Opposition and Legitimacy in the Ottoman Empire

In this account of the political culture of Ottoman rule in the late nineteenth century and the forces of opposition against it, the author examines a number of key political conspiracies and how these relate to the notion of legitimacy. In analysing the structure of these conspiracies, the motives and aims of the plotters, and their style of contestation, the author provides a detailed evaluation of Ottoman political culture of the period.

Florian Riedler is a historian specialising in Ottoman history of the nineteenth century. His current research interests are social and urban history of the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly Istanbul, as well as the history of migration in the Ottoman Empire.

1. Introduction: Political Culture of Conspiracy 2. A Sheikh and an Officer: The Society of Martyrs and the Kuleli Incident 3. New and Old Forms of Opposition: The Young Ottomans and the Vocation Group 4. How To Exchange Sultans: The Successful Coup Against Abdülaziz 5. War and Refugees: Ali Suavi and the Ç-räan Incident 6. Bourgeois Conspirators: The Skalieri-Aziz Committee 7. Conclusion: The Tanzimat and Beyond