Ottoman imperial anthem
Encyclopedia
The Ottoman Empire
used anthems since its foundation in the late 13th century, but did not use a specific royal or national anthem
until the 19th century. During the reign of Sultan Mahmud II
, when the military and imperial band were re-organized along Western lines, Giuseppe Donizetti
was invited to head the process. Donizetti Pasha, as he was known in the Ottoman Empire, composed the first Western-style imperial anthem, the Mahmudiye.
Like in many other monarchies of its time, the anthem of the Ottoman Empire was a royal anthem, not a national one. Hence it paid homage to a specific ruler and a new anthem was composed at each imperial succession. However, in 1844, with the Tanzimat
reforms, the Mecidiye March was recognized as the first official Ottoman national anthem. The first official Ottoman national flag
(which was in essence identical to the present-day Turkish flag) was also adopted in 1844.
After the start of the imperial anthem tradition, two Sultans did not have specific anthems composed. The first is Sultan Murad V
, who reigned for 3 months in 1876 and the second is the last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Mehmed Vahdeddin
, who used the Mahmudiye anthem.
Only the Hamidiye and Reşadiye have lyrics, the first three anthems being instrumental.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
used anthems since its foundation in the late 13th century, but did not use a specific royal or national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
until the 19th century. During the reign of Sultan Mahmud II
Mahmud II
Mahmud II was the 30th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1808 until his death in 1839. He was born in the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, the son of Sultan Abdulhamid I...
, when the military and imperial band were re-organized along Western lines, Giuseppe Donizetti
Giuseppe Donizetti
Giuseppe Donizetti was, from 1828, Instructor General of the Imperial Ottoman Music at the court of Sultan Mahmud II .His younger brother Gaetano Donizetti was a famous Italian opera composer...
was invited to head the process. Donizetti Pasha, as he was known in the Ottoman Empire, composed the first Western-style imperial anthem, the Mahmudiye.
Like in many other monarchies of its time, the anthem of the Ottoman Empire was a royal anthem, not a national one. Hence it paid homage to a specific ruler and a new anthem was composed at each imperial succession. However, in 1844, with the Tanzimat
Tanzimat
The Tanzimât , meaning reorganization of the Ottoman Empire, was a period of reformation that began in 1839 and ended with the First Constitutional Era in 1876. The Tanzimât reform era was characterized by various attempts to modernize the Ottoman Empire, to secure its territorial integrity against...
reforms, the Mecidiye March was recognized as the first official Ottoman national anthem. The first official Ottoman national flag
Ottoman Flag
The term Ottoman flag refers to any of the flags used by the ruling Sultans of the Ottoman Dynasty. Various flags were used within the Ottoman Empire during its existence, and the sultan also used different personal flags on different occasions of state...
(which was in essence identical to the present-day Turkish flag) was also adopted in 1844.
- Mahmudiye - for Sultan Mahmud IIMahmud IIMahmud II was the 30th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1808 until his death in 1839. He was born in the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, the son of Sultan Abdulhamid I...
(1808-1839) - by Giuseppe DonizettiGiuseppe DonizettiGiuseppe Donizetti was, from 1828, Instructor General of the Imperial Ottoman Music at the court of Sultan Mahmud II .His younger brother Gaetano Donizetti was a famous Italian opera composer...
, brother of Gaetano DonizettiGaetano DonizettiDomenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti was an Italian composer from Bergamo, Lombardy. His best-known works are the operas L'elisir d'amore , Lucia di Lammermoor , and Don Pasquale , all in Italian, and the French operas La favorite and La fille du régiment... - Mecidiye March - for Sultan Abdülmecid IAbdülmecid ISultan Abdülmecid I, Abdul Mejid I, Abd-ul-Mejid I or Abd Al-Majid I Ghazi was the 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and succeeded his father Mahmud II on July 2, 1839. His reign was notable for the rise of nationalist movements within the empire's territories...
(1839-1861), by Giuseppe DonizettiGiuseppe DonizettiGiuseppe Donizetti was, from 1828, Instructor General of the Imperial Ottoman Music at the court of Sultan Mahmud II .His younger brother Gaetano Donizetti was a famous Italian opera composer... - Aziziye March - for Sultan AbdülâzizAbdülâzizAbdülaziz I or Abd Al-Aziz, His Imperial Majesty was the 32nd Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and reigned between 25 June 1861 and 30 May 1876...
(1861-1876), by Callisto Guatelli - Hamidiye - for Sultan Abdulhamid II (1876-1909), by Necip Pasha
- Reşadiye - for Sultan Mehmed Resad VMehmed VMehmed 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:...
(1909-1918) by Italo SelvelliItalo SelvelliItalo Selvelli was an Italian composer, pianist and orchestra director, who lived and worked in Istanbul during the last decades of the Ottoman Empire.-Biography:...
After the start of the imperial anthem tradition, two Sultans did not have specific anthems composed. The first is Sultan Murad V
Murad V
Murad V was the 33rd Sultan of the Ottoman Empire who reigned from 30 May to 31 August 1876.He was born at Istanbul , Topkapı Palace. His father was Abdülmecid I...
, who reigned for 3 months in 1876 and the second is the last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Mehmed Vahdeddin
Mehmed VI
Mehmet VI was the 36th and last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, reigning from 1918 to 1922...
, who used the Mahmudiye anthem.
Only the Hamidiye and Reşadiye have lyrics, the first three anthems being instrumental.
See also
- The March for Sultan Abdul-MejidThe March for Sultan Abdul-MejidThe March for Sultan Abdul-Mejid, also called the Mecidiye March, was the national anthem of the Ottoman Empire. The title refers to Abdul Mejid I . There were different anthems for each ruler....
- Ottoman military bandOttoman military bandOttoman military bands are thought to be the oldest variety of military marching band in the world. Though they are often known by the Persian-derived word mahtar in the West, that word, properly speaking, refers only to a single musician in the band...
- Culture of the Ottoman EmpireCulture of the Ottoman EmpireThe culture of the Ottoman Empire evolved over several centuries as the ruling administration of the Turks absorbed, adapted and modified the cultures of conquered lands and their peoples...
- Ottoman classical musicOttoman classical musicOttoman classical music developed in Istanbul and major Ottoman towns from Skopje to Cairo, from Tabriz to Morocco through the palace, mosques, and sufi lodges of the Ottoman Empire. Above all a vocal music, Ottoman music traditionally accompanies a solo singer with a small instrumental ensemble...
- Ottoman EmpireOttoman EmpireThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
- Royal anthem
- Emre AraciEmre AraciEmre Aracı, Turkish music historian, conductor, composer.- Life :Dr Emre Aracı is a Turkish music historian, composer and conductor who has been living in the United Kingdom since 1987...