Payitaht: Abdulhamid

Set in the waning years of the Ottoman Empire, Payitaht Abdulhamid follows the ruler who must balance a collapsing state with the pressures of modernity, reform, and rival factions. Abdulhamid II faces a maze of court politics, espionage, and external threats as he strives to preserve sovereignty, the throne, and the caliphate that anchors Islamic legitimacy across vast lands. The series digs into the backroom maneuvers of ministers and intelligence chiefs, where loyalties shift and every decision can alter the fate of millions. Across Istanbul and its imperial peripheries, power plays unfold against a backdrop of nationalist agitation, foreign intrigue, and the heavy burden of leadership. It also charts the human cost of leadership as advisers risk trust, courtiers jockey for influence, and the empire edges toward change from within and without.

Released in 2017, Payitaht Abdulhamid is directed by Emre Konuk and created by Serdar Akar. The series dramatizes historical events surrounding Abdulhamid II, drawing on real figures and period politics to shape its narrative.

Critics and viewers note the bold, fast paced storytelling and its focus on statecraft under pressure. The show explores themes of sovereignty versus reform, tradition versus modernization, loyalty and betrayal, and how ordinary people navigate a collapsing empire. Its portrayal of negotiation rooms, secret assignments, and televised declarations gives audiences a sense of an empire in peril.

Within Turkey, the drama has sparked conversations about historical memory and national identity, highlighting a controversial figure whose efforts to preserve empire and prestige are debated to this day. Its international footprint remains modest, yet it has introduced Ottoman era politics to new audiences. Leaders and historians in Turkey cite its ambition and attention to period detail as a catalyst for renewed interest in late empire history.

This series has few widely documented awards or nominations. While it is praised by many viewers for its scope and production values, there are no major international awards recorded at this time.