The foreign policy role of Ahmet Tevfik Pasha in the Armenian events of 18951897

Ahmet Tevfik Pasha was an experienced and trusted diplomat who served as the Ottoman Minister of Foreign Affairs without interruption from 1895 to 1909 during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II. Following his ascension to the throne, Sultan Abdulhamid II consolidated his authority particularly after the Ottoman-Russian War (1877-1878), and it lasted until the proclamation of the Second Constitutional Era (1908). The Sultan sought to maintain absolute oversight over state affairs, including foreign policy, which naturally marginalized the Sublime Porte in decision-making processes. Despite this centralized governance, Ahmet Tevfik Pasha, as a skilled diplomat and a statesman trusted by the Sultan, played a pivotal role in shaping foreign policy decisions and in managing international diplomacy during critical times. He exercised this influence through direct consultations with ambassadors, submitting analytical reports, and actively participating in deliberative councils such as the Meclis-i Vükelâ (Council of Ministers), Meclis-i Mahsus-ı Vükelâ (Privy Council), and Encümen-i Mahsus-ı Vükelâ (Special Council of Ministers). This study aims to examine Ahmet Tevfik Pasha’s diplomatic role during the periods of significant crises concerning the Armenian events of 1895-1897, when the Ottoman government, the Sultan, and the Palace sought to coordinate policies in response to both domestic and international developments.