AHistoryIndependent states
Ottoman Empire (1299–1922)
A Turkish state that grew from a small frontier principality into an empire on three continents and lasted more than six centuries.
The Ottoman state grew out of Osman Gazi's principality around Söğüt. The capital moved from Bursa to Edirne and, in 1453, to Istanbul. In the 16th–17th centuries the empire stretched from the gates of Vienna to Basra and from Crimea to Algiers.
It was known for a system of government that held many peoples and faiths together, a powerful army, court culture and architecture. Its rivalry and alliances with the Safavids left a deep mark on Azerbaijan's history too.
In the 18th–19th centuries the empire weakened and sought modernisation through the Tanzimat reforms and two constitutional periods. After defeat in the First World War the sultanate was abolished on 1 November 1922, and the Republic of Türkiye was founded in its place.
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Updated: October 2, 2026