Sultan Abdulhamid II: A Sovereign in the Heavens (Book)

Sultan Abdülhamid II: A Sovereign in the Heavens is a biography by Necmettin Alkan that comprehensively examines the life, personality, and political struggles of Abdülhamid II, one of the sultans of Ottoman history. The work explores Abdülhamid II’s balancing act in domestic and foreign policy, the tension between his modernization efforts and traditionalist governance, his Islamic-oriented policies toward the West, and his stance on critical events such as the Young Turks, the Armenian question, and the 31 March Incident. It was published in 2023 by Kronik Kitap.

Subject of the Book

The book goes beyond the limits of Abdülhamid II’s reign to examine his childhood, youth, character, family, and psychological dimensions. It provides a detailed analysis of how the sultan navigated the political crises of the late Ottoman state, the intelligence network he established, and his policies toward internal and external threats.

Method and Sources

The book relies primarily on archival documents, especially the Yıldız Papers and Ottoman diplomatic correspondence. Views from Western and local historians are presented comparatively. The aim is to construct and interpret the psychological portrait of Abdülhamid II through personal letters and memoirs of those close to him.

Style of the Book

In his study, Necmettin Alkan draws on historical documents, memoirs, and contemporary sources to analyze the era of Abdülhamid II. The author presents a profile of the sultan by examining his mode of governance not only politically but also through psychological and sociological dimensions.

Target Audience

The book serves not only as a resource for history enthusiasts but also as an academic reference for scholars and students in disciplines such as political science, psychology, and sociology.