Abdul Hamid I

Abdul Hamid I was born on 20 March 1725 in Constantinople, as a younger son of Sultan Ahmed III and his consort Şermi Kadın. He received his early education from his mother, who taught him history and calligraphy. He was imprisoned in comfort by his cousins and older brother, who succeeded his father as sultans, until 1767. He ascended to the throne on 21 January 1774, after the death of his brother Mustafa III. He inherited a war with Russia, which he concluded by signing the humiliating Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca, which granted Russia the right to intervene in the affairs of the Ottoman Empire's Christian subjects and to protect the Orthodox Church. He also lost the Crimean Peninsula, which became nominally independent but was in practice controlled by Russia. Abdul Hamid tried to reform the empire's armed forces, including the Janissary corps and the navy. He also established a new artillery corps and is credited with the creation of the Imperial Naval Engineering School. He sought to strengthen Ottoman rule over Syria, Egypt and Iraq, but faced rebellions and external threats. He also tried to improve the relations with the European powers, especially France and Britain, by sending ambassadors and adopting some of their customs. He was a religious and pacifist ruler, who was interested in poetry, music and gardening. He died of natural causes on 7 April 1789 in Constantinople, and was buried in his own tomb in Fatih. He was succeeded by his son Selim III, who continued his reforms.