Abd al-Mejid I (1823–1861)

Sultan of Turkey from 1839. During his reign the Ottoman Empire was increasingly weakened by internal nationalist movements and the incursions of the great European powers.

He succeeded to the throne eight days after the disastrous defeat of the army of his father Mahmud II at Nezib (now Nizip) by Mehemet Ali, the rebellious viceroy of Egypt. The intervention of the European powers saved Abd al-Mejid's dynasty, and the treaty of 1841, imposed on both parties by Europe, settled the relationship of Egypt and Turkey. Abd al-Mejid instituted many reforms, and considerably improved the status of the Christians within his empire.