The First Constitutional Era of the Ottoman Empire was the period of constitutional monarchy from the promulgation of the Ottoman constitution of 1876, written by members of the Young Ottomans, that began on 23 December 1876 and lasted until 14 February 1878. These Young Ottomans were dissatisfied by the Tanzimat and instead pushed for a constitutional government similar to that in Europe. The constitutional period started with the dethroning of Sultan Abdulaziz. Abdul Hamid II took his place as Sultan. The era ended with the suspension of the Ottoman Parliament and the constitution by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, with which he restored his own absolute monarchy.
Mehmed Kani Pasha, member of the first Ottoman Parliament.
Ottoman constitution of 1876
Opening ceremony of the first parliament at the Dolmabahçe Palace 19 March 1877. Illustrated London News
Meeting of the first Parliament later on the same day at the Old Darülfünun building.
Constitution of the Ottoman Empire
The Constitution of the Ottoman Empire was the first and only constitution of the Ottoman Empire. Written by members of the Young Ottomans, particularly Midhat Pasha, during the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, the constitution was in effect from 1876 to 1878 in a period known as the First Constitutional Era, and from 1908 to 1922 in the Second Constitutional Era. After Abdul Hamid's political downfall in the 31 March Incident, the Constitution was amended to transfer more power from the sultan and the appointed Senate to the popularly-elected lower house: the Chamber of Deputies.
Cover of the Ottoman constitution of 1876
Meeting of the first Ottoman Parliament in 1877
An English translation of the Constitution, derived from the French version, published in The American Journal of International Law
The version in Ottoman Turkish was used as the basis of translations of versions for Muslims, in Arabic and Persian