Imperial Anthem of the Ottoman Empire - "Mecidiye Marşı" Guiseppe Donizetti

The Ottoman Empire used anthems since its foundation in the late 13th century, but did not use a specific imperial or national anthem until the 19th century. During the reign of Mahmud II, when the military and imperial band were re-organized along Western lines, Giuseppe Donizetti was invited to head the process. Donizetti Pasha, as he was known in the Ottoman Empire, composed the first Western-style imperial anthem, the Mahmudiye Marşı. This anthem was also used by Sultan Murad V, son of Abdülmecid I during his brief three month reign in 1876. However, under Murad V’s reign, a different arrangement by Callisto Guatelli (the composer of the Ottoman anthem used after the “Mecidiye” and before Murad V’s reign) was used, and the anthem was published as “Marche Imperiale Ottomane”, and not “Mecidiye” nor “Muradiye” perhaps signifying for the first time the concept of a national imperial march rather than one for the emporer specifically. Special thanks to: Jaroslaw Wojcik for some of this information and the music file, Enver Demircigil for the sheet music, and Emre Yigit and Emre Aracı for additional this information. Title “Mecidiye Marşı” (Turkish) “March of Abdülmecid” (English translation) Composer Giuseppe Donizetti In use 1839 (adopted) June 25, 1861 (replaced (death of Abdülmecid)) 1876 (restored) August 31, 1876 (replaced (deposition of Murad V))