Lesson 1 - From the Treaty of Kuchuk Kainardji to the Treaty of Jassy: Russian gains at Ottomans’ expense

Question 1

After the treaty of Kuchuk Kainardji - who did a large part of the population resent in the Crimea?

Answer 1

Russian protégé Şahin Giray,

Question 2

What did Catherine the Great do in 1778

Answer 2

Catherine the Great invaded
Crimea to prevent Ottomans from regaining control of region.

Question 3

Why was this possible?

Answer 3

At this time with Ottoman Empire involved in Persia, and Constantinople’s ally, France, involved in North America - had their plate’s full

Question 4

What happened on 19 April 1783?

Answer 4

On 19 April 1783, arguing that Porte had not fulfilled her obligations under Treaty of Kuchuk Kainardji, Tsarina
proclaimed annexation of Crimea.

Question 5

What therefore happened to the Muslims?

Answer 5

This led to mass exodus of 1,000s of Muslims.

Question 6

When did the Porte recognise the annexation of Crimea by Russia?

Answer 6

9 Jan. 1784.

Question 7

What was the Greek plan that Catherine the Great then put forward?

Answer 7

The conceived “Greek Plan”, envisaged partition of Ottoman Empire between
Russia, Austria, and France, should Louis XVI decide to go along with scheme.

Question 8

Did the Greek plan go ahead?

Answer 8

Ultimately, “Greek Plan” did not proceed because of strong opposition from Prussia and Britain. For Berlin the Ottoman integrity was a barrier against Russian expansion. For London, Ottoman Empire was a market for British Goods

Question 9

What was Russia still a huge threat at this time?

Answer 9

1)Russia began building a strong military fleet from her bases in Crimea. 2) Her consuls were encouraging different groups across the Balkans to take up arms against the Ottomans.

Question 10

What happened on 14 Aug. 1787

Answer 10

The Sultan declared war on Russia.

Question 11

What happened on 19 Feb 1788

Answer 11

Austria, siding with Russia declared war on the Ottoman Empire

Question 12

Who were the winning side?

Answer 12

Austria and Russia

Question 13

Why was the situation of the Ottoman forces made worse?

Answer 13

There was a bitter internal struggle between the new Sultan, Selim III [Abdul Hamid I had died in April 1789] and opponents to his reforms

Question 14

Why did all the powers in Europe want peace?

Answer 14

Sweden had invaded Finland and was threatening Saint Petersburg;

nationalist uprisings in Netherlands and Hungary meant there were now more urgent matters for Austrian emperor Joseph II;

with outbreak of French Revolution, Triple Alliance (Britain, Prussia, and United Provinces) were advocating end to war so that Austria could join them to counter threat of revolution spreading outside France.

Question 15

What was the Treaty of Sistova?

Answer 15

It was a treaty signed between Vienna and Constantinople.

Question 16

What were the terms of the treaty?

Answer 16

Under treaty, Austria surrendered her conquests in Bosnia, Serbia, and Principalities in return for promise of Sultan to treat his Christian subjects well and to allow them to be protected by Austria.

Question 17

What did the decisive victory at Macin by Russia against the Ottoman empire mean for the war?

Answer 17

It meant that the Ottoman Empire was defenceless. Selim was forced to accept mediation of the Triple alliance. The Peace treaty between the Ottoman Empire and Russia was signed on 8 Jan 1792 in Jassy.

Question 18

What were the terms of the Treaty of Jassy?

Answer 18

Treaty of Jassy largely confirmed Treaty of Kuchuk Kainardji as amended by treaty of 1784:

◦ Porte recognised annexation of Crimea and Russian suzerainty over Georgia;

◦ Russia agreed to evacuate Principalities and harbours she had seized at mouth of Danube;

◦ Russia received western part of Yedisan (also known as Sanjak of Őzi), territory between Bug and Dniester rivers, thus making Dniester border between Russia and Ottoman Empire. There, Russian soon turned fishing village of Khadjibey into one of their main naval bases in Black Sea: Odessa.

Thus, with Treaty of Jassy, Russia established dominant position on Black Sea and in
Principalities. For Ottoman Empire, signing of treaty prevented further losses and gave Sultan some respite to introduce reforms designed to remedy some of weaknesses of his empire that had become all too apparent during course of wars of 1768-74 and 1787-92.