The Young Ottomans and Ali Suavi
Authors: Yuksel Ahmet Turan 
Published: December 2024

This study deals with the Young/New Ottomans Society, which emerged in the last period of Ottoman history, and the prominent views of Ali Suavi, one of the members of this society, such as Nationalism, Constitutionalism, Populism, Patriotism and Civil Disobedience. During the establishment of Young Ottomans, the French Revolution of 1789 was the beginning of a new era in every field for the Ottomans, as for other states of the period. In this period, the concepts of equality in social and political life, nation and nationalism began to be seen in the Ottoman geography. As a matter of fact, independence movements that wanted to separate from the Ottoman administration emerged, especially in the Balkan geography. Among these, the Serbian Revolt of 1804 and the Greek Revolt of 1821 are noteworthy. In this process, the Ottoman administration had to take new steps, and this situation manifested itself primarily in military reforms. The reforms brought about close contact and influence with Europe. Meanwhile, students, diplomats and government officials were sent abroad. In this context, the Ottomans started diplomatic relations with France and England. These developments brought new ideas and approaches to the Ottoman agenda, such as constitutionalism and parliament, innovations in the field of education, and equality in the legal field. The new situation continued during the periods of Mahmud II, Abdulmecid and Abdulhamid II and led to different developments. During the reign of Mahmud II (1808-1839), Sublime Porte was established, and the Janissary Military System was abolished. Additionally, new approaches have come to the fore in the field of education. After Mahmud II, during the reign of Abdülmecid (1839-1861), the 1839 Gülhane Hatt-ı Hümâyunu, or Tanzimat, was declared. In this way, the equality of all Ottoman citizens was accepted. With all these developments, the Ottoman administration widely opened its doors to Europe and the influences coming from there. The Young/New Ottomans who emerged in this process started their activities with the claim of bringing the Ottoman Empire to the same level as Europe by putting these ideas and concepts into their programs. Şinâsi's writings in Tasvir-i Efkar guided the formation process of the Young Ottomans. The Young Ottomans were primarily followers of the state concept expressed in the Tanzimat Edict. Six people who came together at a picnic in the Belgrade Forest in the summer of 1876 during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz (1861-1876) are known as the founders of the society. These names included Mehmed, Nuri, Reşad, Namık Kemal, Âyetullah and Refik Bey. At this stage, they were strongly opposing the management approach of Grand Vizier Âlî Paşa. Considering the Tanzimat Edict, they were in a more conservative position. They adopted three main views: Constitutionalism, Parliament and Ottomanism. At this point, the fact that almost all of them worked as clerks in the Translation Chamber, which started operating during the reign of Mahmud II, played a role in my being influenced by these ideas. The activities of the Young Ottomans, whose basic idea was based on Europe, also caused conflict with the administration. One of the leading names of the community is Ali Suavi. Born in Istanbul in 1839, Suavi lived during the reigns of Sultan Abdulmecid, Abdulaziz, Murad V and Abdulhamid II. He received his primary education at Davud Paşa Junior High School. At the same time, he received religious education by attending lecture circles in mosques. He completed his pilgrimage at the age of eighteen. On his return from pilgrimage, he worked as a clerk at Serasker Kapısı, Dersaadet Attendance Office, and as a teacher at Bursa Rüşdiye, and also taught at Simav Rüşdiye. Later, he was appointed as the Director of Tahrirat in Plovdiv. However, he had a falling out with Governor Ata Bey on the grounds that he encouraged people to revolt in his speeches, and he was removed from his post. Suavi, who met Namık Kemal in this process, joined the formation. Suavi, who also wrote articles in newspapers, became an ardent defender of the society's ideas, especially in his articles in Muhbir newspaper. In 1867, Muhbir was closed and Suavi was exiled to Kastamonu. With the invitation of Mustafa Fazıl Paşa, he escaped from Kastamnu and went to Paris. From here, Suavi went to London and continued to publish the Muhbir newspaper and defend the ideas of the Young Ottomans. Suavi, who returned to Istanbul in November 1876, participated in the struggle against the rule of Abdulhamid II, defining it as a regime of oppression with the influence of European states. In this context, he was killed in the Çırağan Incident (May 20, 1878), which was initiated to kidnap Murad V from the Çırağan Palace where he was imprisoned and bring him back to the Ottoman throne. This historical event, in which Suavi was at the forefront, is also known as the Ali Suavi Incident.