“… and I open The General Assembly”: A Comparative Study of the Inaugural Speeches of the Sultans
With the declaration of the constitutional regime, the Ottoman state transitioned into a constitutional monarchy, which led to changes in its administrative structure. One of the most significant changes was the introduction of a parliament consisting of representatives elected by the people, serving as an advisory and legislative body in state affairs. One of the innovations brought by the parliament was the Sultan's inaugural speeches at the beginning of each legislative year, delivered in front of the mebusan and âyân. These speeches, known as the "Nutk-ı Hümayun," provided the Sultan—who, as head of the executive power, had the highest authority in the monarchy—a key opportunity to present his political perspective to both the representatives and the general public. These speeches are significant because they reveal how the Sultan interpreted the political and administrative structures of which he was a part, as well as how he framed contemporary developments. Moreover, the rhetoric he employed to present these views to the public is of particular interest. The inaugural speeches of Sultan Abdülhamid II, Mehmed Reşad, and Mehmed Vahdeddin at the opening ceremonies of the Meclis-i Umûmî offer an alternative perspective on the political debates of the late Ottoman period, as interpreted by the monarch at the apex of the state.
