Abd-ul-Hamid I

Abd-ul-Hamid I, also Abdulhamid, Abdul Hamid or Abdul-Hamid, (1725-1789), sultan of the Ottoman Empire, son of Ahmed III, succeeded his brother [Mustafa III]? in 1773.

Long confinement in the palace aloof from state affairs left Abd-ul-Hamid pious, God-fearing and pacific in disposition. At his accession the financial straits of the treasury were such that the usual donative could not be given to the janissaries?. War was, however, forced on him, and less than a year after his accession the complete defeat of the Turks at Kozluja led to the [treaty of Kuchuk Kainarji]? (July 21, 1774). Slight successes in Syria and the Morea? against rebellious outbreaks there could not compensate for the loss of the Crimea?, which Russia soon showed that she meant to absorb entirely. In 1787 war was again declared against Russia, joined in the following year by Austria, [Joseph II]? being entirely won over to [Catherine the Great]?, whom he accompanied in her triumphal progress in the Crimea. Turkey held her own against the Austrians, but in 1788 Ochakov fell to the Russians. Four months later, on the 7th of April 1789, the sultan died, aged sixty-four.