The Claim That “No Ottoman Territory was Lost” during the Reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II is a Historical Deception

Abdul Hamid II was indeed an esteemed and important sultan. He did provide beneficial services for the empire during his rule. However, the claim that “no territory was lost during his rule” does not hold any truth to it. As we have demonstrated in our other films along with evidential documents, the Abdul Hamid era was a period when the British deep state thoroughly took root in the Ottoman Empire and the empire faced economical and spiritual collapse.

The extent of land lost in the 33 years that Abdul Hamid ruled, during which it is claimed that no territory was lost, is approximately 1.5 million square kilometers.

Tunisia, Egypt, Somalia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Kars, Ardahan, Batum, Thessaly, Cyprus were only some of the lands surrendered during this time.

Now, let us take a chronological look at the 1.5 million square kilometers of land that was lost in the Abdul Hamid era:

1878 – Montenegro and Serbia declared independence after the Treaty of Berlin.

1878 – Bulgaria became an autonomous principality after the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, and came largely under German and Austro-Hungarian control. Bosnia-Herzegovina was granted independence in its domestic affairs. The territories of Serbia, Montenegro and Romania were expanded. Kars, Ardahan, Batum and Doğubeyazit were ceded to Russia. Thessaly was ceded to Greece.

1878 – Bosnia and Herzegovina and Yenipazar were occupied by Austria.

1878 – Abdul Hamid II gave Cyprus to Britain, in exchange for supposed protection by Britain against Russia. British troops landed on Cyprus on July 12, 1878, lowered the Ottoman flag and raised their flags instead.

1881 – France invaded Tunisia. Tunisia became a French protectorate after the La Marsa Convention.

1882 – Britain occupied Egypt.

1884 – Somalia came under British control.

1885 – The Ottoman province of Jeddah and Habesh was invaded by Italy.

1898 – Crete was granted autonomy.

1899 – Kuwait was granted autonomy.

1908 – Bulgaria declared independence.

1908 – Bosnia-Herzegovina came under the control of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

1908 – Crete decided to join Greece.

Thus, in the Abdul Hamid era, during which it is claimed that no territory was ceded, 1.5 million square kilometers of land, almost twice that of modern Turkey’s total surface area, was lost.