The glorious walls of Dolmabahçe Palace have witnessed deep political crises and human dramas as much as victory and splendor. The most poignant example of this is the tragic story of Murad V, who remained on the throne for only 93 days. Murad V, who ascended the throne at Dolmabahçe as the hope of an empire due to his Western education, intellectual background, and constitutionalist ideas, lost his mental balance under the trauma created by the deposition of his uncle, Sultan Abdülaziz, and the heavy responsibility of the state. His brief and stormy reign is the bitterest evidence of how the corridors of Dolmabahçe could instantly turn from a scene of hope into a place of tragedy due to political intrigues. [Link: The Dynasty and its Residents in Dolmabahçe -> /learn/the-dynasty-and-its-people]
A Prince of Hope: The Promises of Murad V
Before ascending the throne, Şehzade Murad was regarded as one of the brightest and most promising members of the Ottoman dynasty. Like his father Sultan Abdülmecid, Murad was a Westernization advocate (Batılılaşma yanlısı); he had received a good education, spoke French fluently, played the piano, and was an intellectual who mastered Western literature. Most importantly, he had established secret relations with Young Turk (New Ottomans) intellectuals such as Namık Kemal and Ziya Paşa and had embraced the idea of a constitutional monarchy (meşrutiyet) for the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, for reformist statesmen like Mithat Paşa, Murad V was the key and the greatest hope for transitioning from an autocratic regime to a more democratic structure.
Accession to the Throne and the Start of Trauma
Murad V was brought to Dolmabahçe Palace and proclaimed Sultan following the military coup that deposed his uncle, Sultan Abdülaziz, on May 30, 1876. However, this accession was the start of a trauma rather than a glorious ceremony. The suspicious death of his uncle a few days later and the resulting political tension created profound psychological pressure on Murad V, who already had a sensitive disposition. The throne he had waited for years was presented to him not as a triumph, but as a legacy of blood and intrigue. This heavy burden was the first spark that triggered his spiritual collapse.
The 93-Day Sultanate: Collapse and Political Crisis
Murad V’s reign, which began at Dolmabahçe Palace on May 30, 1876, remained overshadowed by the deterioration of his mental health from the beginning and lasted only 93 days. The Sultan’s illness rendered state governance virtually impossible and caused great disappointment to the reformist circles who had placed him on the throne.
Deterioration of Mental Health
The first serious signs that the Sultan was losing his mental faculties appeared during the Friday Procession (Cuma Selamlığı) ceremony, held just a few days after his accession. During this important ritual, where the Sultan traditionally met the public, Murad V’s irregular movements, asking meaningless questions to those around him, and attempting to throw himself into the pool in the middle of the ceremony caused great panic in the palace corridors. It was quickly understood that the Sultan could not conduct state affairs, sign decrees (fermans), or receive foreign ambassadors. The diagnosis of “incurable mental illness” made by doctors specially brought from Vienna ignited the political crisis.
Mithat Paşa’s Dilemma and the Decision to Depose Him
This situation faced Grand Vizier Mithat Paşa and his colleagues, who had placed Murad V on the throne to declare the constitution (meşrutiyet), with a historical dilemma. The Sultan they had pinned their hopes on was not in a state to approve the constitution. The state was left without a head, and internal and external threats were increasing. Following long discussions and a fetva obtained from the Şeyhülislam stating that “the caliphate and sultanate of a monarch whose mental balance is unsound is not permissible (caiz olmadığına),” the decision was made to depose Murad V. On August 31, 1876, just 93 days after his accession, Murad V was dismissed from the throne at Dolmabahçe Palace, and his brother Abdülhamid II was proclaimed Sultan in his place. [Link: The Reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II -> /camdan-saray-demir-irade-sultan-ii-abdulhamid-dolmabahceyi-neden-terk-edip-yildiza-kapandi]
From Palace to Prison: The Long Captivity in Çırağan
After his deposition, Murad V and his family were taken from Dolmabahçe Palace and transferred to Çırağan Palace, another magnificent structure on the Bosphorus. However, this transfer was not a change of residence but the beginning of a life of imprisonment. Çırağan Palace turned into a gilded cage where he lived in captivity for about 28 years. Although his health improved over time and there were unsuccessful attempts to reinstate him, such as the Ali Suavi Incident (Ali Suavi Vakası), he never regained his freedom and passed away in Çırağan Palace in 1904.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Murad V’s 93-day reign is the saddest proof that Dolmabahçe Palace was not merely a scene of power, but also a place where personal tragedies and ruthless political realities unfolded. It is the story of how an enlightened prince, who ascended the throne as the hope for a constitutional monarchy for an empire, was crushed under the weight of political intrigues and the overwhelming burden of the throne. Murad V’s forgotten memory at Dolmabahçe reminds us of the fragile human destiny behind the palace’s glittering façade and the price of power.
