Abdulaziz

Sultan Abdulaziz was born in Istanbul on 8 February 1830. His father was Sultan Mahmud II, his mother Pertevniyal Valide Sultan. He had hazel eyes, a light complexion close to fair, a stern gaze and a full round beard. On the death of his elder brother Abdulmejid he came to the throne on 25 June 1861, at the age of thirty-one. Although known as an extravagant sultan, he dressed very plainly and went about the palace in slippers and a robe. He was about nine when his father died, but his elder brother Abdulmejid gave his education the attention it required. As a prince he led a comfortable and untroubled life. He spoke French very well and had an interest in poetry and music; some compositions of his own survive. Highly gifted at drawing as well, Abdulaziz himself drew the plans of ships he intended to order for the Ottoman navy. He greatly loved archery, riding, hunting and above all wrestling. He was strong, powerful and built like a wrestler; he wrestled with the best of them and threw them on their backs.

Source: Osmanlı Tarihi Interaktif CD-ROM (Türk Tarih Kurumu Yayınları XXXI. Dizi-Sa.2)