The First Act of Violence Against the Armenians

➡️Armenia had been absorbed into the Ottoman Empire.

▶️This is why many Armenians lived in Turkey around the time of the massacres and genocide.

➡️The first act of violence against the Armenians was the Hamidian Massacres.

➡️The Hamidian Massacres lasted from 1894-1896.

➡️They were committed under the rule of Abdul Hamid II.

➡️About 200,000 Armenians were killed under his rule during this massacre.

➡️Abdul hated the Armenians that occupied the Ottoman Empire because they weren't Muslim or of Turkish heritage.

➡️Many events led up to the massacres.

➡️Harsh treatment of the Armenians forced them to stand against the Ottoman government, further fueling the hate of Abdul towards the Armenian population.

➡️After the massacres he was named "the great assassin" and the press referred to him as "the bloody sultan".

Abdul Hamid II