Although it was common among the people in Constantinople to gain special favors by lavishing gifts on the authorities, Bahá’u’lláh refused to engage in such activity. His enemies were able to stir up suspicion against Him, leading to His banishment to Adrianople (Edirne) just four months later.
It was in the depth of winter that Sultan 'Abdu'l-Azíz, the ruler of the Ottoman Empire, ordered Bahá’u’lláh expelled from Constantinople. In response, Bahá’u’lláh wrote a letter to the Sultan in which He "severely censured his ministers, exposed their immaturity and incompetence … and sternly admonished [them] not to pride themselves on their worldly possessions.… " One of the officials who read the letter remarked, "It is as if the King of Kings were issuing his behest to the humblest vassal king and regulating his conduct." (10)
