, the Romanian Principalities (Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania) rebelled against the Ottoman... more , the Romanian Principalities (Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania) rebelled against the Ottoman Empire. A few months earlier, these principalities had secretly become allies of the Habsburg Empire. In Wallachia, the anti-Ottoman uprising began in Bucharest. Then, the army of Wallachia attacked the Ottoman fortress of Giurgiu (Yergöğü). At the same time, after starting the anti-Ottoman rebellion in Jassy (Iaşi), the Moldavian army attacked the Ottoman fortress of Tighina (Bender). In turn, the army of Transylvania attacked the Ottoman fortress of Timişoara (Temeschwar-Tımışvar). Shortly after receiving the news about this anti-Ottoman uprising, the Ottoman government took measures for crushing it. At the beginning, it sent an Ottoman army to the Lower Danube region. Afterwards, in the year 1595, the Ottoman government decided to turn Wallachia and Moldavia into Ottoman provinces (eyalet-beylerbeylik). But the Ottoman military campaign of 1595 against the Wallachian prince Michael the Brave (Mihai Viteazul-1593-1601)-led by grandvizier Sınan Paşa (Sinan Pasha)ended with the defeat of the Ottoman army. In 1595-1596, Michael the Brave attacked the Ottoman fortresses of the Lower Danube region, but with little success. Later, in 1598, the Ottoman army unsuccessfully attacked and besieged the important Transylvanian fortress of Oradea (Varad). Taking advantage of this Ottoman military campaign, Michael the Brave attacked again the Ottoman territories south of the Lower Danube (in nowadays Northern Bulgaria). This Wallachian anti-Ottoman military campaign took place in September-November 1598. In this article, 11 (eleven) important new Turkish (Ottoman) documents (unknown and unpublished until now) are published here for the first time. These documents (written in October 1598) concern the above-mentioned Wallachian anti-Ottoman military campaign.
ANALELE UNIVERSITATII DIN ORADEA. FASCICOLA ISTORIE-ARHEOLOGIE. TOM XXXI, 2021
Manuscrisele, cărţile, revistele pentru schimb, precum şi orice corespondenţă se vor trimite pe a... more Manuscrisele, cărţile, revistele pentru schimb, precum şi orice corespondenţă se vor trimite pe adresa colectivului de redacţie al revistei "Analele Universităţii din Oradea", seria Istorie-Arheologie. The exchange manuscripts, books and reviews as well as any correspondence will be sent to the address of the Editorial Staff. Les manuscrits, les livres et les revues proposés pour échange, ainsi que toute orespondance, seront adresses à la redaction. Responsabilitatea asupra textului şi conţinutului articolelor revine în exclusivitate autorilor. The responsibility for the content of the articles belongs to the author(s). The articles are published with the notification of the scientific reviewer. Revista este indexată în baza internaţională de date EBSCO. The review is indexed in the EBSCO international database.
PUBLISHED IN "REVISTA ISTORICA" (BUCHAREST-ROMANIA), III, 1992, nr. 7-8, p. 793-802.
This pape... more PUBLISHED IN "REVISTA ISTORICA" (BUCHAREST-ROMANIA), III, 1992, nr. 7-8, p. 793-802. This paper's goal is to shortly present and analyze an Ottoman narrative source which until now remained unknown to the Romanian historiography. This source is the "Diary" (Defter) of Ahmed bin Mahmud, a secretary of the Ottoman Treasury. It concerns the Ottoman military campaign of 1711 in Moldavia (Prut Campaign). This "Diary" (in Ottoman Turkish language, written with Arabic characters) was published in 1968 in Turkey, by Prof. Dr. Akdes Nimet Kurat. In July 1711, the Ottoman army won the decisive Prut (Stanilesti) battle against the Russian army (led by Peter the Great) and the Moldavian army (led by Dimitrie Cantemir). The peace treaty of the Prut (July 1711) confirmed the Porte's victory in the Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711. Thus, the Ottomans regained the territories north of the Black Sea that had been annexed by Russia at the end of the Russian-Ottoman war of 1686-1700. Until 1774, the Black Sea remained an Ottoman lake. The tough Ottoman hegemony over the autonomous principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia was preserved. The "Diary" of Ahmed bin Mahmud clearly shows the crisis and the decline (including the military field) of the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 18th century. The Ottoman military discipline was low. The Ottoman victory in the Prut battle was gained with much difficulty. The Ottomans themselves considered this victory as a miracle, as an unexpected gift given by Allah.
PUBLISHED IN "REVISTA ISTORICA" (BUCHAREST-ROMANIA), V, 1994, nr. 11-12, p. 1197-1209.
The a... more PUBLISHED IN "REVISTA ISTORICA" (BUCHAREST-ROMANIA), V, 1994, nr. 11-12, p. 1197-1209. The author of this paper dwells on an excerpt from an Ottoman narrative source practically unmentioned in Romanian historical writings, that is the MEMOIRS (Hatiralar) by Hasan Kurdi, a scribe for Janissaries (Yeniceri), concerning the Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711 and the battle of the Prut (July 1711). The first four pages from the manuscript are published here in Ottoman Turkish language (with Latin characters). The translation into Romanian (made by the author of this paper) is also provided (for the first time). The original text of the excerpt (in Ottoman Turkish language, with Arabic characters) was initially published by Prof. Dr. A.N. Kurat in Turkey, in 1953. Being the consequence of the deepening rivalry between the Russians and the Ottomans, the above mentioned war was won by the Porte. The latter would subsequently regain possession of the fortresses-ports of Azov and Taganrog, that Russia had occupied in 1696 (and officially annexed in 1700, by the peace treaty of Istanbul), and secure her full control over the shores of the Pontus Euxinus for the decades to come. The excerpt from Hasan Kurdi's account gives an analysis of causes which determined the Ottomans to launch the hostilities against Russia in November 1710 and pinpoints to a fact fairly admitted by Turkish historians but refuted by most of the European historians, Romanians included, namely that the reason having determined the Porte to take such an action sprang from her anxiety about the growing power of Peter the Great's Russia.
PUBLISHED IN "REVISTA ISTORICA" (BUCHAREST-ROMANIA), XIII, 2002, nr. 3-4, p. 229-243. ... more PUBLISHED IN "REVISTA ISTORICA" (BUCHAREST-ROMANIA), XIII, 2002, nr. 3-4, p. 229-243. The Russian-Ottoman war of 1686-1700 was won by Russia. The peace treaty of Istanbul (1700) confirmed this Russian victory. As a result, Russia annexed an important section of the steppe north of the Black Sea (including the fortresses-ports of Azov and Taganrog). A Russian military fleet was present in the Azov Sea. However, the strategic Kerch Strait was under Ottoman control. Thus, Russia's access to the Black Sea, which continued to be completely Ottoman, was blocked.
For the above-mentioned reasons, the entire period of the Russian-Ottoman peace of 1700-1710 was tense. Taking advantage of the involvement of Russia in the long northern anti-Swedish war of 1700-1721, the Porte launched and won the Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711. Defeated, Russia was obliged to restore to the Porte the north-Pontic territories annexed at the end of the previous Russian-Ottoman war. Russia would gain her much desired access to the Black Sea only in 1774, by the Russian-Ottoman peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca.
The present paper focuses on the evolution of the Russian-Ottoman relations and their impact on the situation in the Black Sea region in the year 1703. It was a year of tense peace. The Tatar Crimean Khanate was threatening to attack Russia and thus start a new Russian-Ottoman war. The Ottomans began building a fortress (Yeni Kale) on the Crimean shore of the Kerch Strait. Thus, they hoped to better defend this strait against the Russian military fleet in the Azov Sea. In August 1703, a new sultan (Ahmed III) was put on the Ottoman throne by a military and people's rebellion led by the Janissaries (Yeniceri). Petr Andreyevich Tolstoy, Russia's Ambassador to Istanbul in 1702-1710, was an important witness of these events. Only few of his diplomatic reports (in Russian) sent to Moscow were published until now. Here, we present (translated by us, for the first time, from Russian into Romanian) and analyze three of P.A. Tolstoy's reports written in 1703. Their original texts (in Russian) were published in Moscow in 1985.
THE BLACK SEA AND THE OTTOMAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS IN 1702-1705. UNPUBLISHED ENGLISH DIPLOMATIC REPO... more THE BLACK SEA AND THE OTTOMAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS IN 1702-1705. UNPUBLISHED ENGLISH DIPLOMATIC REPORTS
The peace treaty of Istanbul (1700) confirmed the victory of Russia in the Russian-Ottoman war of 1686-1700. As a result, Russia annexed an important section of the steppe north of the Black Sea (including the fortresses-ports of Azov and Taganrog). A Russian military fleet was present in the Azov Sea. However, with the strategic Kerch Strait under Ottomans control, her access to the Black Sea, which continued to be completely Ottoman, was blocked. Given the aforementioned reasons, the entire period of the Russian-Ottoman peace of 1700-1710 was tense. Turning to good advantage the involvement of Russia in the northern anti-Swedish war of 1700-1721, the Porte launched and won the Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711. Defeated, Russia was obliged to restore to the Porte the north-Pontic territories annexed at the end of the previous Russian-Ottoman war. Russia would gain her much desired access to the Black Sea only in 1774, by the Russian-Ottoman peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca. The present paper focuses on the evolution of the Russian-Ottoman relations and their impact on the situation in the Black Sea region in the tense peace years of 1702-1705. Six unpublished English diplomatic reports, sent to London by the Ambassador of England to Istanbul, Sir Robert Sutton, and addressing the issue under consideration, are also published (here, for the first time) and analyzed.
The Russian-Ottoman war of 1735-1739 became a Russian-Austrian-Ottoman war in 1737. In that year,... more The Russian-Ottoman war of 1735-1739 became a Russian-Austrian-Ottoman war in 1737. In that year, Austria entered this war as Russia's ally. For the Ottomans, this war was a defensive one. In 1739, the Russian-Ottoman and the Austrian-Ottoman peace treaties of Belgrade put an end to this war. Austria was defeated by the Sublime Porte and was forced to give back to the Ottomans the provinces of Oltenia, Northern Serbia (including Belgrade) and Northern Bosnia. In his turn, the sultan allowed Wallachia to recover Oltenia. Austria had annexed these provinces at the end of the Austrian-Ottoman War of 1716-1718. Russia won the above-mentioned war (1735-1739) against the Ottomans. She recovered the territories north of the Black Sea that she had lost in favour of the Sublime Porte in 1711 (peace treaty of the Prut). The Porte lost forever the port fortresses of Azov and Taganrog. But the Kerch Strait (between Black Sea and Azov Sea) was still in Ottoman hands. The Russian merchants could sail on Black Sea and Azov Sea only by using Ottoman ships. The sultan was still the only master of the Black Sea. Russia consolidated her prestige and military power. But it was only in the year 1774 that Russia gained the much desired access to the Black Sea. This major Russian success was confirmed by the peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca (July 1774) which put an end to the Russian-Ottoman war of 1768-1774. The Black Sea became an Ottoman-Russian condominium (1774-1856). Inside the Russian-Ottoman War of 1735-1739, the Russian military campaign of 1738 in Crimea was very important. It produced important damage to the Tatar Crimean Khanate. At the same time, it was a very good exercise for the Russian military campaign of 1739 in Moldavia which assured Russia's final victory in this war against the Sublime Porte. In this scientific article, we discuss in detail about the above-mentioned Russian military campaign in Crimea (1738). A report by the Russian field marshal Lascy is published here-for the first time in English (translated by us from Russian)-and commented upon.
The Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711 was won by the Sublime Porte. Thus, the Ottoman Empire re... more The Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711 was won by the Sublime Porte. Thus, the Ottoman Empire recovered the territories north of the Black Sea (including the port fortresses of Azov and Taganrog) which it had lost in Russia's favour at the end of the previous Russian-Ottoman war (1686-1700). The Russian-Ottoman peace treaties of 1711, 1712 and 1713 confirmed the above-mentioned Ottoman victory and territorial gains. Russia was able to continue and win the long Northern War against Sweden (1700-1721) and thus gained the much desired access to the Baltic Sea. Russia would gain access to the Black Sea only in 1774 (by the Russian-Ottoman peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca).
In December 1711, the Sublime Porte declared war to Russia. The sultan was angry because the Russians postponed the restitution of Azov and Taganrog to the Ottoman Empire. A new Russian-Ottoman peace treaty was signed in April 1712. Then the final peace treaty was signed in June 1713.
In the tense months of February-April 1712, a Romanian small nobleman (boyar)-Alexandru Davidel- from Moldavia had a relatively important influence on the Russian Czar Peter the Great. He persuaded the Czar that the Tatar Crimean Khanate was ready to abandon the Ottoman Empire and to become a vassal of Russia. In this scientific article (in Romanian), we discuss about the life and activity of Alexandru Davidel and focus upon his role in the Russian-Ottoman relations in February-April 1712. A Russian document of March 1712 (concerning this problem) is also published (translated by us into Romanian) and commented upon.
TURK DUNYASI ARASTIRMALARI (ISTANBUL-TURKEY), 1990
The Romanian historian (chronicler) Ion Neculce (in Turkish orthography: Yon Nekulce) lived in th... more The Romanian historian (chronicler) Ion Neculce (in Turkish orthography: Yon Nekulce) lived in the years 1672-1745, in Moldavia (one of the Romanian Principalities). He wrote two important history books (in Romanian): "O sama de cuvinte" (A few stories) and "Letopisetul Tarii Moldovei: 1661-1743" (Chronicle of Moldavia: 1661-1743). In the first one, he writes 44 short stories related to the earlier history of Moldavia (1359-1661). In this article-in Turkish-we present three of these short stories toghether with their translation from Romanian into Turkish (made here by us, for the first time). The above-mentioned three short stories concern moments of the peaceful relations between Moldavia and the Ottoman Empire in the XVIth-XVIIth centuries. This paper was published-in Turkish-in the Turkish historical review TURK DUNYASI ARASTIRMALARI (Scientific Researches about the Turkish World)-ISTANBUL-TURKEY-Sayi (no.) 68, Ekim (October), 1990, P. 85-89.
TURK DUNYASI ARASTIRMALARI (ISTANBUL-TURKEY), 1992
This paper (in Turkish) presents and comments upon a Romanian narrative historical source concern... more This paper (in Turkish) presents and comments upon a Romanian narrative historical source concerning the Ottoman military campaign of Kamenets-1672. This source is a fragment of "Letopisetul Tarii Moldovei" (Chronicle of Moldavia) written by the Romanian chronicler Ion Neculce (1672-1745). For the first time, this important fragment is translated here (by us) from Romanian into Turkish and thus becomes accessible to all specialists in Turkish studies. The Ottomans conquered the Polish fortress of Kamenets (Kamanice) in 1672 and kept it under their rule until 1699.
This paper was published in the historical review TURK DUNYASI ARASTIRMALARI ('Scientific Researches about the Turkish World)-ISTANBUL-TURKEY-Subat (February) 1992, Sayi (Number) 76, P. 115-123.
TURK DUNYASI TARIH DERGISI (ISTANBUL-TURKEY), 1996
This paper-in Turkish-approaches the foreign policy of Wallachia's prince Constantin Brancoveanu ... more This paper-in Turkish-approaches the foreign policy of Wallachia's prince Constantin Brancoveanu (1688-1714) and especially his relations with Russia and with the Ottoman Empire. In 1698, this prince sent a secret letter to the Russian czar Peter the Great. In this paper, we comment upon this important letter and present, for the first time-in the appendix-its translation from Russian into Turkish (made by us). The above-mentioned letter contains Brancoveanu's plan for a common Russian-Romanian military attack against the Ottoman Empire. This Wallachian document is unknown to the Turkish historians and little known and commented upon by the Russian and Romanian historians.
This paper (in Romanian) approaches the description of the famous Ottoman traveler Evliya Celebi'... more This paper (in Romanian) approaches the description of the famous Ottoman traveler Evliya Celebi's journey on the Black Sea from Istanbul to Trebizond in the year 1640 (written by himself in his book "Seyahatname"-Travel Book). The author of this paper presents a short introduction and gives a full translation (from Ottoman Turkish into Romanian) of the above-mentioned travel description.
This paper (in Romanian) analyzes the causes, the development and the results of the Russian-Otto... more This paper (in Romanian) analyzes the causes, the development and the results of the Russian-Ottoman peace congress of Bucharest (November 1772-March 1773). It was an important part of the Russian-Ottoman war of 1768-1774. This war was won by Russia who obtained the much desired direct access to the Black Sea. Although a peace treaty could not be signed and the military operations were resumed, this congress was useful for Russia. In Bucharest, the Russian ambassador Obreskov prepared and finished the draft of the future Russian-Ottoman peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca (1774) which confirmed Russia's victory in the above-mentioned war.
This paper (in Turkish) researches the Russian-Ottoman relations in the year 1735 and the outbrea... more This paper (in Turkish) researches the Russian-Ottoman relations in the year 1735 and the outbreak of the Russian-Ottoman war of 1735-1739 (which became, in 1737, a Russian-Austrian-Ottoman war, Austria being Russia's ally). Two Russian documents of 1735 prove undoubtedly that Russia intended to start an offensive war against the Ottoman Empire (in order to conquer the northern shore of the Black Sea) already in 1732.
The Russian-Ottoman war of 1686-1700 ended with Russia's victory. By the Russian-Ottoman peace tr... more The Russian-Ottoman war of 1686-1700 ended with Russia's victory. By the Russian-Ottoman peace treaty of Istanbul (July 1700), Russia got the port-fortresses of Azov and Taganrog and a part of the Ukrainian steppe north of the Black Sea. Thus, Russia gained access to the Sea of Azov, but not to the Black Sea. The Ottomans remained masters of the Strait of Kerch. This fact did not allow the newly built Russian fleet of the Sea of Azov the much desired access to the Black Sea. Fearing the Russian expansion plans , the Ottomans decided to better fortify the shores of the Strait of Kerch. As a result of this decision, they built-in 1703-1706- the very important fortress of Yeni Kale ("New Fortress"). It was located on the Western (Crimean) shore of the Strait of Kerch, at 15 km. north-east of the town of Kerch (which also had an Ottoman fortress). The Ottoman fortress of Yeni Kale was conquered by the Russians only in 1771. Three years later, by the Russian-Ottoman peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca (July 1774), Russia obtained the long and much desired access to the Black Sea.
This paper presents and analyzes the causes, the development and the results of the Russian Anti-... more This paper presents and analyzes the causes, the development and the results of the Russian Anti-Ottoman military campaigns of 1687 and 1689 (directed against the Crimean Peninsula).These military campaigns were the beginning of the Russian-Ottoman war of 1686-1700. Although unsuccessful, they were a useful fighting experience. Russia won that war and got access to the Sea of Azov. But she managed to get the much desired access to the Black Sea only in 1774 (by the peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca which ended the Russian-Ottoman war of 1768-1774).
This paper presents and analyzes the life, the career, the dismissal and the banishment (1711-17... more This paper presents and analyzes the life, the career, the dismissal and the banishment (1711-1712) of the Ottoman Grand Vezir Baltaci Mehmed Pasha . He died in internal exile, on the Egean island of Lemnos , in September 1712. The above-mentioned paper also contains five Ottoman documents (the original Ottoman Turkish texts and their translation into Romanian, made by the author) of 1711-1712 concerning this topic.
This paper presents (the original Ottoman Turkish text and its translation into Romanian, made by... more This paper presents (the original Ottoman Turkish text and its translation into Romanian, made by the author) and comments upon the notes of an eyewitness Ottoman officer about the Russian-Ottoman battle of Stanilesti (the Prut battle) which was fought in July 1711. It was the decisive moment of the Prut Campaign and of the entire Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711. The Ottoman army won this battle and the above-mentioned war.
, the Romanian Principalities (Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania) rebelled against the Ottoman... more , the Romanian Principalities (Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania) rebelled against the Ottoman Empire. A few months earlier, these principalities had secretly become allies of the Habsburg Empire. In Wallachia, the anti-Ottoman uprising began in Bucharest. Then, the army of Wallachia attacked the Ottoman fortress of Giurgiu (Yergöğü). At the same time, after starting the anti-Ottoman rebellion in Jassy (Iaşi), the Moldavian army attacked the Ottoman fortress of Tighina (Bender). In turn, the army of Transylvania attacked the Ottoman fortress of Timişoara (Temeschwar-Tımışvar). Shortly after receiving the news about this anti-Ottoman uprising, the Ottoman government took measures for crushing it. At the beginning, it sent an Ottoman army to the Lower Danube region. Afterwards, in the year 1595, the Ottoman government decided to turn Wallachia and Moldavia into Ottoman provinces (eyalet-beylerbeylik). But the Ottoman military campaign of 1595 against the Wallachian prince Michael the Brave (Mihai Viteazul-1593-1601)-led by grandvizier Sınan Paşa (Sinan Pasha)ended with the defeat of the Ottoman army. In 1595-1596, Michael the Brave attacked the Ottoman fortresses of the Lower Danube region, but with little success. Later, in 1598, the Ottoman army unsuccessfully attacked and besieged the important Transylvanian fortress of Oradea (Varad). Taking advantage of this Ottoman military campaign, Michael the Brave attacked again the Ottoman territories south of the Lower Danube (in nowadays Northern Bulgaria). This Wallachian anti-Ottoman military campaign took place in September-November 1598. In this article, 11 (eleven) important new Turkish (Ottoman) documents (unknown and unpublished until now) are published here for the first time. These documents (written in October 1598) concern the above-mentioned Wallachian anti-Ottoman military campaign.
ANALELE UNIVERSITATII DIN ORADEA. FASCICOLA ISTORIE-ARHEOLOGIE. TOM XXXI, 2021
Manuscrisele, cărţile, revistele pentru schimb, precum şi orice corespondenţă se vor trimite pe a... more Manuscrisele, cărţile, revistele pentru schimb, precum şi orice corespondenţă se vor trimite pe adresa colectivului de redacţie al revistei "Analele Universităţii din Oradea", seria Istorie-Arheologie. The exchange manuscripts, books and reviews as well as any correspondence will be sent to the address of the Editorial Staff. Les manuscrits, les livres et les revues proposés pour échange, ainsi que toute orespondance, seront adresses à la redaction. Responsabilitatea asupra textului şi conţinutului articolelor revine în exclusivitate autorilor. The responsibility for the content of the articles belongs to the author(s). The articles are published with the notification of the scientific reviewer. Revista este indexată în baza internaţională de date EBSCO. The review is indexed in the EBSCO international database.
PUBLISHED IN "REVISTA ISTORICA" (BUCHAREST-ROMANIA), III, 1992, nr. 7-8, p. 793-802.
This pape... more PUBLISHED IN "REVISTA ISTORICA" (BUCHAREST-ROMANIA), III, 1992, nr. 7-8, p. 793-802. This paper's goal is to shortly present and analyze an Ottoman narrative source which until now remained unknown to the Romanian historiography. This source is the "Diary" (Defter) of Ahmed bin Mahmud, a secretary of the Ottoman Treasury. It concerns the Ottoman military campaign of 1711 in Moldavia (Prut Campaign). This "Diary" (in Ottoman Turkish language, written with Arabic characters) was published in 1968 in Turkey, by Prof. Dr. Akdes Nimet Kurat. In July 1711, the Ottoman army won the decisive Prut (Stanilesti) battle against the Russian army (led by Peter the Great) and the Moldavian army (led by Dimitrie Cantemir). The peace treaty of the Prut (July 1711) confirmed the Porte's victory in the Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711. Thus, the Ottomans regained the territories north of the Black Sea that had been annexed by Russia at the end of the Russian-Ottoman war of 1686-1700. Until 1774, the Black Sea remained an Ottoman lake. The tough Ottoman hegemony over the autonomous principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia was preserved. The "Diary" of Ahmed bin Mahmud clearly shows the crisis and the decline (including the military field) of the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 18th century. The Ottoman military discipline was low. The Ottoman victory in the Prut battle was gained with much difficulty. The Ottomans themselves considered this victory as a miracle, as an unexpected gift given by Allah.
PUBLISHED IN "REVISTA ISTORICA" (BUCHAREST-ROMANIA), V, 1994, nr. 11-12, p. 1197-1209.
The a... more PUBLISHED IN "REVISTA ISTORICA" (BUCHAREST-ROMANIA), V, 1994, nr. 11-12, p. 1197-1209. The author of this paper dwells on an excerpt from an Ottoman narrative source practically unmentioned in Romanian historical writings, that is the MEMOIRS (Hatiralar) by Hasan Kurdi, a scribe for Janissaries (Yeniceri), concerning the Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711 and the battle of the Prut (July 1711). The first four pages from the manuscript are published here in Ottoman Turkish language (with Latin characters). The translation into Romanian (made by the author of this paper) is also provided (for the first time). The original text of the excerpt (in Ottoman Turkish language, with Arabic characters) was initially published by Prof. Dr. A.N. Kurat in Turkey, in 1953. Being the consequence of the deepening rivalry between the Russians and the Ottomans, the above mentioned war was won by the Porte. The latter would subsequently regain possession of the fortresses-ports of Azov and Taganrog, that Russia had occupied in 1696 (and officially annexed in 1700, by the peace treaty of Istanbul), and secure her full control over the shores of the Pontus Euxinus for the decades to come. The excerpt from Hasan Kurdi's account gives an analysis of causes which determined the Ottomans to launch the hostilities against Russia in November 1710 and pinpoints to a fact fairly admitted by Turkish historians but refuted by most of the European historians, Romanians included, namely that the reason having determined the Porte to take such an action sprang from her anxiety about the growing power of Peter the Great's Russia.
PUBLISHED IN "REVISTA ISTORICA" (BUCHAREST-ROMANIA), XIII, 2002, nr. 3-4, p. 229-243. ... more PUBLISHED IN "REVISTA ISTORICA" (BUCHAREST-ROMANIA), XIII, 2002, nr. 3-4, p. 229-243. The Russian-Ottoman war of 1686-1700 was won by Russia. The peace treaty of Istanbul (1700) confirmed this Russian victory. As a result, Russia annexed an important section of the steppe north of the Black Sea (including the fortresses-ports of Azov and Taganrog). A Russian military fleet was present in the Azov Sea. However, the strategic Kerch Strait was under Ottoman control. Thus, Russia's access to the Black Sea, which continued to be completely Ottoman, was blocked.
For the above-mentioned reasons, the entire period of the Russian-Ottoman peace of 1700-1710 was tense. Taking advantage of the involvement of Russia in the long northern anti-Swedish war of 1700-1721, the Porte launched and won the Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711. Defeated, Russia was obliged to restore to the Porte the north-Pontic territories annexed at the end of the previous Russian-Ottoman war. Russia would gain her much desired access to the Black Sea only in 1774, by the Russian-Ottoman peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca.
The present paper focuses on the evolution of the Russian-Ottoman relations and their impact on the situation in the Black Sea region in the year 1703. It was a year of tense peace. The Tatar Crimean Khanate was threatening to attack Russia and thus start a new Russian-Ottoman war. The Ottomans began building a fortress (Yeni Kale) on the Crimean shore of the Kerch Strait. Thus, they hoped to better defend this strait against the Russian military fleet in the Azov Sea. In August 1703, a new sultan (Ahmed III) was put on the Ottoman throne by a military and people's rebellion led by the Janissaries (Yeniceri). Petr Andreyevich Tolstoy, Russia's Ambassador to Istanbul in 1702-1710, was an important witness of these events. Only few of his diplomatic reports (in Russian) sent to Moscow were published until now. Here, we present (translated by us, for the first time, from Russian into Romanian) and analyze three of P.A. Tolstoy's reports written in 1703. Their original texts (in Russian) were published in Moscow in 1985.
THE BLACK SEA AND THE OTTOMAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS IN 1702-1705. UNPUBLISHED ENGLISH DIPLOMATIC REPO... more THE BLACK SEA AND THE OTTOMAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS IN 1702-1705. UNPUBLISHED ENGLISH DIPLOMATIC REPORTS
The peace treaty of Istanbul (1700) confirmed the victory of Russia in the Russian-Ottoman war of 1686-1700. As a result, Russia annexed an important section of the steppe north of the Black Sea (including the fortresses-ports of Azov and Taganrog). A Russian military fleet was present in the Azov Sea. However, with the strategic Kerch Strait under Ottomans control, her access to the Black Sea, which continued to be completely Ottoman, was blocked. Given the aforementioned reasons, the entire period of the Russian-Ottoman peace of 1700-1710 was tense. Turning to good advantage the involvement of Russia in the northern anti-Swedish war of 1700-1721, the Porte launched and won the Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711. Defeated, Russia was obliged to restore to the Porte the north-Pontic territories annexed at the end of the previous Russian-Ottoman war. Russia would gain her much desired access to the Black Sea only in 1774, by the Russian-Ottoman peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca. The present paper focuses on the evolution of the Russian-Ottoman relations and their impact on the situation in the Black Sea region in the tense peace years of 1702-1705. Six unpublished English diplomatic reports, sent to London by the Ambassador of England to Istanbul, Sir Robert Sutton, and addressing the issue under consideration, are also published (here, for the first time) and analyzed.
The Russian-Ottoman war of 1735-1739 became a Russian-Austrian-Ottoman war in 1737. In that year,... more The Russian-Ottoman war of 1735-1739 became a Russian-Austrian-Ottoman war in 1737. In that year, Austria entered this war as Russia's ally. For the Ottomans, this war was a defensive one. In 1739, the Russian-Ottoman and the Austrian-Ottoman peace treaties of Belgrade put an end to this war. Austria was defeated by the Sublime Porte and was forced to give back to the Ottomans the provinces of Oltenia, Northern Serbia (including Belgrade) and Northern Bosnia. In his turn, the sultan allowed Wallachia to recover Oltenia. Austria had annexed these provinces at the end of the Austrian-Ottoman War of 1716-1718. Russia won the above-mentioned war (1735-1739) against the Ottomans. She recovered the territories north of the Black Sea that she had lost in favour of the Sublime Porte in 1711 (peace treaty of the Prut). The Porte lost forever the port fortresses of Azov and Taganrog. But the Kerch Strait (between Black Sea and Azov Sea) was still in Ottoman hands. The Russian merchants could sail on Black Sea and Azov Sea only by using Ottoman ships. The sultan was still the only master of the Black Sea. Russia consolidated her prestige and military power. But it was only in the year 1774 that Russia gained the much desired access to the Black Sea. This major Russian success was confirmed by the peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca (July 1774) which put an end to the Russian-Ottoman war of 1768-1774. The Black Sea became an Ottoman-Russian condominium (1774-1856). Inside the Russian-Ottoman War of 1735-1739, the Russian military campaign of 1738 in Crimea was very important. It produced important damage to the Tatar Crimean Khanate. At the same time, it was a very good exercise for the Russian military campaign of 1739 in Moldavia which assured Russia's final victory in this war against the Sublime Porte. In this scientific article, we discuss in detail about the above-mentioned Russian military campaign in Crimea (1738). A report by the Russian field marshal Lascy is published here-for the first time in English (translated by us from Russian)-and commented upon.
The Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711 was won by the Sublime Porte. Thus, the Ottoman Empire re... more The Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711 was won by the Sublime Porte. Thus, the Ottoman Empire recovered the territories north of the Black Sea (including the port fortresses of Azov and Taganrog) which it had lost in Russia's favour at the end of the previous Russian-Ottoman war (1686-1700). The Russian-Ottoman peace treaties of 1711, 1712 and 1713 confirmed the above-mentioned Ottoman victory and territorial gains. Russia was able to continue and win the long Northern War against Sweden (1700-1721) and thus gained the much desired access to the Baltic Sea. Russia would gain access to the Black Sea only in 1774 (by the Russian-Ottoman peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca).
In December 1711, the Sublime Porte declared war to Russia. The sultan was angry because the Russians postponed the restitution of Azov and Taganrog to the Ottoman Empire. A new Russian-Ottoman peace treaty was signed in April 1712. Then the final peace treaty was signed in June 1713.
In the tense months of February-April 1712, a Romanian small nobleman (boyar)-Alexandru Davidel- from Moldavia had a relatively important influence on the Russian Czar Peter the Great. He persuaded the Czar that the Tatar Crimean Khanate was ready to abandon the Ottoman Empire and to become a vassal of Russia. In this scientific article (in Romanian), we discuss about the life and activity of Alexandru Davidel and focus upon his role in the Russian-Ottoman relations in February-April 1712. A Russian document of March 1712 (concerning this problem) is also published (translated by us into Romanian) and commented upon.
TURK DUNYASI ARASTIRMALARI (ISTANBUL-TURKEY), 1990
The Romanian historian (chronicler) Ion Neculce (in Turkish orthography: Yon Nekulce) lived in th... more The Romanian historian (chronicler) Ion Neculce (in Turkish orthography: Yon Nekulce) lived in the years 1672-1745, in Moldavia (one of the Romanian Principalities). He wrote two important history books (in Romanian): "O sama de cuvinte" (A few stories) and "Letopisetul Tarii Moldovei: 1661-1743" (Chronicle of Moldavia: 1661-1743). In the first one, he writes 44 short stories related to the earlier history of Moldavia (1359-1661). In this article-in Turkish-we present three of these short stories toghether with their translation from Romanian into Turkish (made here by us, for the first time). The above-mentioned three short stories concern moments of the peaceful relations between Moldavia and the Ottoman Empire in the XVIth-XVIIth centuries. This paper was published-in Turkish-in the Turkish historical review TURK DUNYASI ARASTIRMALARI (Scientific Researches about the Turkish World)-ISTANBUL-TURKEY-Sayi (no.) 68, Ekim (October), 1990, P. 85-89.
TURK DUNYASI ARASTIRMALARI (ISTANBUL-TURKEY), 1992
This paper (in Turkish) presents and comments upon a Romanian narrative historical source concern... more This paper (in Turkish) presents and comments upon a Romanian narrative historical source concerning the Ottoman military campaign of Kamenets-1672. This source is a fragment of "Letopisetul Tarii Moldovei" (Chronicle of Moldavia) written by the Romanian chronicler Ion Neculce (1672-1745). For the first time, this important fragment is translated here (by us) from Romanian into Turkish and thus becomes accessible to all specialists in Turkish studies. The Ottomans conquered the Polish fortress of Kamenets (Kamanice) in 1672 and kept it under their rule until 1699.
This paper was published in the historical review TURK DUNYASI ARASTIRMALARI ('Scientific Researches about the Turkish World)-ISTANBUL-TURKEY-Subat (February) 1992, Sayi (Number) 76, P. 115-123.
TURK DUNYASI TARIH DERGISI (ISTANBUL-TURKEY), 1996
This paper-in Turkish-approaches the foreign policy of Wallachia's prince Constantin Brancoveanu ... more This paper-in Turkish-approaches the foreign policy of Wallachia's prince Constantin Brancoveanu (1688-1714) and especially his relations with Russia and with the Ottoman Empire. In 1698, this prince sent a secret letter to the Russian czar Peter the Great. In this paper, we comment upon this important letter and present, for the first time-in the appendix-its translation from Russian into Turkish (made by us). The above-mentioned letter contains Brancoveanu's plan for a common Russian-Romanian military attack against the Ottoman Empire. This Wallachian document is unknown to the Turkish historians and little known and commented upon by the Russian and Romanian historians.
This paper (in Romanian) approaches the description of the famous Ottoman traveler Evliya Celebi'... more This paper (in Romanian) approaches the description of the famous Ottoman traveler Evliya Celebi's journey on the Black Sea from Istanbul to Trebizond in the year 1640 (written by himself in his book "Seyahatname"-Travel Book). The author of this paper presents a short introduction and gives a full translation (from Ottoman Turkish into Romanian) of the above-mentioned travel description.
This paper (in Romanian) analyzes the causes, the development and the results of the Russian-Otto... more This paper (in Romanian) analyzes the causes, the development and the results of the Russian-Ottoman peace congress of Bucharest (November 1772-March 1773). It was an important part of the Russian-Ottoman war of 1768-1774. This war was won by Russia who obtained the much desired direct access to the Black Sea. Although a peace treaty could not be signed and the military operations were resumed, this congress was useful for Russia. In Bucharest, the Russian ambassador Obreskov prepared and finished the draft of the future Russian-Ottoman peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca (1774) which confirmed Russia's victory in the above-mentioned war.
This paper (in Turkish) researches the Russian-Ottoman relations in the year 1735 and the outbrea... more This paper (in Turkish) researches the Russian-Ottoman relations in the year 1735 and the outbreak of the Russian-Ottoman war of 1735-1739 (which became, in 1737, a Russian-Austrian-Ottoman war, Austria being Russia's ally). Two Russian documents of 1735 prove undoubtedly that Russia intended to start an offensive war against the Ottoman Empire (in order to conquer the northern shore of the Black Sea) already in 1732.
The Russian-Ottoman war of 1686-1700 ended with Russia's victory. By the Russian-Ottoman peace tr... more The Russian-Ottoman war of 1686-1700 ended with Russia's victory. By the Russian-Ottoman peace treaty of Istanbul (July 1700), Russia got the port-fortresses of Azov and Taganrog and a part of the Ukrainian steppe north of the Black Sea. Thus, Russia gained access to the Sea of Azov, but not to the Black Sea. The Ottomans remained masters of the Strait of Kerch. This fact did not allow the newly built Russian fleet of the Sea of Azov the much desired access to the Black Sea. Fearing the Russian expansion plans , the Ottomans decided to better fortify the shores of the Strait of Kerch. As a result of this decision, they built-in 1703-1706- the very important fortress of Yeni Kale ("New Fortress"). It was located on the Western (Crimean) shore of the Strait of Kerch, at 15 km. north-east of the town of Kerch (which also had an Ottoman fortress). The Ottoman fortress of Yeni Kale was conquered by the Russians only in 1771. Three years later, by the Russian-Ottoman peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca (July 1774), Russia obtained the long and much desired access to the Black Sea.
This paper presents and analyzes the causes, the development and the results of the Russian Anti-... more This paper presents and analyzes the causes, the development and the results of the Russian Anti-Ottoman military campaigns of 1687 and 1689 (directed against the Crimean Peninsula).These military campaigns were the beginning of the Russian-Ottoman war of 1686-1700. Although unsuccessful, they were a useful fighting experience. Russia won that war and got access to the Sea of Azov. But she managed to get the much desired access to the Black Sea only in 1774 (by the peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca which ended the Russian-Ottoman war of 1768-1774).
This paper presents and analyzes the life, the career, the dismissal and the banishment (1711-17... more This paper presents and analyzes the life, the career, the dismissal and the banishment (1711-1712) of the Ottoman Grand Vezir Baltaci Mehmed Pasha . He died in internal exile, on the Egean island of Lemnos , in September 1712. The above-mentioned paper also contains five Ottoman documents (the original Ottoman Turkish texts and their translation into Romanian, made by the author) of 1711-1712 concerning this topic.
This paper presents (the original Ottoman Turkish text and its translation into Romanian, made by... more This paper presents (the original Ottoman Turkish text and its translation into Romanian, made by the author) and comments upon the notes of an eyewitness Ottoman officer about the Russian-Ottoman battle of Stanilesti (the Prut battle) which was fought in July 1711. It was the decisive moment of the Prut Campaign and of the entire Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711. The Ottoman army won this battle and the above-mentioned war.
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Papers by Adrian Tertecel
This paper's goal is to shortly present and analyze an Ottoman narrative source which until now remained unknown to the Romanian historiography. This source is the "Diary" (Defter) of Ahmed bin Mahmud, a secretary of the Ottoman Treasury. It concerns the Ottoman military campaign of 1711 in Moldavia (Prut Campaign). This "Diary" (in Ottoman Turkish language, written with Arabic characters) was published in 1968 in Turkey, by Prof. Dr. Akdes Nimet Kurat.
In July 1711, the Ottoman army won the decisive Prut (Stanilesti) battle against the Russian army (led by Peter the Great) and the Moldavian army (led by Dimitrie Cantemir). The peace treaty of the Prut (July 1711) confirmed the Porte's victory in the Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711. Thus, the Ottomans regained the territories north of the Black Sea that had been annexed by Russia at the end of the Russian-Ottoman war of 1686-1700. Until 1774, the Black Sea remained an Ottoman lake. The tough Ottoman hegemony over the autonomous principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia was preserved.
The "Diary" of Ahmed bin Mahmud clearly shows the crisis and the decline (including the military field) of the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 18th century. The Ottoman military discipline was low. The Ottoman victory in the Prut battle was gained with much difficulty. The Ottomans themselves considered this victory as a miracle, as an unexpected gift given by Allah.
The author of this paper dwells on an excerpt from an Ottoman narrative source practically unmentioned in Romanian historical writings, that is the MEMOIRS (Hatiralar) by Hasan Kurdi, a scribe for Janissaries (Yeniceri), concerning the Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711 and the battle of the Prut (July 1711). The first four pages from the manuscript are published here in Ottoman Turkish language (with Latin characters). The translation into Romanian (made by the author of this paper) is also provided (for the first time). The original text of the excerpt (in Ottoman Turkish language, with Arabic characters) was initially published by Prof. Dr. A.N. Kurat in Turkey, in 1953.
Being the consequence of the deepening rivalry between the Russians and the Ottomans, the above mentioned war was won by the Porte. The latter would subsequently regain possession of the fortresses-ports of Azov and Taganrog, that Russia had occupied in 1696 (and officially annexed in 1700, by the peace treaty of Istanbul), and secure her full control over the shores of the Pontus Euxinus for the decades to come.
The excerpt from Hasan Kurdi's account gives an analysis of causes which determined the Ottomans to launch the hostilities against Russia in November 1710 and pinpoints to a fact fairly admitted by Turkish historians but refuted by most of the European historians, Romanians included, namely that the reason having determined the Porte to take such an action sprang from her anxiety about the growing power of Peter the Great's Russia.
For the above-mentioned reasons, the entire period of the Russian-Ottoman peace of 1700-1710 was tense. Taking advantage of the involvement of Russia in the long northern anti-Swedish war of 1700-1721, the Porte launched and won the Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711. Defeated, Russia was obliged to restore to the Porte the north-Pontic territories annexed at the end of the previous Russian-Ottoman war. Russia would gain her much desired access to the Black Sea only in 1774, by the Russian-Ottoman peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca.
The present paper focuses on the evolution of the Russian-Ottoman relations and their impact on the situation in the Black Sea region in the year 1703. It was a year of tense peace. The Tatar Crimean Khanate was threatening to attack Russia and thus start a new Russian-Ottoman war. The Ottomans began building a fortress (Yeni Kale) on the Crimean shore of the Kerch Strait. Thus, they hoped to better defend this strait against the Russian military fleet in the Azov Sea. In August 1703, a new sultan (Ahmed III) was put on the Ottoman throne by a military and people's rebellion led by the Janissaries (Yeniceri). Petr Andreyevich Tolstoy, Russia's Ambassador to Istanbul in 1702-1710, was an important witness of these events. Only few of his diplomatic reports (in Russian) sent to Moscow were published until now. Here, we present (translated by us, for the first time, from Russian into Romanian) and analyze three of P.A. Tolstoy's reports written in 1703. Their original texts (in Russian) were published in Moscow in 1985.
The peace treaty of Istanbul (1700) confirmed the victory of Russia in the Russian-Ottoman war of 1686-1700. As a result, Russia annexed an important section of the steppe north of the Black Sea (including the fortresses-ports of Azov and Taganrog). A Russian military fleet was present in the Azov Sea. However, with the strategic Kerch Strait under Ottomans control, her access to the Black Sea, which continued to be completely Ottoman, was blocked.
Given the aforementioned reasons, the entire period of the Russian-Ottoman peace of 1700-1710 was tense. Turning to good advantage the involvement of Russia in the northern anti-Swedish war of 1700-1721, the Porte launched and won the Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711. Defeated, Russia was obliged to restore to the Porte the north-Pontic territories annexed at the end of the previous Russian-Ottoman war. Russia would gain her much desired access to the Black Sea only in 1774, by the Russian-Ottoman peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca.
The present paper focuses on the evolution of the Russian-Ottoman relations and their impact on the situation in the Black Sea region in the tense peace years of 1702-1705. Six unpublished English diplomatic reports, sent to London by the Ambassador of England to Istanbul, Sir Robert Sutton, and addressing the issue under consideration, are also published (here, for the first time) and analyzed.
In 1739, the Russian-Ottoman and the Austrian-Ottoman peace treaties of Belgrade put an end to this war. Austria was defeated by the Sublime Porte and was forced to give back to the Ottomans the provinces of Oltenia, Northern Serbia (including Belgrade) and Northern Bosnia. In his turn, the sultan allowed Wallachia to recover Oltenia. Austria had annexed these provinces at the end of the Austrian-Ottoman War of 1716-1718. Russia won the above-mentioned war (1735-1739) against the Ottomans. She recovered the territories north of the Black Sea that she had lost in favour of the Sublime Porte in 1711 (peace treaty of the Prut). The Porte lost forever the port fortresses of Azov and Taganrog. But the Kerch Strait (between Black Sea and Azov Sea) was still in Ottoman hands. The Russian merchants could sail on Black Sea and Azov Sea only by using Ottoman ships. The sultan was still the only master of the Black Sea. Russia consolidated her prestige and military power. But it was only in the year 1774 that Russia gained the much desired access to the Black Sea. This major Russian success was confirmed by the peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca (July 1774) which put an end to the Russian-Ottoman war of 1768-1774. The Black Sea became an Ottoman-Russian condominium (1774-1856).
Inside the Russian-Ottoman War of 1735-1739, the Russian military campaign of 1738 in Crimea was very important. It produced important damage to the Tatar Crimean Khanate. At the same time, it was a very good exercise for the Russian military campaign of 1739 in Moldavia which assured Russia's final victory in this war against the Sublime Porte.
In this scientific article, we discuss in detail about the above-mentioned Russian military campaign in Crimea (1738). A report by the Russian field marshal Lascy is published here-for the first time in English (translated by us from Russian)-and commented upon.
In December 1711, the Sublime Porte declared war to Russia. The sultan was angry because the Russians postponed the restitution of Azov and Taganrog to the Ottoman Empire. A new Russian-Ottoman peace treaty was signed in April 1712. Then the final peace treaty was signed in June 1713.
In the tense months of February-April 1712, a Romanian small nobleman (boyar)-Alexandru Davidel- from Moldavia had a relatively important influence on the Russian Czar Peter the Great. He persuaded the Czar that the Tatar Crimean Khanate was ready to abandon the Ottoman Empire and to become a vassal of Russia. In this scientific article (in Romanian), we discuss about the life and activity of Alexandru Davidel and focus upon his role in the Russian-Ottoman relations in February-April 1712. A Russian document of March 1712 (concerning this problem) is also published (translated by us into Romanian) and commented upon.
This paper was published in the historical review TURK DUNYASI ARASTIRMALARI ('Scientific Researches about the Turkish World)-ISTANBUL-TURKEY-Subat (February) 1992, Sayi (Number) 76, P. 115-123.
This paper's goal is to shortly present and analyze an Ottoman narrative source which until now remained unknown to the Romanian historiography. This source is the "Diary" (Defter) of Ahmed bin Mahmud, a secretary of the Ottoman Treasury. It concerns the Ottoman military campaign of 1711 in Moldavia (Prut Campaign). This "Diary" (in Ottoman Turkish language, written with Arabic characters) was published in 1968 in Turkey, by Prof. Dr. Akdes Nimet Kurat.
In July 1711, the Ottoman army won the decisive Prut (Stanilesti) battle against the Russian army (led by Peter the Great) and the Moldavian army (led by Dimitrie Cantemir). The peace treaty of the Prut (July 1711) confirmed the Porte's victory in the Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711. Thus, the Ottomans regained the territories north of the Black Sea that had been annexed by Russia at the end of the Russian-Ottoman war of 1686-1700. Until 1774, the Black Sea remained an Ottoman lake. The tough Ottoman hegemony over the autonomous principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia was preserved.
The "Diary" of Ahmed bin Mahmud clearly shows the crisis and the decline (including the military field) of the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 18th century. The Ottoman military discipline was low. The Ottoman victory in the Prut battle was gained with much difficulty. The Ottomans themselves considered this victory as a miracle, as an unexpected gift given by Allah.
The author of this paper dwells on an excerpt from an Ottoman narrative source practically unmentioned in Romanian historical writings, that is the MEMOIRS (Hatiralar) by Hasan Kurdi, a scribe for Janissaries (Yeniceri), concerning the Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711 and the battle of the Prut (July 1711). The first four pages from the manuscript are published here in Ottoman Turkish language (with Latin characters). The translation into Romanian (made by the author of this paper) is also provided (for the first time). The original text of the excerpt (in Ottoman Turkish language, with Arabic characters) was initially published by Prof. Dr. A.N. Kurat in Turkey, in 1953.
Being the consequence of the deepening rivalry between the Russians and the Ottomans, the above mentioned war was won by the Porte. The latter would subsequently regain possession of the fortresses-ports of Azov and Taganrog, that Russia had occupied in 1696 (and officially annexed in 1700, by the peace treaty of Istanbul), and secure her full control over the shores of the Pontus Euxinus for the decades to come.
The excerpt from Hasan Kurdi's account gives an analysis of causes which determined the Ottomans to launch the hostilities against Russia in November 1710 and pinpoints to a fact fairly admitted by Turkish historians but refuted by most of the European historians, Romanians included, namely that the reason having determined the Porte to take such an action sprang from her anxiety about the growing power of Peter the Great's Russia.
For the above-mentioned reasons, the entire period of the Russian-Ottoman peace of 1700-1710 was tense. Taking advantage of the involvement of Russia in the long northern anti-Swedish war of 1700-1721, the Porte launched and won the Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711. Defeated, Russia was obliged to restore to the Porte the north-Pontic territories annexed at the end of the previous Russian-Ottoman war. Russia would gain her much desired access to the Black Sea only in 1774, by the Russian-Ottoman peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca.
The present paper focuses on the evolution of the Russian-Ottoman relations and their impact on the situation in the Black Sea region in the year 1703. It was a year of tense peace. The Tatar Crimean Khanate was threatening to attack Russia and thus start a new Russian-Ottoman war. The Ottomans began building a fortress (Yeni Kale) on the Crimean shore of the Kerch Strait. Thus, they hoped to better defend this strait against the Russian military fleet in the Azov Sea. In August 1703, a new sultan (Ahmed III) was put on the Ottoman throne by a military and people's rebellion led by the Janissaries (Yeniceri). Petr Andreyevich Tolstoy, Russia's Ambassador to Istanbul in 1702-1710, was an important witness of these events. Only few of his diplomatic reports (in Russian) sent to Moscow were published until now. Here, we present (translated by us, for the first time, from Russian into Romanian) and analyze three of P.A. Tolstoy's reports written in 1703. Their original texts (in Russian) were published in Moscow in 1985.
The peace treaty of Istanbul (1700) confirmed the victory of Russia in the Russian-Ottoman war of 1686-1700. As a result, Russia annexed an important section of the steppe north of the Black Sea (including the fortresses-ports of Azov and Taganrog). A Russian military fleet was present in the Azov Sea. However, with the strategic Kerch Strait under Ottomans control, her access to the Black Sea, which continued to be completely Ottoman, was blocked.
Given the aforementioned reasons, the entire period of the Russian-Ottoman peace of 1700-1710 was tense. Turning to good advantage the involvement of Russia in the northern anti-Swedish war of 1700-1721, the Porte launched and won the Russian-Ottoman war of 1710-1711. Defeated, Russia was obliged to restore to the Porte the north-Pontic territories annexed at the end of the previous Russian-Ottoman war. Russia would gain her much desired access to the Black Sea only in 1774, by the Russian-Ottoman peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca.
The present paper focuses on the evolution of the Russian-Ottoman relations and their impact on the situation in the Black Sea region in the tense peace years of 1702-1705. Six unpublished English diplomatic reports, sent to London by the Ambassador of England to Istanbul, Sir Robert Sutton, and addressing the issue under consideration, are also published (here, for the first time) and analyzed.
In 1739, the Russian-Ottoman and the Austrian-Ottoman peace treaties of Belgrade put an end to this war. Austria was defeated by the Sublime Porte and was forced to give back to the Ottomans the provinces of Oltenia, Northern Serbia (including Belgrade) and Northern Bosnia. In his turn, the sultan allowed Wallachia to recover Oltenia. Austria had annexed these provinces at the end of the Austrian-Ottoman War of 1716-1718. Russia won the above-mentioned war (1735-1739) against the Ottomans. She recovered the territories north of the Black Sea that she had lost in favour of the Sublime Porte in 1711 (peace treaty of the Prut). The Porte lost forever the port fortresses of Azov and Taganrog. But the Kerch Strait (between Black Sea and Azov Sea) was still in Ottoman hands. The Russian merchants could sail on Black Sea and Azov Sea only by using Ottoman ships. The sultan was still the only master of the Black Sea. Russia consolidated her prestige and military power. But it was only in the year 1774 that Russia gained the much desired access to the Black Sea. This major Russian success was confirmed by the peace treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca (July 1774) which put an end to the Russian-Ottoman war of 1768-1774. The Black Sea became an Ottoman-Russian condominium (1774-1856).
Inside the Russian-Ottoman War of 1735-1739, the Russian military campaign of 1738 in Crimea was very important. It produced important damage to the Tatar Crimean Khanate. At the same time, it was a very good exercise for the Russian military campaign of 1739 in Moldavia which assured Russia's final victory in this war against the Sublime Porte.
In this scientific article, we discuss in detail about the above-mentioned Russian military campaign in Crimea (1738). A report by the Russian field marshal Lascy is published here-for the first time in English (translated by us from Russian)-and commented upon.
In December 1711, the Sublime Porte declared war to Russia. The sultan was angry because the Russians postponed the restitution of Azov and Taganrog to the Ottoman Empire. A new Russian-Ottoman peace treaty was signed in April 1712. Then the final peace treaty was signed in June 1713.
In the tense months of February-April 1712, a Romanian small nobleman (boyar)-Alexandru Davidel- from Moldavia had a relatively important influence on the Russian Czar Peter the Great. He persuaded the Czar that the Tatar Crimean Khanate was ready to abandon the Ottoman Empire and to become a vassal of Russia. In this scientific article (in Romanian), we discuss about the life and activity of Alexandru Davidel and focus upon his role in the Russian-Ottoman relations in February-April 1712. A Russian document of March 1712 (concerning this problem) is also published (translated by us into Romanian) and commented upon.
This paper was published in the historical review TURK DUNYASI ARASTIRMALARI ('Scientific Researches about the Turkish World)-ISTANBUL-TURKEY-Subat (February) 1992, Sayi (Number) 76, P. 115-123.