Sultan Murad V, who ascended the Ottoman throne in 1876, had a brief and tumultuous reign that lasted only 93 days, primarily due to personal health issues. His mental state was a concern, having reportedly suffered from a nervous breakdown that raised fears about his ability to govern effectively. This instability alarmed the ruling elite and prompted the Young Ottomans, a reformist group, to reconsider the direction of the empire. Their aspirations for modernization and reform clashed with Murad's incapacity to fulfill his duties as a sovereign.

Amidst pressures from influential factions within the imperial court and a rising sentiment for more conservative leadership, Murad was declared unfit for rule. As a result, his younger brother, Abdul Hamid II, was proclaimed Sultan. Abdul Hamid had previously served as a prominent figure in the administration and was perceived as a suitable candidate to bring stability back to the empire. His ascension initiated a new chapter in Ottoman governance characterized by an autocratic rule that would define his 33-year reign.

Abdul Hamid II's rule was marked by attempts to centralize power and implement reforms while facing growing territorial losses and rising nationalistic movements within the empire. His policies would ultimately lead to mixed perceptions of his leadership but would influence the empire’s trajectory through the late 19th Century into the 20th Century.