EASTERN QUESTION (The Eastern Policy Of the Sultan Abdülhamit II and the Hamidiye Regiments) As we know, about this subject many kind of books had been written and many kinds of sayings were heard but however, most of them was including the nearly same materials except a little differences. If a question would be asked for the purpose of having the meaning of this subject, what kind of answer we can be given? The respond would be like that: to give an end to the progress of the Turks in Europe, to save the Christians, who has been living under the ruling of Ottoman Empire or to get the government of the Ottoman to reform for the benefit of Christians minorities, to fragment Ottoman and consequently to share it among them so that they could throw away Ottomans from Europe and finally Anatolia. If it is necessary to define the time that when this subject had arisen itself, it can be said that this time is around the second half of the 17th century. This subject had wrapped itself in a politic identity especially after the time that Napoleon had interrupted in Egypt for the occupation. In addition to this situation, for the purpose of reestablishing and actually re-creating the map of Europe, which was disrupted by the Napoleon’s efforts for being ruler of the world, a Europe-wide conference was taken place in the capital city of Austria and furthermore, many delegates from Russia had also been convened. But however, these Russian delegates had tried to make the situation of the Christians, who had been living in Ottoman, to be the agenda of the conference, and named this subject as Eastern Question. Approaching to the 1877s, this mean of the subject (Eastern Question) had changed as how Ottoman Empire could be dismembered and actually how it could be shared among the European countries. From the time of middle of the 20th centaury this subject had gained acceleration. And finally, particularly after the Ottoman fragmentation the subject had put itself in the name of The Question Middle East and Near East, and could preserve its importance until the present time. Eastern question, particularly in recent years, has passed the Turkey’s borders and could reach the Indian borders, which are the key points of countries that possessing the petrol opportunity which is the essence substance of industries. In these countries the subject (Eastern Question) has been showing itself such as economic prevents, separatist organizations and destructive activities. In addition to that, if we look at the economic and political condition of Middle East, we will be able to realize that Turkey is the only country which can be showed as one candidate in the process of being a super power in a short term in the region. From this moment, Turkey also possesses the task of being magnet for the Turkish republics which could take their own independence from former S.S.C.B in the near and middle Asia. Having an existence of Turkey in the region particularly in Middle East has been constituting an obstacle for the European countries for instance England, France and ultimately USA, who would like to construct a domination on this region which have a well crude oil sources. For this reason Turkey has been intentionally tried to be kept in a condition in which Turkey found itself being kept busy with dealing with some kind of artificial problems for the purpose of can not seeing the things and developments which are occurring around it and can not flourish itself, Armenian Question, PKK, and Fundamentalist networks are one of them. Consequently the situation of the matter of Eastern Question is still going on and seems it will. Turkish Nation had settled down in Anatolia which has a geopolitics value and located in the center of three continents Asia, Africa and Europe, after the victory which was won in Malazgirt in 1071 against Byzantine by sultan Alparslan. Turks, establishing domination on prosperity soils could attract the attention of the enemy countries against it and finally Turkey became a target for these countries and should be abolished. Outside powers, from the Karlofça agreement that signed in 1699 among the many nations with Ottoman till Lozan agreement, could cause its collapse. The essence aims behind the well-prepared traitorous plans are the crusader mentality of western, the communism and Panslavizm policy of Russia and actually Zionism. Along the history these three problems have taken their place in front of turkey sometimes being united and sometimes being alone. The important plan, which has the meaning of giving an end Turks existence and implicating Armenian Question as well, was prepared in Vatican in 1662. The way how it was created is that: Guilliance Cordetti was one of the famous geographer in this time, he was get to arrange the world globe by the Vatican church. In this prepared globe there was no name of Ottoman and its territories were got shared Greece, Armenians, Arabs, Serbs and especially the soils of Anatolia was showed under the possession of Iran and Armenia. In 19th century, all the aims were come true except Cypress and Anatolia. Towards the end of the 19th century, the most important stroke that was hit the Ottoman Government by the efforts of outside powers was Ayestasfanos treaty, signed between Russia and Ottoman and in Turkey called (93 harbi). With this treaty, Russian Government could win the victory of its Panslavizm policy and could settle down Balkans and east part of Anatolia. The output of 1st Balkan war, Russia could reach to Aegean sea with the opportunity of Bulgaria which got the chance to widen its territory and become the neighbor of the sea in 1st Balkan war so that meant Russia could make the chance available for reaching warm seas which was the aim of star Deli Petro that extended to this period. But the other powers didn’t want to allow Russia to utilize from these advantages for being one of the super powers of the world, and consequently changed some parts of the treaty in the way that they want to, so Russia could accepted this changed treaty, the name of the changed agreement was Berlin Treaty. For the Ottoman Empire, there was no different between these treaties, even thanks to this treaty, the Armenian question had started to sprout. The years in which Sultan Abdülhamit was on the throne had coincided to these years. The policy that he had enforced in the time while he was on the throne of Ottoman Empire could make the other politicians admire and appreciate to him. But that should not mean there wasn’t anyone who did love him. Let’s take a look at the features of the Abdülhamit period which had continued for 33 years. Centralism, Islam union, balance policy and reforms were constituting the basic features his policy that he had implemented. I will try to expand the each one under the small titles. In his centralization policy, it can be seen that he was one of the follower and defender of the policy that implicating the idea of governing from one hand that is also the one of the reasons why he was given some despotic adjectives. However, we had better not forget that he was not the only one who had enforced this policy in the world for instance in Germany, Bismarck in Russia, the tsars. In that time at the Ottoman Empire, the Centralization policy was inevitable because the government was ruled with this policy till sultan Abdülhamit. We can give another example, as we know after the period of the independent war of Turkey, Atatürk wanted to start the process of democracy with establishing some political parties but it didn’t progress because of religious obstacles so in case of any revolts Atatürk decided to choose one hand governing. If the centralization policy wasn’t implemented, the Empire’s life would have been ended even before the sultan Abdülhamit. In Islam union policy was one of the important opportunities in his hand in that way he intended to utilize from Caliph’s spiritual values t vaccinate hope to the Muslims who were in the desperate situation and to increase the ratio of the Muslims’ loyalty for him and even for Ottoman dynasty. So with this situation the Islam union would be real and the empire would be powerful both outside and inside of the empire. In the Balance Policy of sultan Abdülhamit, it can be said that this is one of the most important policies of the term. If it necessary to sum up, he had tried to keep his power and attended to affiliate the others powers to himself that means he had adopted one hand governing, in addition to that he also spent efforts to use the benefits of the entente powers against themselves in that way he had intended to keep territorial sovereignty, what is more, thanks to the this policy the Ottoman government didn’t loss any soil for nearly 33 years. At the reform policy the Sultan didn’t deny that the Ottoman Government should implement the rules of Western civilization for the purpose of being a one country which is modern and possessing the European conditions. However, on the contrary this assertations and as well as Tanzimat Reforms, which could prepare the appropriate atmosphere for the Ottoman scholars to change the Empire’s attitude, but unfortunately the sultan had instigated his efforts to take them into custody for not permitting them to penetrate the western mentality into empire. Frankly, the sultan was not on the side of supporting the reforms which would be implemented by the pressure of the Europeans countries, because these reforms would be far away from the observations and supervisions and he believed that these reforms would be able to damage some kind of traditions of Ottoman community. Zionism was one of the important threats against Ottoman that the sultan had struggled mostly. The idea which was including the meaning of the gathering in the bestowed place (Palestine) that God dedicated to the Jewish Population of Jews who had speared all over the world, could increase its importance for became a political issue. In 19th century, some kind of social and economic factors played important roles for converting the Jews’ religion into a political aim. The Europe of 19th century was not the appropriate place for the Jews to live in. The Westerns with effect of feeling antagonism, which was coming from history against the Jews, didn’t want the Jews live in Europe any more. Even, the Westerns had tried to encourage them to settle down in Ottoman territories particularly in Palestine’s soils in that way they were expecting to be able to be succeeding in having some benefits from this situation. Especially, England Government wanted it a lot for securing the India ways. On the other hand, the Ottoman government had started its period of becoming indebted to the European countries in 1854 and after the 1877 War (93 Harbi) the amount of money that the government was owing, increased fast with an acceleration for meeting the needs. The organization which was called Duyumu Umumiye and founded in1881 for taking the money that owed to the European countries from Ottoman, confiscated many economic sources of Ottoman. Some Jews leaders contemplated that they should benefit from this situation of Ottoman and so that they could convince the sultan to allow the Jews population t be the inhabitants of the sacred soils. The sultan was in the aware of that the Jews wouldn’t farm, when they got the area; he knew what they want to do. For this reason, it was known that the sultan had tried to stem the Jews’ immigration to Palestine and had warned the his men who was the in charge of ruling this part of Ottoman territory not to allow them and take the necessary precautions to prevent the situation. Due to the fact that, if the immigration was allowed, that might have brought the Ottoman government on the edge of being fragmented and this condition would have given the right to the European countries to interrupt in the interior affairs of Ottoman Empire. In addition to that it also might have caused the Arabs population lived in the region to be offended and a social explosion would have been inevitable. At the first time, sultan had tried to send a few inspectors to the European countries to search for the real meaning of Zionism and advised the his ambassadors to tutor the people about this subject in the place where they in for the aim of trying to prevent the countries from maintaining Zionism trend. And then he started passport enforcement for entering the Palestine but the sultan failed to put it into effect. Finally, the sultan Abdülhamit hardened the rules and inhibited the JEWS from passing the area even if they were pilgrims. The sultan didn’t disagree that to accommodate the Jews in Ottoman territories but why they were insist in merely Palestine, he was ready to allocate them another places. From this moment Thedor HERZT appeared himself. He offered to the sultan Abdülhamit II that if there was any possibility to dedicate Jerusalem to the Jews, it was possible to pay all the bills and save the empire from being a debtor to Europe and what is more, they were allowed they would also invest to empire and consequently constitute a lobby in the arena of the Europeans countries. But however, the sultan answered to this offer as, this country is not mine, the every part of the country was obtained with the blood of my people, how dare you want it from me?” On the contrary to this situation, Theodore Hertz appeared one more time in front of the Sultan and renewed his offer and said that Cyprus would also be appropriate for them, if the sultan was not on the favor for giving the area of Palestine to the Jews. Despite this offer, the sultan didn’t want to cede the place to the Jews and actually he didn’t sit on the table for the aims of Zionism. However, in 1909 with the bringing down the sultan fro his throne; the biggest obstacle on the front of Zionism was collapsed. The wrong policy, which was followed by the Party of the union and Progress, prepared the atmosphere for the Jews to establish the Government of Israel. If we take a look at to the occupation of Cyprus Island by the soldiers of England, we will be able to realize how wide the subject of eastern Question is. This occupation, far from the benefits of England, it is one of the important step, which was taken for materializing the aims of Zionism. In such way that, in our researches we could understand that the source of Zionism is pertaining to the term of Kanuni Sultan Suleiman. In this term one of the most famous person was Yassef Nassi. This person, for his willingness to live the belief of Jewish freely and to construct an independent state of Israel in the Palestine area, he had migrated to Istanbul in 1544 and could catch the chance to be appointed to the important positions in the governmentship of the ottoman Empire. With the mediation of Kanuni, Yassef could abolish the enginization of the pope on the Jews and furthermore, he got many Jewish to bring to the empire. In the progress getting on the throne of sultan II. Selim, this person had spent a great number of money to provide II. Selim to be the emperor. The purpose of Yassef was to convince the sultan II. Selim for opening the way of establishing Israel state. Yassef Nassi also made espionages for the benefits of Ottoman Empire in European countries. With the resemble of Abdülhamit, even II. Selim didn’t open the Palestine area for being accommodated by Jews. After Yassef Nassi, another person, who was interested in Cyprus, was Benjamin Dirsalli. He changed his religion for the political aims of Zionism and could reach the position of prime ministry in England. In his book, which was named as Taucred, he had spoken about that one they the Jews would be able to capture Jerusalem and Cyprus. Despite the reaction of his partner in the England Parliament, he could add Cyprus in to country’s territory by utilizing from the consequences of 93 Harbi, which was taken place between Ottoman and Russia and ended with the defeat of Ottoman against Russia. According to the many English researches, Benjamin Dirsalli who didn’t only powered his country with the occupation of Cyprus but also paved the way for the policy of England onto the Middle East. But however, his death became an obstacle as well for the Jews to make their dreams come true. But on the other hand the aim of the Jews was to buy the Cyprus soils from the Rums and settle down in and finally use this place as a step to reach the sacred areas (Jerusalem ). But this aim didn’t occur Theodore Hertz announced that if the sultan Abdülhamit didn’t get down from the throne of Ottoman Empire, the Jews would not able to seize Palestine. Let’s see the Middle Eat policy of the Sultan Abdülhamit. In the beginning his rail way project, which was extending from Berlin to Baghdad, stands in front of us. Particularly the Sultan Abdülhamit was not only interested in Middle East but also Far East such as Japan and Chine. Because there was a considerable Muslim population in these countries. But on the contrary to that situation, the most powerful rival for the sultan in the middle east policy was England. As it was known that in this region there were some English colonies whose populaces were Muslims. If the policy (Panislamizm) of the Sultan was adopted by the people lived in these places, that would prompt a catastrophe for England domination on the region. Because the public opinion could have changed about to be the on the side of Ottoman and they could have revolted against England. In another word, the England foreign affairs had known the Sultan very well and they worried about the implementation of the policy of the Sultan for Middle East. The sultan had wanted the European countries to verify his domination in the Middle East. For this reason the Sultan started to put his railway project on which the Sultan prolonged a lot, in effect. He gave the project to a German Company to construct the railway lines. Thus, the sultan was sure about that the England Companies would offer, too. By this thought, the Sultan had contemplated that these rival countries (Germany and England) would be fighting for obtaining the project then the Sultan would be benefiting from this fight to establishing the in fro struction of the railway for nothing and what is more, with this Balance Policy he accomplished to keep the sovereignty of his Empire for nearly 33 years with losing any territory. Berlin-Baghdad railway was very important for German. But this project was also a disaster for England. On the other hand the sultan had wanted from German side to extend the railway lines to Mecca. Thus the Sultan would be able to establish his domination urgently and would abolish the all difficulties which constituted some obstacles on the way of Mecca for the people who wanted to be hajji by carrying out his religious rules. Then, Yemen became topic subject of the debates taken place between Ottoman and German, they could reach a culmination and a decision which was including the idea of extending the lines to Yemen because this place used to be the cradle of mines and that was another reason that made this place important strategically. This decision would open the gate of prosperity to Yemen. But however, the Foreign Office of England was aware of this situation. And then, they had done something such as galvanizing the local people of Yemen to revolt against Ottoman, for stemming the decision to be implemented consequently they could succeed in doing it. In this time, petrol had very magnificent role in the policies of the foreign affairs of countries. If we try to scrutinize the memories of Abdülhamit, we will be able to realize that the German Officers came to Ottoman Empire but not only constructing the railway lines but also searching for petrol. Unfortunately Ottoman Empire which had no industry was not interested in oil. This situation was the same in the term of Sultan Abdülhamit and the other sultans of the Empire. But fortunately the founder of Turkish Republic whose name is Atatürk could understand the value of oil but it was too late, the train was gone and it was missed. After the treaty of Berlin in 1878, if it is necessary to look at the map of the empire, we can see that at the west part of the empire, Macedonia and Albania, which are near the Christian world, located. At the south part Arabia, which was the beneficial area of England and France, are located. At the east part, there was the area on which the Armenians claimed to be theirs and stood for a time under the occupation of Russia. These there parts of the Ottoman’s territories were very vulnerable areas. Because they were open to the effects of the ideas of nationalism and being independent state of the Western. The Sultan had tried to increase the loyalty of Ottoman people living in these places by analyzing their situation and considering the resemblances among the these communities, finally decided to fulfilling the same policy for them not to succumb themselves to the attract of Western. Armenian Question and Hamidiye Regiments constituted the main subjects of the policy of the Sultan Abdülhamit that enforced on the east part of the Ottoman. So what had prompted to the Sultan to implement this policy on the region? One of the most important reasons was the Armenian issue. As it is known that the western countries accomplished to give the Balkan Christians privileges and then their independence by interrupting into the internal affairs of Ottoman so they thought that was the time to do the same things for Armenians. For this aim, with leading the 61. Subject of Berlin treaty, they began to pressure onto Ottoman Government for reforming the situation of the Armenians who were spreaded generally to six vilayets of Ottoman. The Armenians with the supports of Western countries started to organize themselves for revolt against ottoman. In this part, let’s ask a question. Was the condition bad for the Armenians to rise up? According to the archive documents it can be said that their situation was better than the Ottoman people. Particularly, the Armenians after the Tanzimat Revolution they had lived their richness. At the worst time of the Empire, the Armenians were appointed to the most important positions in the internal affairs and especially the foreign affairs of Ottoman. Actually, the other reasons which were laying under the source of Armenian Question were economical and social problems as well. The main target of the Armenians was to amalgamate the spreaded Armenians in the east part of Anatolia and than establish an independent state of Armenia. For this aim they had carried out the necessary preparation such us organizing, being armed, constituting gangs and assassination. But however they were lack of population in another word the number of the Armenians who live in the east part of Anatolia was less than the Turkish population. In this time the population of Armenia was dispersed three countries Iran, Russia and Ottoman. The European countries were aware of this situation so that means the circumstances should have converted into the benefits of the Armenians. For the Armenians, the solution was to reduce the Ottoman population in the east part of Anatolia for outnumbering them. With threats of plundering and the propaganda they succeed to force the Muslims to immigrate from the region, they had done that very easily because the pressure of the Ottoman government was very low in this region of the Empire. The second important problem for the Armenians was that the Armenians had not had a homeland which was much specified. Even today this problem is one of the subjects of the debates concerning this issue. It was very difficult to found and advocate an independent state of Armenia whose borders weren’t known. The sultan with taking the example of the events that occurred in Rumeli became very strict for not giving an opportunity to the westerns to attempt for disturbing the place. Hamidiye regiments were established for preventing the Armenian terrorism and founding the free Armenian state what is more, making the Muslims as an active power in the region. So in that way against to the revolts of the Armenians would be calmed down and the security of the region would be allocated. The sultan evaluate the anxiety of the Muslims for the Armenians threat, he tried to put into his effect constituting these regiments in that way without spending money the government would have an army and increase their domination in the region. These regiments were composing of many tribes which were uncontrolled by the government. In addition to that the sultan had enforced his Panislamizm policy very well, the Islam religion was most important features between the government and the tribes. For providing the loyalty of these tribes to Istanbul the sultan had founded many schools for employing the children of the chairmen of these tribes in that way he had aimed that to keep in touch with the lieder of the tribes. The specifying the places for establishing the tribal regiments were very important. The firs region was Erzurum-Van for Russia. The second region was Mardin-Urfa for England, because in these regions the Armenian activities were intensified. CONCLUSION The Hamidiye Regiments was one of the biggest organizations for preventing the Armenian state being established. These regiments in the region gave an example of social defense. Lack of connection between Ottoman and these tribes had changed it face then good relationship was happened and filled with the aim of providing the security of the Empire. So the consequences of this relationship between the tribes and the government showed itself in the World War l as a big aid for the army of the Ottoman the Kurdish tribes had contributed to Turkish independent war a lot, particularly for the Çanakkale Front. But despite this situation the policy of the sultan had increased the feudality in the region. But however we have to evaluate the situation according to the circumstances of the period. That is true that after the Hamidiye Regiments, the local people had started to complain about Feudality but on the other hand these regiments had changed the destiny of the region for the benefit of the ottomans. SOURCES 1) Yılmaz ÖZTUNA Türkiye Tarihi 12. cilt 2) Azmi ÖZCAN Abdülhamit ve Hilafet 3) Prof. Dr. B. KODAMAN Abdülhamitin Doğu Anadolu Politikası 4) Mahmut YASERİ Nasıl Mason Oldum 5) İsmet BOZDAĞ Abdülhamitin Hatıra Defteri 6) Abdullah YAMAN Ermeni Meselesi ve Turkiye 7) Askeri Tarih Dergisi Şark Meselesi no:36 8) Tarih Medeniyet Dergisi Ermeni Meselesi, sayı 52, yıl 5 9) Tarih Medeniyet Dergisi Tarihe Sığmayan Nankörlük, sayı 36, yıl 5 10) Tarih Medeniyet Dergisi İSRAİL, sayı 32, yıl 1996 11) Tarih Medeniyet Dergisi Türkiye üçlü kıskaçta, sayı 2, yıl 1994 12) Tarih Medeniyet Dergisi Siyonizmin Kıbrıs Projesi, sayı 41, yıl 1997 13) Tarih Medeniyet Dergisi Osmanlıdan Bugüne Demiryolları, sayı 8 14) Tarih Medeniyet Dergisi Aşiret Alayları, sayı 1 yıl 1994 15) Tarih Medeniyet Dergisi Musul Kerkük Dosyası, sayı 18, yıl 1995 Celal ÖNEY Necatibey Eğitim Fakültesi Tarih IV. Sınıf 02.06.2000 for more information try this site www.ermenimeselesi.com.tr.tc
