31st March Incident

Ottoman history

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

The "31st March Incident" was an army mutiny in Istanbul in April 1909, occurring during the Julian calendar period. This event exposed the fragility of the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), also known as the Young Turks, while simultaneously presenting them with a new opportunity. The mutiny stemmed from soldiers' dissatisfaction with their conditions and perceived neglect by ambitious officers, as well as their objection to what they considered "infidel innovations." A religious organization called the Mohammedan Union encouraged these sentiments. The government's weakness allowed the mutiny to spread. Ultimately, an "Action Army" from Macedonia, led by Mahmud Şevket Paşa, marched on Istanbul and took control of the city.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Ottoman Empire
The Young Turk Revolution of 1908
…Julian calendar as the “31st March Incident”) exposed the weakness of the CUP and at the same time gave it a new opportunity. The mutiny resulted from the discontent of ordinary soldiers over their conditions and their neglect by college-trained and politically ambitious officers and from what they regarded…
Read More
…Julian calendar as the “31st March Incident”) exposed the weakness of the CUP and at the same time gave it a new opportunity. The mutiny resulted from the discontent of ordinary soldiers over their conditions and their neglect by college-trained and politically ambitious officers and from what they regarded…
Read More

Mahmud Şevket Paşa
…Turk government, known as the 31st of March Incident, and deposed the sultan, who favoured a return to absolutism. He then became the inspector general of the first three army corps and minister of war, acquiring a position of great strength.
Read More
…Turk government, known as the 31st of March Incident, and deposed the sultan, who favoured a return to absolutism. He then became the inspector general of the first three army corps and minister of war, acquiring a position of great strength.
Read More