What would it take for there to have been a Europhile Ottoman Sultan in the 18th or (preferably) 19th Century who "drags the Ottoman Empire into Europe by the beard"?
Modernization and Europeanization is a must but secularization not necessarily so. The Sultan or his descendants should eventually be reasonably able to marry minor European nobility with or without conversion and hold onto power in "Constanbul" in spite of the inevitable backlash and assassination and coup attempts.
Bonus points, however, if the people of the Ottoman Empire are happy with the reforms and the Sultan remains popular.
Extra bonus points if the Sultan of the OE is publicly (at least Orthodox) Christian by the 20th century, while still claiming to be the Caliph (although not legitimately) and still ruling over a majority Muslim population who is for the most part in approval of their leader (if not his claims to the Caliphate).
He can still be secretly a Muslim, and probably will be, of course but claims Christendom for Euro-centric political reasons. This is only possible if his Muslim subjects revere him of course, so this is also part of the challenge for bonus points...
Was there a Sultan close to being this that we just have to push a little further in that direction, or must we invent one? How can it be done?
What are the long term effects? Could we eventually see a personal or political union of the Ottoman Empire with a minor European power?
Note: If the religious backlash is too likely even in the event of a happy populace, the Ottoman Empire does not necessarily have to win a religious war of independence against the rebelling Muslim population to fulfill this challenge; you simply have to explain how much territory this unwise Europhile Ottoman Sultan dynasty stands to lose while remaining in power, and what the newly independent territory looks like.
I understand the unlikely nature of even a gradual secularization of the Sultanate, and the even less likely nature of a Sultan surviving such a process, even if its a generations long one. Therefore, conversion and royal marriage is not necessary here, just preferable.
Mostly, I'm wondering about the effects of a Sultan modernizing and Europeanizing the Ottoman Empire anytime from 1710-1890 without losing power.
Again: Secularization or even conversion is not a required part of the challenge.
Thoughts?