Espionage during the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II 1876-1909 (Historical Study)

Abstract

The period of Sultan Abdul Hamid II (1876-1909) witnessed a great movement in the work of the espionage department (intelligence) and increasing its work within the Ottoman state, and attributes this to the many conspiracies that are plotted against him and the reason for this is his position on some sensitive issues, including his position on Jewish immigration to Palestine and the Armenian issue and the suspension of the constitution with the formation of associations opposed to his rule such as (the Union and Progress Society) as well as the diplomatic mail that began to enter the country through foreign diplomats all this posed a threat to the Ottoman state and its sultan was forced to pay attention to spying and the large numbers of its enemies with the allocation of large funds for it. On the other hand, nationalist associations began to be established in the European states for the purpose of independence from the Ottoman Empire, as a result of which the Ottoman Empire and its Sultan were interested in the work of the Espionage Directorate, many of which were exposed during the years of Sultan Abdul Hamid II's rule and failed in the other part of them.