A Royal Family Under Control
The Sultan’s Ten Children
Sultan Abdul Hamid II had ten children in total – five sons and five daughters. His sons were named Mehemmed Selim (born in 1870), Abdul Kadir (born in 1878), Ahmed (also born in 1878), Mehemmed Burhan (born in 1885), and Abdur Rahim (born in 1892).
Among his daughters, Zekie was the eldest, born in 1871. She married Nur-ed-din Pasha in 1889, who held an important position in the military. The second daughter, Naime, was born in 1876 and married Mehemmed Kemal, another army officer. The Sultan also had three younger daughters: Naile (born in 1884), Shadieh (born in 1886), and Ayisheh (born in 1887).
It’s worth noting that the Sultan chose military officers as husbands for his daughters. This shows how he wanted to keep his family connected to the army, which was important for maintaining his power and control over the empire.
A Controlled Education for the Royal Sons
According to available information, the Sultan’s sons were generally good young men, but their understanding of the world was very limited. The Sultan made sure that none of his sons were allowed to travel outside the empire. He was afraid that if they saw other countries and cultures, they might lose faith in their religion or question the way he ruled the country sofia walking tour.
The education of his sons was carefully controlled and given only to military officers and Muslim religious teachers. This narrow education meant that the young princes would likely grow up to be as close-minded, prejudiced, and superstitious as their father. The Sultan believed this was necessary to keep them loyal and prevent them from developing ideas that might threaten his rule.
This type of education was common among rulers who feared that knowledge of the outside world might make their children question traditional ways of thinking. By keeping his sons isolated from foreign ideas, the Sultan hoped to ensure they would continue to support his methods of government.
Prince Selim The Eldest Son’s Unique Position
Prince Selim, the eldest son, was more respected than any other member of the royal family. Born in January 1870, he was thirty-three years old at the time this was written. His position was somewhat special because several other family members would inherit the throne before him, which gave him more personal freedom than he might otherwise have had.
Unlike most men in the imperial family, Prince Selim had only one wife and did not keep a harem (a collection of wives and female servants). This was very unusual for someone in the royal family and showed that he had different values from his relatives.
Prince Selim held the military rank of colonel and commanded one of the regiments that guarded the palace. However, his duties were not very demanding, which left him with plenty of free time. He used this time to study with French and German teachers, showing his interest in learning about the outside world A Story of Tragedy and Isolation.
The Sultan’s Suspicions About Foreign Influence
Even though Prince Selim was allowed to study with foreign tutors, the Sultan remained suspicious of outside influences. Recently, the Sultan had ordered that Prince Selim’s French tutors be dismissed because he suspected they were giving the young prince “dangerous information.” This shows how the Sultan feared that even educational contact with foreigners might threaten his control over his family.
The Sultan’s paranoia about foreign influence extended to all aspects of his children’s lives. He believed that exposure to Western ideas about government, religion, or society could make his sons question his authority or the traditional Ottoman way of life.
Prince Selim’s Character and Abilities
While Prince Selim was not considered particularly intelligent or brilliant, he had other qualities that were valuable for someone in his position. People described his mind as rather slow, but he was patient and hardworking in his studies. He also had an excellent memory, which helped him remember what he learned.
These qualities – patience, dedication to study, and a good memory – were actually better suited for a royal prince than being too clever or brilliant. A prince who was too smart might ask too many questions or develop ideas that could threaten the established order. Prince Selim’s steady, careful approach to learning made him less likely to cause problems for his father.
His character showed that it was possible to be educated and curious about the world while still remaining loyal to family and tradition. This balance made him the most respected member of the royal family, even though he was not the most intellectually gifted.
