2.

Between Tradition and Innovation: Sultan Selim III and

the ‘New Order’, 1789-1807
Sultan Selim III Acceded the Throne 1789

*2nd major Russo-Turkish war (1787-92) ended with Treaty of Jassy

1792 (with British and Prussian mediation)

-Treaty shows the inability of Ottoman army in front of

Russian military strength.
-Russia establishes itself on the shore of northern Black Sea.
-British Empire switched from being neutral in Russo-
Ottoman conflict to support of Ottoman Empire against
Russians gaining strength and dominance in the Balkans.
This is considered a key strategic move that is treated as start
point of Eastern Question.
2. Between Tradition and Innovation: Sultan Selim III and the ‘New Order’, 1789-1807

By Treaty of Jassy
1792 the stripped area
is annexed by Russia
2. Between Tradition and Innovation: Sultan Selim III and the ‘New Order’, 1789-1807

Treaty of Jassy
in regional
context
Overall
Balkans in 19th
Century
 2. Between Tradition and Innovation: Sultan Selim III and
the ‘New Order’, 1789-1807
Sultan Selim III Acceded the Throne 1789
*2nd major Russo-Turkish war (1787-92) ended with Treaty of Jassy 1792
(with British and Prussian mediation)

-Sultan Selim III launched the reforms of Nizami Jadid (immediately after the
treaty).
Reforms aimed at strengthening central state apparatuses against external threat
(Russia) and internal one (semi-independent Ayans)

Reforms were “essentially traditional”: Strengthening state apparatuses, armed

forces and tax collection, combating corruption, abuses, etc…re-establish adalah,
individuals forced into their hudud , traditional clothing, building restriction etc…
were imposed

Zürcher presents Selim III as transitional figure between traditional reforms and
Tanzimat reforms. (Selim III was traditional, but with the mix of European advisers).
 Reforms of Nizam-i Cedid.
Changes and features:
1st stage
a-Separated strictly military functions from administrative functions of the officer
corps.
b-Reduced the ranks (eliminated those who had pay ticket (esame) but did not
actually serve in the army
c-Enforced stricter discipline
d-Guaranteeing regular payment

These attempts failed due to obstruction within system

2nd stage
Decided to create a new army outside of old military structure.
Formation of new army started in 1794 reached to 30.000 in number by 1807.
Advisors and trainers were mostly from French
Shortages/Obstructions:
Ineffective funding of the reforms… (no budget/first come first serve etc…)
Confiscation
Debasing
Reducing the overstaffing of the office etc
Created office of important affairs (Muhimme Odasi) 1797
 Context of the Reforms of Nizam-i Cedid

External
Defeat at the Russian-Turkish War (1768-1774)

Sultan highly admired Absolute Monarchy of Louis XVI, (wrote letter top him while
he was priest)

Europe is economically, administratively and internationally powerful

Internal
Ayans, emerging provincial power centers
Financial shortages
Weak central governing apparatuses
Military disorders, janissaries and sipahis
 Channels of Flow of Western Ideas

1-Introducing French advisors, mainly military

Westerners socialize with influential Ottoman Christian
minorities and influential Ottoman bureaucrats
2-New permanent Ottoman Embassies in Europe (London
1793, Vienna 1794, Berlin 1795, Paris 1795).
-These were less successful in their diplomatic tasks, more
“affective as ambassador of European life in Ottoman
society”
-Foreign advisers and military teachers, brought new ideas
to students. They had regular socialization/gatherings with
rulings class, as well as leaders of local Christian
communities
 Fall of Sultan Selim III
Alienation in the cneter (Istanbul and surrounding )
Alienated old military establishment (janissaries mainly) Selim III
Earned dislike of ulema circles
Unpopularity amongst the people, for his attempt to restrict certain popular practices
Placed new taxes on coffee and tobacco, (besides other things )

Relying on Provinces for shortage of human resources

Needed to rely on provincial sources, mainly Ayans, for tax revenue, for provisioning
the center, as well for man power (Napoleonic war)
This strengthened the Ayans in provinces.

-Provincial Forces (Ayans), were ambivalent in their support of Nizami Cedid.

They supported it against their rivalries (janissaries and Ulama power), but did not
want a strong central government’s control over them.

“limited understanding of the European models”…insufficient funds, ….traditional

opposition, insufficient “ruthlessness and cunning for the task.”
-1807 Janissaries revolted, replacement of Selim III with Mustafa IV, fatwa etc…

Mustafa IV
 2. Between Tradition and Innovation: Sultan Selim III and
the ‘New Order’, 1789-1807
International Relations
French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars

Empire’s friendly relations with French goes back two hundred years
Napoleonic invasion of Egypt (1798) abruptly, but briefly cut this
relations

(Colonial and commercial rivalry between French, Britain, and

Russia).

Peace of Amiens 1802

Territorial Losses of OE
 The Ideological influences of the French Revolution
Exposure of the members of Ottoman rulings class to European ideas
Tendency of “the younger bureaucrats to look for rationally motivated solutions”
Looking to establish bureaucracy with:
-salaried officials
-security of the jobs
-task and prospects are clearly defined
-stable regulations
“A marked affect” of FR “was among the literate members of the Christian
communities of the empire”…chief among the effects was idea of “liberty”….which
became main conceptual tool in the discourses of nationalism.
-Liberty: Used for national independence, not for the guarantee of civic rights.

Nationalism of central European type (romantic visions of their historical past), not a
Western European type.

Kara George: 1808 Year of Serbian Insurrection (based on Nationalism)

Greek merchants, Philiki Hetairia ( a secret society founded in Odessa, 1814).

ECONOMICALLY: These years saw strong position of Greek merchants in Levant.

2. Between Tradition and Innovation: Sultan Selim III and
the ‘New Order’, 1789-1807
Bayraktar Mustafa Pasha
(Also named Alemdar Mustafa Pasha or Ruscuk).

Sultan Selim III is replaced by Mustafa IV.

B. Mustafa Pasha had ambivalent relations with palace.
Escapers from 1807 Janissary revolt joined Bayraktar.
Allied himself with reformists, captured central government/palace
Mustafa IV is replaced with Mahmut II.
Attempted to re-constitute Nizam-i Cedid under traditional name, Segbans

Sened-i Ittifak (document of agreement), October 1808.

“A pact between ruler and his barons”.
Marks influence of provincial forces on the center
Ayans agreed to be partner in Ottoman governing body and obey the
Sultan.

B. Mustafa Pasha control over the palace ended with another janissary revolts,
which led Mahmut II to dissolve the Segban corps.