Countercoup (1909)
Encyclopedia
The Countercoup of 1909 was an attempt to dismantle the Second Constitutional Era of the Ottoman Empire
and replace it with a monarchy
under Sultan Abdul Hamid II
. The Sultan
's bid for a return to power gained traction when he promised to restore the Caliphate
, eliminate secular policies, and restore the sharia
-based legal system.
A military coup in June 1908, led by the so-called Young Turks
, had stripped Sultan Abdul Hamid II of his power, reconstituting the parliament and constitution the Sultan had suspended three decades earlier. The Sultan, however, had maintained his symbolic position, and in March 1909 attempted to seize power once more by stirring populist
sentiment throughout the Empire. Because the coup was an attempt to undermine the Young Turk Revolution
of 1908, it became known as the Countercoup.
On April 13, 1909, Abdul Hamid II was finally deposed. His brother Mehmed V
would ultimately take his place as Sultan, the position once more reduced to mere symbolic significance.
, and its inability to form a government after the 1908 elections, stiffened opposition to the reformative regime. This opposition naturally coalesced around the more conservative Muslims within the Empire: a base to whom the Sultan had proven himself loyal.
The 1908 parliament lacked coherency, least of all on the nature and unity of the organization of the Ottoman Empire. While the Young Turk Revolution
had promised organizational improvement, once instituted, the government at first proved itself rather disorganized and ineffectual, tempting a coup in April 1909.
Army units revolted, joined by masses of theological students and turbaned clerics shouting, "We want Sharia
", and moving to restore the Sultan's absolute power. The Sultan in turn promised to bring about the rule of religion, were he to be returned to power. The Countercoup culminated in the 31 March Incident
, and the exile of Abdul Hamid II
.
back from disarray, from its inability to generate a government. The Countercoup ended the Arab-Turkish honeymoon due to the caliphate issues. After the 31 March Incident
, the Committee of Union and Progress
outlawed Arab societies who empowered Arab interests from within Ottoman society, including the Society of Arab Ottoman Brotherhood, and prohibited the issuing of several Arab journals and newspapers that featured radical Islamic rhetoric.
The policies of the Committee of Union and Progress
aimed at controlling the conservatives were perceived as silencing the cause of independence and liberty by discriminating against religion. Under the multi-religious "balancing policies", the Committee of Union and Progress
believed it could achieve a "Turkification
" of all the Arab subjects of the Empire. These measures stirred nationalist sentiment and a desire for independence and freedom among the Arab population, further cementing a national sensibility resistant to a conservative Islam.
Second Constitutional Era (Ottoman Empire)
The Second Constitutional Era of the Ottoman Empire began shortly after Sultan Abdülhamid II restored the constitutional monarchy after the 1908 Young Turk Revolution. The period established many political groups...
and replace it with a monarchy
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
under Sultan Abdul Hamid II
Abdul Hamid II
His Imperial Majesty, The Sultan Abdülhamid II, Emperor of the Ottomans, Caliph of the Faithful was the 34th sultan of the Ottoman Empire...
. The Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
's bid for a return to power gained traction when he promised to restore the Caliphate
Caliphate
The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
, eliminate secular policies, and restore the sharia
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
-based legal system.
A military coup in June 1908, led by the so-called Young Turks
Young Turks
The Young Turks , from French: Les Jeunes Turcs) were a coalition of various groups favouring reformation of the administration of the Ottoman Empire. The movement was against the absolute monarchy of the Ottoman Sultan and favoured a re-installation of the short-lived Kanûn-ı Esâsî constitution...
, had stripped Sultan Abdul Hamid II of his power, reconstituting the parliament and constitution the Sultan had suspended three decades earlier. The Sultan, however, had maintained his symbolic position, and in March 1909 attempted to seize power once more by stirring populist
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
sentiment throughout the Empire. Because the coup was an attempt to undermine the Young Turk Revolution
Young Turk Revolution
The Young Turk Revolution of 1908 reversed the suspension of the Ottoman parliament by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, marking the onset of the Second Constitutional Era...
of 1908, it became known as the Countercoup.
On April 13, 1909, Abdul Hamid II was finally deposed. His brother Mehmed V
Mehmed V
Mehmed V Reshad was the 35th Ottoman Sultan. He was the son of Sultan Abdülmecid I. He was succeeded by his half-brother Mehmed VI.-Birth:...
would ultimately take his place as Sultan, the position once more reduced to mere symbolic significance.
Causes
The Ottoman Empire's gradual disintegration, which included the loss of Bulgaria to complete independence within a year of the Young Turk RevolutionYoung Turk Revolution
The Young Turk Revolution of 1908 reversed the suspension of the Ottoman parliament by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, marking the onset of the Second Constitutional Era...
, and its inability to form a government after the 1908 elections, stiffened opposition to the reformative regime. This opposition naturally coalesced around the more conservative Muslims within the Empire: a base to whom the Sultan had proven himself loyal.
The 1908 parliament lacked coherency, least of all on the nature and unity of the organization of the Ottoman Empire. While the Young Turk Revolution
Young Turk Revolution
The Young Turk Revolution of 1908 reversed the suspension of the Ottoman parliament by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, marking the onset of the Second Constitutional Era...
had promised organizational improvement, once instituted, the government at first proved itself rather disorganized and ineffectual, tempting a coup in April 1909.
Army units revolted, joined by masses of theological students and turbaned clerics shouting, "We want Sharia
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
", and moving to restore the Sultan's absolute power. The Sultan in turn promised to bring about the rule of religion, were he to be returned to power. The Countercoup culminated in the 31 March Incident
31 March Incident
The 31 March Incident was a 1909 rebellion of reactionaries in İstanbul against the restoration of constitutional monarchy that had taken place in 1908. It took place on 13 April 1909...
, and the exile of Abdul Hamid II
Abdul Hamid II
His Imperial Majesty, The Sultan Abdülhamid II, Emperor of the Ottomans, Caliph of the Faithful was the 34th sultan of the Ottoman Empire...
.
Effects
The Countercoup's failure brought the Committee of Union and ProgressCommittee of Union and Progress
The Committee of Union and Progress began as a secret society established as the "Committee of Ottoman Union" in 1889 by the medical students İbrahim Temo, Abdullah Cevdet, İshak Sükuti and Ali Hüseyinzade...
back from disarray, from its inability to generate a government. The Countercoup ended the Arab-Turkish honeymoon due to the caliphate issues. After the 31 March Incident
31 March Incident
The 31 March Incident was a 1909 rebellion of reactionaries in İstanbul against the restoration of constitutional monarchy that had taken place in 1908. It took place on 13 April 1909...
, the Committee of Union and Progress
Committee of Union and Progress
The Committee of Union and Progress began as a secret society established as the "Committee of Ottoman Union" in 1889 by the medical students İbrahim Temo, Abdullah Cevdet, İshak Sükuti and Ali Hüseyinzade...
outlawed Arab societies who empowered Arab interests from within Ottoman society, including the Society of Arab Ottoman Brotherhood, and prohibited the issuing of several Arab journals and newspapers that featured radical Islamic rhetoric.
The policies of the Committee of Union and Progress
Committee of Union and Progress
The Committee of Union and Progress began as a secret society established as the "Committee of Ottoman Union" in 1889 by the medical students İbrahim Temo, Abdullah Cevdet, İshak Sükuti and Ali Hüseyinzade...
aimed at controlling the conservatives were perceived as silencing the cause of independence and liberty by discriminating against religion. Under the multi-religious "balancing policies", the Committee of Union and Progress
Committee of Union and Progress
The Committee of Union and Progress began as a secret society established as the "Committee of Ottoman Union" in 1889 by the medical students İbrahim Temo, Abdullah Cevdet, İshak Sükuti and Ali Hüseyinzade...
believed it could achieve a "Turkification
Turkification
Turkification is a term used to describe a process of cultural or political change in which something or someone who is not a Turk becomes one, voluntarily or involuntarily...
" of all the Arab subjects of the Empire. These measures stirred nationalist sentiment and a desire for independence and freedom among the Arab population, further cementing a national sensibility resistant to a conservative Islam.