Abdülhamid II

Abdülhamid II was the Ottoman Empire's 34th Sultan, ruling from 1876 to 1909. Known for his authoritarian style, he centralized power and maintained strict control over political and social life. His reign saw efforts to modernize infrastructure and army, but also repression of opposition and censorship. Amid rising nationalist movements and external pressures, he suspended the constitution and dissolved the parliament. Abdülhamid II's rule ended with his deposition by the Young Turk revolution in 1909, after which he was exiled. His leadership is often viewed as a mix of modernization attempts and autocratic governance during a challenging period for the empire.