# Mahmud II: Reformist Sultan of the Ottoman Empire — WHE Definition Discussion

**URL:** <https://community.worldhistory.org/t/mahmud-ii-reformist-sultan-of-the-ottoman-empire-whe-definition-discussion/8015>\
**Category:** WHE Articles\
**Created:** [July 8, 2026, 9:00am UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/mahmud-ii-reformist-sultan-of-the-ottoman-empire-whe-definition-discussion/8015 "2026-07-08T09:00:02Z")\
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**Author:** ![rehamert](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/rehamert/32/308_2.png) [@rehamert](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/rehamert)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 9:00am UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/mahmud-ii-reformist-sultan-of-the-ottoman-empire-whe-definition-discussion/8015/1 "2026-07-08T09:00:02Z")

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Mahmud II was one of the most influential sultans of the Ottoman Empire. As a radical reformer, he strove to implement military and governmental reforms to prevent the empire from collapsing. His removal of the Janissary corps, the establishment of new government institutions, and new measures regarding appearance brought about radical changes in the Ottoman army and society, and because of this very reason, he was known as "Infidel Sultan." He laid the foundations of the modern state structure not only through military reforms but also through measures such as the first census, the first official gazette (_Takvim-i Vekayi_), the establishment of modern ministries (Interior, Foreign Affairs, etc.), and the modernization of the bureaucracy.

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_This is a companion discussion topic for the original content at [https://www.worldhistory.org/Mahmud\_II/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mahmud_II/)._