Tahsin Pasha, First Secretary of Abdulhamid II

Abstract

During the reign of Abdulhamid II, Yıldız Palace became the decision centre of the state, and Palace came to the fore. During this period, all the affairs between the external world and the Palace were administered through the Mabeyn-i Hümayun Başkitabeti. Tahsin Pasha was appointed as the First Secretary of Mabeyn-i Hümayun, which was such an important office, by Abdulhamid in 1894. Pasha, who continued this duty until 1908, was arrested after the proclamation of the Constitutional Monarchy and was imprisoned in the Bekirağa Troop. He was transferred to Büyükada on September 3, 1908, where he was kept under surveillance. After the March 31 Incident, his property was confiscated with the decision of the Meclis-i Vükela on May 28, 1909; his rank, insignia and medals were cancelled, he was deprived of his retirement right and exiled to Chios. When the danger of the Greek invasion of the island arose, Pasha was sent to Izmir on May 27, 1912. On February 11, 1913, he was allowed to return to Istanbul after the general amnesty for political criminals was issued. From this date until 1933, he continued his life in a state of poverty in Istanbul, constantly looking for debt. He also lost his last remaining properties on these dates. Since 1930, he published his memoirs in the journal of Milliyet in serial form. Tahsin Pasha, who completed his life loyally to Abdulhamid II, passed away on January 22, 1933, in his mansion in Erenkoy. His funeral was buried in the family cemetery in Eyup, Istanbul. In this study, the place and role of Tahsin Pasha in the administrative system of Sultan Abdulhamid as the first secretary of the Mabeyn, about which no academic study has been done so far, will be examined. At the same time, the life of a statesman who continued his loyalty to Sultan Abdulhamid after the proclamation of the Constitutional Monarchy until his death will be revealed.