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Web: Berliner Gewerbeausstellung, 1896 neonatology.org | Clinical Research Profile (1896) Trial #935, Michigan... centerwatch.com | Robert Bike, Class of 1896, Freeport High School, Freeport, Illinois bibleplants.com |
The 1896 Ottoman Bank Takeover (Armenian: Պանք Օթօմանի գրաւումը) was the seizing of the Ottoman Bank in Istanbul, Ottoman Empire, on August 26, 1896, by members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnak Party). In an effort to raise further awareness and action by the major European powers, twenty-eight armed men and women led primarily by Papken Siuni and Armen Karo took over the bank which largely employed European personnel from Great Britain and France. Stirred largely due to the inaction of the European powers in regards to pogroms and massacres instigated by the Sultan Abdul-Hamid II, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation members saw its seizure as their best attempt to bring full attention to the massacres. The Ottoman bank, at the time, served as an important financial center for both the Empire and the countries of Europe. Armed with pistols, grenades, dynamite and hand-held bombs, the seizure of the bank lasted for fourteen hours, resulting in the deaths of ten of the Armenian men and Turkish soldiers. Turkish reaction to takeover saw further massacres and pogroms of 6,000[1] Armenians living in Istanbul and also Hamid threatening to level the entire building itself. However, intervention on part of the European diplomats in the city managed to persuade the men to give, assigning safe passage to the survivors to France. Despite the level of violence the incident had wrought, the takeover was reported positively in the European press, praising the men for their courage and the objectives they attempted to accomplish.[2] Nevertheless, aside from issuing a note condemning the pogroms in the city, the European powers did not act on their promises to enforce reforms in the country as future massacres of Armenians continued to take place.
[edit] Background
Main articles: Armenians in the Ottoman Empire and Hamidian massacres Contrary to Turkish claims, the Armenians suffered from persecution and forced assimilation under Ottoman rule. The Armenians lived in their own villages and city quarters, separate from the Turks. They were subjected to heavy taxes and were downgraded as a separate group of Ottoman society, called a millet. Various Armenians who were resentful of Ottoman persecution took up arms to defend their basic rights. This infuriated the Sultan ‘Abdu’l-Hamid II who viewed the small resistance as a threat to his power. In the 1890s, up to 300,000 Armenians were massacred on orders from Sultan Hamid, massacres commonly known as the Hamidian massacres.[3] [edit] Activities [edit] PlanningThe Armenian Revolutionary Federation sought to stop the murder of Armenians and planned the bank takeover to gain the attention and intervention of world powers. The brain of the operation was Karekin Pastirmaciyan. From the start, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation handed out fliers to the general population of the Ottoman Empire stating that their fight was not against them but the Ottoman Empire's oppression. The official account of the troubles attributes the riots to an organized effort on the part of the central committee of the Armenian revolutionists to stir up a revolution.[4] The decision to take over the Ottoman Bank was a strategic one as the bank held many European treasuries which would therefore grab the European attention the Armenians wanted. Armenian men said that the bank had been singled out because ‘apart from the interests of the European powers the various financial markets would also suffer heavy loss through the destruction of their property.'[5] [edit] SeizureOn Wednesday, August 26, 1896, 13:00 o’clock, 26 Armenians from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, armed with pistols and grenades and led by Papken Siuni, attacked and occupied the Ottoman Bank of Istanbul. During the initial operation, 9 of the attackers, including leader Papken Siuni, were killed. Karo (otherwise known as Karekin Pastirmaciyan) took over as leader of the armed revolutionaries in defending the building against the government forces, who tried to gain control of the building. The men entered the great hall of the Ottoman bank armed with revolvers, daggers and dynamite bombs.[4] Forming in small groups, they were accosted by the officer of the guards who demanded from them a statement of their business with the bank.[4] Without stopping to reply they blew out his brains and then killed and beheaded the gendarmes, throwing heads of the dead men out into the streets.[4] During the resultant confusion, they closed the doors of the bank and hurled a number of bombs into the street.[4] Throughout the ordeal the personnel of the bank were treated well and were told that they -the Armenian men- were not robbers, were not looking to harm them, and did not want to rob the bank's money. They clarified that their goal was to simply dictate their political demands to the Ottoman and European governments. Nothing was stolen from the vault. [edit] RiotsWith police rushing to the scenes of these outrages the Armenians launched their assault on the bank. A little knowledge of the layout is needed to explain how the events surrounding the bank developed.[5] The Galata Bridge linked the old and newer parts of the city across the narrow estuary winding inland from the Golden Horn. On one side cobbled streets run up from the bridge to Topkapi palace, and the government offices. On the other the bridge opens up to the Galata financial district, from which narrow streets wind up other hills to the fashionable Beyolu area and finally Taksim Square at the top. On this side of the bridge the Armenian men concentrated in the Galata, Tunnel and Tapabasi around Beyolu.[5] The rioters captured a hotel in the city of Istanbul and bombs and shots and missiles fairly rained upon the heads of the passersby, wounding many persons. Many similar events are reported from various portions of the city.[4] Four women who were driving along in a carriage were blown to pieces by the explosion of one of the dynamite bombs.[4] Two of the French employees of the bank, while descending from a window by means of a rope were wounded by one of the explosions.[4] They narrowly escaped with their lives by reason of the timely intervention of the imperial troops.[4] The riots surrounding the bank extended to several villages on the Bosporus including Tepe basi and on the Asiatic coast of the Sea of Marmara. The weapons used by the populace were clubs and knives.[5] The ulemas and softas,” most of whom resided in Constantintiple, rushed across the bridge towards Pera and Galata but were met by squads of cavalry who forced them back, thus confining their efforts at massacre to the Armenians in the close region.[5] The Ottoman soldiers cut the bridge, thus preventing riots extending, but behind the barricade the deadly fight between the two group progressed with but little noise.[5] As the massacre progressed, the bombs were thrown and pistol shots discharged from houses at various points with no apparent object.[5] At the railroad depot on Seraglio Point an officer requested that some fifteen Armenian employees of the Oriental [sic] Express be delivered to him. [edit] NegotiationsOn the same day, the revolutionaries sent a letter to the European major powers demanding that the sultan promise to attend to their demands and hand over the solution of the Armenian Question to an international judge. Otherwise, on the third day, they would blow themselves and the bank up.
After 14 hours of occupation and repelling government attempts to retake the bank, ambassadors of Europe, principally through the Russian consul (Maxmiov), and the director of the bank, Sir Edgar Vincent (Lord of Abernon), succeeded in persuading the Armenian men to leave the bank, by promising to meet to their demands as well as grant them safe passage out of the bank.[7] Sir Edgar’s secretary, told that their action would alienate the European powers and cause a ‘fearful massacre of Armenians’ but they replied that if they died they would do so as martyrs and patriots. They were assured of a pardon and unhindered departure from the city on board Sir Edgar Vincent’s private yacht.. [edit] CasultiesIt is known that a great many persons have been killed, but it is impossible to ascertain the exact number owing to the prevalent excitement and the desire on the part of the Armenians, as well as the Turkish authorities to keep the identity of the killed and wounded secret.[4] but right after the takeover the Turks loyal to the government began to massacre the Armenians in Istanbul itself, murdering around 6,000[1] - 7,000 Armenians. Within 48 hours of the bank seizure, estimates had the dead numbering between 3,000 and 4,000, as authorities made no effort to contain the killings of Armenians and the looting of their homes and businesses.[8] [edit] Fate of perpetrators August 28, Istanbul the riots which Wednesday caused so much excitement throughout Istanbul are apparently at an end. The leaders of the mob which attacked the officers of the Ottoman bank surrendered and will be expelled from Turkey.[4] Before boarding the ship to France, the survivors were told they were not allowed to carry their weapons along with them. Although initially refusing to give them up, Ambassador Maxmiov bargained and bought the entire armament from them. The Armenian patriarch has excommunicated all Armenians concerned in this latest uprising.[4] The Armenian Patriarch immediately excommunicated all Armenians linked to the bank takeover,[9] as a recurrence of savage anti-Armenian pogroms shook Istanbul. [edit] Aftermath[edit] The Egin MassacreOn September 15, 1896, three weeks after the bank raid, Turkish authorities organized a massacre in the town of Egin. Egin was chosen as the target because the leader of the bank raiding party, Papken Siuni, was a native of the town. According to a report by the French Ambassador, Ottoman troops killed "upwards of 2000 Armenians" in Egin, including "many women and children". A report by the British Consul at Harput, citing figures supplied by a Turkish official, says that 1500 were killed, including 200 women and children.[10] Of the 1500 houses located in the Armenian quarter of Egin, 980 were pillaged and burned. According to another report by the British Consul at Harput, the pretext used to attack the town's Armenian quarter was an "indirect order" from the Sultan that "the Armenians of Egin were set to cause trouble and that the local authorities should 'take the necessary action'". The same report said that there was no revolutionary movement whatever, and the victims had given no offense. A few pistols and revolvers were found in the ruins of the burnt houses.[10] In protest against all the massacres, the representatives of the major powers addressed an insulting letter to the sultan.[7] Dadrian describes the Egin massacre as a "case of collective punishment through mass murder". [edit] International responseThe Armenian Revolutionary Federation's goals had been accomplished in getting the attention of the major powers. Despite the nature of the Bank Takeover, the brutality endured by the Armenian civilian population in the wake of the incident overshadowed the incident itself,[11] renewing Western concern for Armenian safety in the Ottoman Empire.[11] United States President Grover Cleveland, responding to widespread support for the Armenian cause galvanized by American missionaries stationed in the Ottoman Empire,[12] condemned "the rage of mad bigotry and cruel fanaticism," the "not infrequent reports of the wanton destruction of homes and the bloody butchery of men, women, and children, made martyrs to their profession of Christian faith."
Cleveland rejected the possibility of asserting American military force to protect Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, offering accommodation to "those who seek to avoid the perils which threaten them in Turkish dominions." [edit] Cultural referencesAn Armenian Revolutionary Song titled Papken Siuniyi Hishadagin or popularly known as Ottoman Bank is about the events of the takeover. [edit] Notes
[edit] External links
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