As a potential heir to the throne, Abdul Hamid was imprisoned in comfort by his cousins and older brother, which was customary.

[3] On the day of Mustafa's death on 21 January 1774, Abdul Hamid ascended to the throne with a ceremony held in the palace.

The new sultan sent a letter to the Grand Vizier Serdar-ı Ekrem Muhsinzade Mehmed Pasha on the front and informed him to continue with the war against Russia.

[4] Abdul Hamid's long imprisonment had left him indifferent to state affairs and malleable to the designs of his advisors.

Abdul Hamid sought to reform the Empire's armed forces including the Janissary corps and the navy.

[1] However, small successes against rebellions in Syria and the Morea could not compensate for the loss of the Crimean Peninsula, which had become nominally independent in 1774 but was in practice actually controlled by Russia.

This led to complete Ottoman defeat at Kozludzha and the humiliating Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca, signed on 21 July 1774.

Marketing opportunities for all kinds of commodities in Istanbul and other ports, as well as the full commercial rights of England and France, were given.

Abdul Hamid informed the Mysore ambassadors that the Ottomans were still entangled and exhausted from the ongoing war with Russia and Austria.

He additionally built a mosque, a fountain, a bath, and shops around Emirgi in Emirgân in 1783, and another one[clarification needed] for Hümâşah Sultan and his son Mehmed.

[12] It is known that Abdul Hamid I was fond of his children, was interested in family life, and spent the summer months in Karaağaç, Beşiktaş with his consorts, sons and daughters.

His daughter Esma Sultan's dressing styles, her passion for entertainment, and her journey to the objects with her journeymen and concubines have set an example for Istanbul ladies.