A Volunteer Ottoman Ambassador in America; General Lew Wallace Amerika’da Gönüllü Bir Osmanlı Elçisi General Lew Wallace

Creative Commons License

Ulutaş S. Ö., Yavuzcan G.

Bilig, vol.2022, no.100, pp.211-245, 2022 (SSCI) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 2022 Issue: 100
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.12995/bilig.10009
  • Journal Name: Bilig
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Index Islamicus, Linguistic Bibliography, Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Political Science Complete, Sociological abstracts, Worldwide Political Science Abstracts, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.211-245
  • Keywords: Abdulhamid II, Armenian, Lew Wallace, Ottoman, propaganda
  • Uşak University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Until the 19th century, Armenians and Turks within the borders of the Ottoman Empire lived together without any problems. However, in that century the political and military movements initiated by some Armenian groups, which were under the influence of the idea of nationalism, began to intensify. Especially because of the 61st article of the Berlin Treaty (1878), these groups had the opportunity to bring their separatist demands to the international platform. The Armenians, who wanted to attract the attention of Europe and America, started intense propaganda activities through the political organizations they established, while revolting in Anatolia on the one hand. This study evaluates the rise of a “pro-Sultan” voice in America in the early stages of anti-Ottoman activities, which were the precursors of the so-called Armenian massacre propaganda. This voice is the voice of General (Gen.) Lew Wallace, the American Ambassador who served between 1881-1885 after he returned to America. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate his stances and attitude in the face of the Armenian propaganda that started against Abdulhamid II.