TRENDEAtlas of the Sultans · Wars, battles and treaties
Revolt · 1807
The Nizam-ı Cedid (“New Order”), launched after 1792 to modernise the army on European lines, had provoked a growing reaction among the janissaries and other opponents. Incited by talk that the auxiliaries (yamak) in the Bosporus forts were to be put into Nizam-ı Cedid uniforms, the yamaks rose and killed the Bosporus superintendent Mahmud Raif Efendi and Halil Haseki (25 May 1807). The deputy grand vizier Köse Musa Pasha played the incident down, and the rebels under Kabakçı Mustafa marched on Istanbul in growing numbers. Selim III's indecision ended in his own deposition; Mustafa IV, who had backed the revolt from the start, was enthroned on 29 May 1807.
| Date | 25–29 May 1807 |
|---|---|
| Location | Istanbul (Bosporus forts) |
| Result | Selim III was deposed and Mustafa IV enthroned (29 May 1807); the Nizam-ı Cedid came to an end |
| Belligerents | Selim III and the Nizam-ı Cedid administration | Bosporus auxiliaries, janissaries and opponents of the Nizam-ı Cedid |
|---|---|---|
| Commanders | Selim III | Kabakçı Mustafa |
Took place during the reign of Selim III (1789–1807). Selim III
Open the reign of Selim III on the mapBy the atlas's calculation the Ottoman lands covered about 4,551,000 km² in 1807; at the start of Selim III's reign they measured 4,596,000 km², at its end 4,551,000 km².
During Selim III (1789–1807) the atlas records 0 regions gained and 1 region lost.
Regions lost: Budjak–Bessarabia (1806).
He launched a thorough programme of reform: a new army, permanent embassies, engineering schools. The programme was overthrown by a Janissary revolt and he himself was killed; yet the Nizam-ı Cedid became the blueprint for Mahmud II's reforms.
Areas are land area computed from the atlas's region data; see Method and sources.
Source: TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, “Kabakçı İsyanı” (Turkish); text written for the atlas.