In the Shadow of Yildiz: Ottoman 1900
Sultan Abdulhamid II — Global Alternative History Sandbox RPG
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# January 1, 1900 — In the Shadow of Yildiz Sultan Abdulhamid II sits upon the Ottoman throne. Beyond being the sovereign's residence, Yildiz Palace serves as the nerve center for palace administration, political decisions, intelligence reports, and the military retinue. The Sultan wields significant power to appoint and oversee Grand Viziers, ministers, governors, and high-ranking commanders. However, the state's debts, the Public Debt Administration (Düyûn-ı Umûmiye), the capitulations, foreign creditors, the pressure of the Great Powers, local notables, and the institutional needs of the army place real limits on the power of the monarch. In this alternative scenario, the special guard system of Yildiz Palace is organized as an elite force of 12,000 personnel: 1,000 Söğüt Retinue/Ertuğrul guards, 4,000 Albanian riflemen, 4,000 Arab turbaned Zouaves, and 3,000 Turkish Imperial infantry. This strength is the starting setup of the scenario and should not be confused with ordinary provincial garrisons. Palace intelligence and the network of informers are vast, yet reports may be delayed, inaccurate, or biased; not every report should be taken as absolute fact. The Ottoman borders of 1900 distinguish between directly administered provinces and autonomous or tributary administrations. The Khedivate of Egypt is a separate administration that recognizes the legal supremacy of the Ottoman Sultan but has been under British occupation since 1882. The Beylik of Tunis is under French protectorate; Morocco is independent. Tripolitania and Benghazi are under Ottoman administration. Cyprus is under British administration; Bosnia and Herzegovina are under Austro-Hungarian occupation and administration. These distinct statuses are not represented as a single uniform Ottoman territory. The map consists of geographical cells focusing on Europe, North Africa, and the Near East based on the current draft. No fake cells or borders are created for continents and countries not present on the map. Colonies and affiliated regions on the map are interpreted according to their real-world 1900 status of sovereignty, occupation, protectorate, or local dynastic rule. In the Aegean, Crete is an autonomous state under Ottoman suzerainty and the protection of the Great Powers; Lesbos, Chios, and Rhodes are under Ottoman rule. In the Gulf, Qatar is a local sheikhdom under Ottoman influence, while Bahrain and the Trucial States are local administrations with special agreements with Britain; these are not direct British territory. In northern Nigeria, the Sokoto Caliphate exists in practice under its own caliph and emirs on January 1, 1900, despite British claims of a protectorate; Borno is under the rule of Rabih az-Zubayr. The Sultanate of Darfur remains independent under the rule of Ali Dinar until 1916. ## YILDIZ PALACE PERSONAL STAFF The Sultan’s inner palace circle includes Tahsin Pasha, Bidar Kadın Efendi, Seniha Sultan, Valide Sultan Rahime Perestu, Şehzade Abdülkadir Efendi, Naime Sultan, Zülfet Kalfa, and the Cook Fadıl. The Mabeyn (Chamberlain's Office), the Harem, the dynasty, and palace services are distinct areas of duty. Avlonyalı Ferid Pasha is the Grand Vizier in this alternative scenario; although his historical term was 1903–1908, it has been moved to the start of the game. Halil Rıfat Pasha is a senior statesman and advisor. ## INTELLIGENCE AND SPECIAL OPERATIVES Halil Halid, Uncle Vambery (Ármin Vámbéry), Söğütlü Osman, and Adjutant Major (Kolağası) Celal constitute the special cadre directly reporting to the Sultan. They monitor foreign activities, field developments, palace security, and military matters. Gazi Osman Pasha is a high-level military advisor; Selim Pasha is a member of the palace's military-administrative staff. ## EXTERNAL OPPOSING ACTORS Mahmud Celâleddin Pasha is untrustworthy and opportunistic. Theodor Herzl, Edmond de Rothschild, Parvus, Şivenaz Hatun, and Marco are not part of the Sultan's loyal cadre; they are actors acting toward their own goals, clashing with the palace when necessary. The presence of these characters does not automatically trigger a coup, assassination, or war; their actions require connections, opportunity, and resources. ## CITIES, INDUSTRY, AND THE HEJAZ RAILWAY The map displays the capital Istanbul, Yildiz Palace near the Bosphorus, the Sublime Porte (Bâbıâli), the Imperial Artillery Works (Tophâne-i Âmire), the Feshane, and the Zeytinburnu industrial facilities as distinct locations. Damascus, Deraa, Amman, Ma'an, Tabuk, and Medina represent the Hejaz Railway route. Centers such as Cairo, Alexandria, Beirut, Jerusalem, Aleppo, Baghdad, and Basra are also included on the map with their own administrative and economic positions. Major cities and ports of Europe, North Africa, and the Near East are also fixed points on the map. As of the start of 1900, the Hejaz Railway is not a completed, fully operational line. The appearance of route points on the map does not imply that stations are active or that the entire line is open.