Lesson 2 - Conclusion

Question 1

What did the Peace of Bucharest lead to?

Answer 1

The Ottoman Empire was removed from the conflict in Europe - 6th - 7th coalition brought the great powers against Napoleon

Question 2

Was a potential alliance with the Ottoman Empire therefore important?

Answer 2

No

Question 3

What did the French hope that the Ottoman Empire would do?

Answer 3

open second, eastern, front against
Russia and Austria

Question 4

Why did the Ottoman Empire not want to do this?

Answer 4

Ottoman army was in no state to fight another war against its
powerful neighbours. Additionally, in return for alliance, there was virtually nothing French
could offer, apart from advisers, to help with defence of empire. Thus, Ottoman Empire
opted to stay out conflict.

Question 5

What did staying out of the war mean to Ottoman Empire

Answer 5

This gave Sultan opportunity to dedicate his energy and resources

◦ to reassert his control over local notables who threatened his authority in Anatolia and
Arab provinces of empire;

◦ to crush uprisings that had been taking place in Serbia and Arabian peninsula.

Question 6

When did the Ottoman Empire become worried about Serbia?

Answer 6

Porte only became more concerned when rebellionexpanded beyond its original centre and Russia started to provide rebels led by
Karađorđe with help and Serbs scored several victories against Ottomans in 1805-
06.

Question 7

What weakened the Serbs?

Answer 7

1) By 1813 divisions between Serb leaders weakened movement.

2)To make matters worse for Serbs, with Ottoman Empire and Russia now at peace, Saint
Petersburg stopped supporting rebels, and Porte could redirect her forces to crush
them. By 1813, Porte had regained control of whole of Serbia

Question 8

Was Serbia then no longer a problem?

Answer 8

No, it was not long before new revolt erupted among Serb subjects of empire.

Question 9

What did the revolt in the central Arabian peninsula originate from?

Answer 9

The alliance sealed in mid-18th century between the house of ibn Saud and radical religious reformer Muhammad ibn Abd al-wahhab.

Question 10

Were these in the Ottoman Empire?

Answer 10

No, they ae in a region that was never under Ottomancontrol but largely surrounded by Ottoman provinces and vassal states.

Question 11

What had happened by the late 18th century?

Answer 11

Abd al-Azizibn Saud moved northward and defeated Bedouin tribes that controlled most of
desert to south and west of Euphrates River (in present-day southern Iraq). Then, in
March 1801 (or March 1802, depending on sources), he seized Shia holy city of
Karbala.

Question 12

Was Karbala in the Ottoman Empire?

Answer 12

Yes

Question 13

What happened in Karbala

Answer 13

For Wahhabis, Shia Muslims were nothing but heretics. City was sacked,between 2,000 and 5,000 of its inhabitants massacred, and many Shia religious sites, including tomb of Imam Husayn, plundered

Question 14

What did the Sunni Scholars in Baghdad think about this?

Answer 14

Massacre of Karbala was
condemned by Sunni scholars in Baghdad. In spite of theological differences,
neither Sunni nor Shia saw each other as apostates or heretics.

Question 15

What happened as a result?

Answer 15

In 1803, in retaliation for sacking of Karbala, Shia Muslim murdered Abd al-Aziz. As
result, enmity between Wahhabis and Shia only intensified. In 1806, Wahhabis tried,
unsuccessfully, to attack Shia holy city of Najaf

Question 16

What did the Son of Abd al Aziz do then, and what was the result?

Answer 16

Meanwhile, in 1803, Saud ibn-Saud, son of Abd al-Aziz, seized Mecca. Although
they then abandoned Mecca, they returned in 1805 and then progressed towards
Medina, where they destroyed dome built over tomb of Prophet (symbol of idolatry
for Wahhabis). From their positions, Wahhabis attacked most caravans heading
towards holy cities, often killing pilgrims who refused to recognise leadership of
Saud. Capture of Mecca and Medina was direct challenge to Sultan in his role of
protector of two holy places.

Question 17

Why did the Ottoman troops sent to Damascus not work?

Answer 17

Although Sultan had sent reinforcement troops to Damascus and instructed
governor there to crush rebellion, these did not move against Wahhabis. Between
1807 and 1811, Sultan appointed two new governors of Damascus but they both
refused or failed to attack rebels..

Question 18

What did Sultan Mahmud II do then?

Answer 18

turned towards governor of Egypt, Muhammad Ali(Mehmet Ali). Originally from Albania, Muhammad Ali arrived in Egypt as
commander of force sent to regain control of province for Sultan after French and
British expeditions. In 1805, Sultan Selim recognised him as governor of Egypt.
In
1811, Muhammad Ali appointed his son Tosun as governor of Jeddah, with mission
to reconquer Mecca and Medina. This he did in 1812 but he did not defeat
Wahhabis, who continued to launch series of attacks across Ottoman provinces of
Hejaz, Damascus, Deir Ez-zor, and Aleppo (governors of these provinces were
more interested in quarrelling between themselves than defeating rebels.

Question 19

What did Mehmet Ali therefore do?

Answer 19

Muhammad Ali took charge of military expedition himself but was forced to
return to Cairo when he heard that a Mamluk prepared palace coup,

Question 20

Who did he leave in charge of the area?

Answer 20

Muhammad Ali left it to his son, Ibrahim, to lead campaign against Wahhabi. Relying on Bedouin
tribes, Ibrahim was able to progress into Arabian desert and, in 1818, he seized city
of Diriyah, stronghold of Wahhabis. Their leader, Abdullah ibn-Saud was captured
and send to Constantinople, where he was beheaded for treason. Immediate
Wahhabi threat to Ottoman Empire had been eliminated.

Question 21

What happened to Muhammad Ali?

Answer 21

Victory over Wahhabis reinforced power of Muhammad Ali vis-à-vis Sultan. Under
his leadership, Egypt rapidly became virtually independent province of empire.
In longer term, Wahhabi campaign against Shia and sacking of Karbala left legacy
of enmity that persists to this day.