"Mesudiye", meaning "Happiness", was ordered in 1871 and was laid down at the Thames Ironworks shipyard in London the following year. She was launched on 28 October 1874 and was commissioned in December 1875 for sea trials. She had one sister ship, "Mahmûdiye", which was renamed "Hamidiye" while under construction. She was purchased by the Royal Navy before completion and commissioned as . "Mesudiye" and "Superb" were the largest casemate ironclads ever built. Early in the ship's career, the Ottoman ironclad fleet was activated every summer for short cruises from the Golden Horn to the Bosporus to ensure their propulsion systems were in operable condition.