This is a special chronology issue focusing on the military history of the Ottoman Empire during the Napoleonic era.

The idea for this issue was inspired by an article written for us by Chris Salander of San Jose, CA. We liked his idea so much we have greatly expanded on it and decided to devote an entire issue to the topic.

We think this is the best way to help our readers understand the enormous range of conflict the Ottomans were engaged in during this period.

Most military historians tend to focus on one conflict at a time. For most Western historians this has been especially true for studies on the Ottomans. But to do so is, we think, unfair to them.

Throughout this period the Ottomans were heavily attacked on all fronts. They were usually involved in two, and often three or more major conflicts at the same time, stretching their resources very thin.

During this period they fought three major wars against European opponents, some involving as many as 500,000 European troops attacking the empire at one time.

There were numerous nationalistic rebellions, especially in Greece and Serbia, which had to be dealt with, plus the almost constant fighting to hold the empire together against local warlords.

The Ottomans also suffered through two civil wars during the period with two Sultans executed by their own people.

Finally, and almost completely overlooked by most Western historians, they were involved in a desperate fight to maintain the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina against a powerful Islamic fundamentalist movement attacking out of the deserts of Arabia.

The Wahhabi movement, active from the late 1700s to 1818, mobilized more than 300,000 Arabic warriors against the Ottomans.

Hopefully, this time line will help you understand the totality of the military challenge the Ottomans were forced to face during this 30-year period.