Sultan Suleiman Al Qanoni (1520-1566), in the late 16th century AD, but then began to move towards dissolution and decadence, and the weakness began clearly with the corruption of the Refractive Army regime (Janissary), which became a machine of corruption and chaos after the janissaries became less connected to their military barracks. Many of them went to it to receive salaries only, and many sold tickets for their "payments", i.e. their salaries, and stocks and bonds were sold to those who wanted them, and many of them became working in different professions, and they were meeting only to remove one minister and nominate another; or to raise the voice of disobedience to increase demands and gifts. The corruption of this regime has led to ill-administration of the State. Since the late 16th century, Ottoman reformers have been alerted to the need to reform into the structure of the state, and the military level has been one of the most important aspects addressed by the reform, in a state of a military nature since its formation.

         European countries continued to press the Ottoman Empire to carry out a reform process as the European approach, ideology and secular principles, while Sultan Abdul Aziz confirmed his intention to continue the march of his father Sultan Mahmood the second (1808-1839), and his brother Sultan Abdul Majid the first (1839-1861); He kept all those charged with implementing reforms in their positions.