Bab 4: Ottoman Empire (Original Timeline)
To begin with, the Ottoman Empire, like many other nations, was not severely affected by the French Revolution initially, except for the significant disruption caused by Napoleon's Egyptian campaign (1798–1801). This invasion extended to Syria and brought the French Republic into direct conflict with the Ottoman Empire. However, these events occurred during the reign of Sultan Selim III and not Sultan Mustafa III.
During Sultan Mustafa III's rule (1757–1774), the empire faced numerous challenges, particularly on the military and economic fronts. Mustafa III recognized the empire's declining state and attempted several reforms, though most were limited in scope due to resistance from entrenched traditional factions like the Janissaries. One of his most notable actions was promoting the use of European military techniques and weapons. He also tried to reform the tax system to better finance the army, though these efforts were only partially successful.
Unfortunately, his reign was marked by the Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774), a devastating conflict that exposed the empire's military weaknesses. The war ended with the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca, a humiliating agreement that granted Russia significant territorial gains and the right to protect Orthodox Christians within the Ottoman Empire—a concession that would later have far-reaching consequences. Sultan Mustafa III died shortly after the war, likely from stress and despair over the empire's situation, leaving his son Selim III to inherit a weakened state.
When Selim III ascended the throne in 1789, he inherited an empire facing internal stagnation and external threats. Unlike his father, Selim III approached reform with a more determined and systematic mindset. His reign marked the beginning of the Nizam-I Cedid (New Order), a series of reforms aimed at modernizing the Ottoman military and administration. Selim introduced a new army trained in European tactics and equipped with modern weaponry, funded by a separate treasury known as the 'Irad-I Cedid' (New Revenue).
Despite these efforts, Selim III's reforms faced fierce resistance from conservative factions, particularly the Janissaries, who viewed the New Order as a threat to their privileges. Political intrigue and opposition within the palace and among provincial notables also hampered his efforts. Selim's inability to produce an heir added another layer of vulnerability to his rule, as it intensified succession uncertainties and weakened his political position.
Nevertheless, Selim III was a ruler with a vision. He sought to re-establish the Ottoman Empire as a dominant power and was deeply inspired by European advancements in governance, technology, and military science. His correspondence with European monarchs and his openness to foreign ideas reflected his pragmatic approach to reform. However, his reign would ultimately be defined by the tension between modernization and tradition, a struggle that would culminate in his deposition in 1807.
Thus, the period of Sultan Mustafa III and Selim III marked a critical juncture in Ottoman history—an era of both decline and potential renewal. It was a time when the empire struggled to reconcile its rich traditions with the pressing need for reform in a rapidly changing world.
From what I saw, Selim III in the original timeline indeed have a good vision and strong desire to reform the military and economy of the empire. But he still does not get the support from the conservatives, especially the ulema and the janissaries due to their great hold of power in political and influences. But things change, with the current situation at least I can use the knowledge of the future to recover the empire and became great again. But one thing that I was wonder, was the idea of colonialism, it is a great prospect for the empire. Unfortunately, the empire didn't even try to do that. So I might do that as well. Of course it will be a different kind of colonialism, since most westerners were doing it for 3G in the first place, but as centuries pass, now we see the importance of it. From the economic, military and influence to the countries, it also posed a great benefit to the empire. And also there are hundreds of millions of muslims population in India and Asia continents, which makes it why we should have a sphere of influence to protect the muslim community.
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