The 1909 Adana Incidents: The Resignation of Patriarch Turyan, the Investigative Committee Selected by the Chamber of Deputies, and the Situation of the Needy

Armenians had lived peacefully for many years within the millet system in the
Ottoman homeland. They had made significant progress in economic and educational
matters, particularly with the Tanzimat Edict and the Reform Edict. However, the
Berlin Congress brought the Armenian issue to the forefront of the Ottoman
homeland. Armenians, who participated in the organized opposition that began
during the reign of Abdulhamid II, also played a significant role in the declaration of
the Second Constitutional Monarchy. However, the declaration of the Constitutional
Monarchy revealed that the goals of all Ottoman nations were not the same. The
Armenians' failure to disband separatist societies and organizations after the
declaration of the Constitutional Monarchy, and even their increased arms exchange,
gave the impression of preparations for a new rebellion. On the same date as the
March 31st Incident, bloody clashes broke out between Armenian and Muslim
populations in Adana. This study examines the events surrounding the beginning,
development, and conclusion of the Adana Incidents through the lens of the Armenian
Patriarch and the Chamber of Deputies, particularly those of Armenian deputies. It
seeks to reveal the parliament's course of action. This study utilizes archival materials,
the Chamber of Deputies' minutes, as well as the national and Armenian press of the
period.