Treaty of Hünkâr Iskelesi
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Hünkâr İskelesi (less correctly spelled as Unkiar Skelessi) was a treaty
signed between Russia
and the Ottoman Empire
in 1833, following the Russo-Turkish War, 1828-1829
.
, ostensibly only a vassal
state of the Ottoman Empire, was seeking to increase his personal power and gain control over Palestine
, Syria
, and Arabia. In late 1831, he took his newly-reformed army into Syria, resulting in the Egyptian–Ottoman War (1831–1833)
against the Ottoman Sultan
, Mahmud II
. Ali easily defeated Ottoman forces and threatened Constantinople
itself. While Britain
and France
were sympathetic to Muhammad Ali, Nicholas I
sent a Russian army to the assistance of the Ottoman Empire. This intervention led to the Convention of Kutahya
in May 1833, which left Muhammad Ali in control of Syria and Arabia.
signed the Treaty of Hünkâr İskelesi. This treaty amended certain articles of the Treaty of Adrianople
of 1829. Under the Treaty of Hünkâr İskelesi the annual indemnity payments required of Turkey were curtailed. However, the Treaty bound Turkey and Russia to a promise of mutual assistance should either be attacked by a foreign power--a defensive treaty. A secret article exempted Ottoman from sending military forces; instead, they were to close the Dardanelles
to all non-Russian ships--possibly an offensive treaty.
Britain and France were suspicious of the treaty, fearing that Ottoman had given Russia freedom of action to send warships through the Dardanelles. These doubts were however quelled in 1841 by the London Straits Convention
.
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
signed between Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in 1833, following the Russo-Turkish War, 1828-1829
Russo-Turkish War, 1828-1829
The Russo–Turkish War of 1828–1829 was sparked by the Greek War of Independence. The war broke out after the Sultan, incensed by the Russian participation in the Battle of Navarino, closed the Dardanelles for Russian ships and revoked the Akkerman Convention....
.
Background
Muhammad Ali of EgyptMuhammad Ali of Egypt
Muhammad Ali Pasha al-Mas'ud ibn Agha was a commander in the Ottoman army, who became Wāli, and self-declared Khedive of Egypt and Sudan...
, ostensibly only a vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
state of the Ottoman Empire, was seeking to increase his personal power and gain control over Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, and Arabia. In late 1831, he took his newly-reformed army into Syria, resulting in the Egyptian–Ottoman War (1831–1833)
Egyptian–Ottoman War (1831–1833)
The First Egyptian-Ottoman War, First Turco-Egyptian War or First Syrian War was brought about by Muhammad Ali Pasha's demand to the Ottoman Empire for control of Arab Greater Syria, as reward for his assistance in Crete against Greece...
against the Ottoman Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
, Mahmud II
Mahmud II
Mahmud II was the 30th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1808 until his death in 1839. He was born in the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, the son of Sultan Abdulhamid I...
. Ali easily defeated Ottoman forces and threatened Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
itself. While Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
were sympathetic to Muhammad Ali, Nicholas I
Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I , was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. On the eve of his death, the Russian Empire reached its historical zenith spanning over 20 million square kilometers...
sent a Russian army to the assistance of the Ottoman Empire. This intervention led to the Convention of Kutahya
Convention of Kutahya
The Convention of Kutahya, also known as the Peace Agreement of Kutahya, ended the Egyptian–Ottoman War in May 1833.At the Convention, the Ottoman provinces of Syria and Adana were ceded to Egypt, and Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt became governor-general of the two provinces...
in May 1833, which left Muhammad Ali in control of Syria and Arabia.
The Treaty
On 8 July 1833, the Russians and Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
signed the Treaty of Hünkâr İskelesi. This treaty amended certain articles of the Treaty of Adrianople
Treaty of Adrianople
The Peace Treaty of Adrianople concluded the Russo-Turkish War, 1828-1829 between Russia and the Ottoman Empire. It was signed on September 14, 1829 in Adrianople by Russia's Count Alexey Fyodorovich Orlov and by Turkey's Abdul Kadyr-bey...
of 1829. Under the Treaty of Hünkâr İskelesi the annual indemnity payments required of Turkey were curtailed. However, the Treaty bound Turkey and Russia to a promise of mutual assistance should either be attacked by a foreign power--a defensive treaty. A secret article exempted Ottoman from sending military forces; instead, they were to close the Dardanelles
Dardanelles
The Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus. It is located at approximately...
to all non-Russian ships--possibly an offensive treaty.
Britain and France were suspicious of the treaty, fearing that Ottoman had given Russia freedom of action to send warships through the Dardanelles. These doubts were however quelled in 1841 by the London Straits Convention
London Straits Convention
In the London Straits Convention concluded on July 13, 1841 between the Great Powers of Europe at the time - Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Austria and Prussia - the "ancient rule" of the Ottoman Empire was re-established by closing the Turkish straits , which link the Black Sea to the...
.