In the late periods of the Ottoman Empire, especially during and after the 19th century, the grand vizier began to hold a position almost identical to that of a prime minister in other European states.

The Office of the Grand Vizierate was known as the Sadaret-i Uzma, or alternatively the Baş Vekâlet (The Prime Ministry), or Bâb-ı Âli (Literally the Sublime Porte, all the departments under the Vezierate).

[4] (1492–1580) (1622–1623) (1623–1640) (Deposed) (1687–1691) (1695–1703) (1774–1789) (1789–1807) (1807–1808) (1808–1839) The Gülhane edict was announced soon after Abdul Mecid's sword girding, ushering in the Tanzimat period, a time of major bureaucratic and administrative reform.

(Deposed) (1811–1882) Fourth term Under pressure from constitutionalist ministers which overthrew his relatives Abdülaziz and Murad V, Abdülhamid II promulgated a constitution and parliament upon his ascension to the throne.

Abdul Hamid II suspended the constitution and parliament in the aftermath of the 1877–1878 Russo Turkish war, and ruled the Ottoman Empire for the next three decades in a personal dictatorship.

Abdul Hamid revived the use of the title Başnazır, or Prime Minister, though he eventually settled on his government chiefs being called Sadr-ı Azam, or Grand Vizier.