The Napoleonic era

Question 1

From 1803, the war between France and Britain
resumed, which other powers joined Britain?

Answer 1

Russia and Austria joined forces with Britain.

Question 2

Did the Ottoman Empire manage to stay out of the war at this stage?

Answer 2

No, they were drawn into the Napoleonic wars. In order to preserve empire from ambitions of Great Powers, Porte did not hesitate to operate dramatic reversals of alliance between 1803 and 1812, turning from friend to foe forboth sides involved in Napoleonic Wars

Question 3

Why did France want the support of the Ottoman Empire at this time?

Answer 3

In their endeavour to get support of Porte, French agents sought to increase their influence among Christian communities of empire, from Levant to Balkans.

Question 4

Why did Russia become an inevitable partner with the Ottoman Empire at this time?

Answer 4

With her fleet now present in eastern Mediterranean and able to sail across Straits, Russia became unavoidable partner, even if she tried to advance her position in Balkans at expense of Ottoman Empire by fomenting revolts.

Question 5

What did the agreement between the Porte and Saint Petersburg give to Russia?

Answer 5

In 1802, agreement between Porte and Saint Petersburg gave Tsar right to intervene in Constantinople on behalf of Danubian Principalities (Moldavia and Wallachia). This
resulted in appointment of Russophile hospodar (princes) in both.

Question 6

Why did the Ottoman Empire want to keep in good terms with Russia?

Answer 6

Although Selim resented growing Russian influence, he feared that bringing relation with Saint Petersburg to end would, in turn, lead to rupture with Britain, whom he considered to be best bulwark against both French and Russian ambitions.

Question 7

What was the position of Britain at this time?

Answer 7

Britain supported reforms of Selim in order to strengthen his empire. Britain was concerned by Russian expansion but, at same time, needed Russia on her side against France.

Question 8

What happened in 1805 that led to France and the Ottoman Empire breaking relations?

Answer 8

The Ottoman Empire [with pressure from Britain and Austria] did not recognise Napoleon as Emperor

Question 9

Which country did this push Ottoman closer to and why?

Answer 9

To Russia, because the Ottoman Empire were worried that France may now attack them as relations between OE and France had broken down.

Question 10

What did this closer dependence by the Ottoman Empire on Russia - mean for Russia?

Answer 10

Selim agreeed to cooperate in war against France, in particular by allowing all Russian ships to sail through Straits. With Porte now partly dependent on Russia for her defence, Selim was forced to allow Tsar to have say in affairs of Ottoman Albania, thereby
opening new area to Russian influence in Balkans.

Question 11

Why did the Ottoman Empire do a U-turn and start supporting the French in early 1806?

Answer 11

The position of Sultan changed after victories of Napoleon against Austrians and Russians at Ulm (17 Oct. 1805) and then Austerlitz (2 Dec. 1805).

To preserve his empire: Selim recognised Napoleon as emperor in Feb. 1806 to gain favour with French.

Question 12

What did the French give the Ottoman Empire in return for this support?

Answer 12

In return, French supported, morally and militarily, Ottoman intervention to crush First Serbian Uprising, launched in Feb. 1804.

Question 13

What did this French and Ottoman return of relations lead Russia to do?

Answer 13

This prompted Russians to blockade Adriatic
Sea and to send help to Serbs.

Question 14

Why did the Ottoman Empire not sign a formal alliance with France?

Answer 14

Selim refused to sign formal alliance with France because
of fears of French ambitions in Balkans (French controlled territories once held by Republic of Venice and Republic of Ragusa on Dalmatian coast);

Also French did not have resources to help Ottoman Empire, should it find itself at war against Russia and Britain.

Question 15

What led to a new war between the Ottoman Empire and Russia and Britain?

Answer 15

Indeed, even though Ottoman Empire tried to adopt neutral position, limited rapprochement between Constantinople and Paris, and French advances in Balkans, were enough to
prompt new war between Ottoman Empire against Russia and her British ally.

Question 16

What two actions were taken by the powers to try and stop French Influence and in a way support the Ottoman Empire?

Answer 16

At first, British enjoined Sultan to end French influence in empire and to allow Russian navyto sail through Straits. In Sept. 1806 Selim agreed but few weeks later, following victory of
Napoleon at Jena on 14 Oct. 1806, he retracted.

Soon afterwards, Russia invaded and occupied Danubian Principalities of Moldavia and
Wallachia, allegedly to protect their friend Sultan against Napoleon.

Question 17

Why did Britain send a fleet to the Dardanelles in 1807 and why was this not successful?

Answer 17

Meanwhile, in support of Russia, Britain sent fleet to Dardanelles and anchored just outside Constantinople in Feb. 1807, aim being to force Porte to cede Principalities to Russia, to
surrender her fleet and forts along Straits.

With help of French advisers though, Ottomans
were able to sink two British vessels, forcing them to withdraw couple of weeks later.

Question 18

Why did Sultan Selim have internal Opposition?

Answer 18

Janissaries, who opposed modernisation of army;

ulema, who, in their vast majority, saw any reform designed to modernise empire and its society as contrary to Islamic law and traditions;

Modernisers, who had backed Selim at first, but feared that secularist ideas he introduced could ultimately lead to disintegration of society and empire;

Many people, affected by high levels of inflation due largely to Porte’s mismanagement of finances.

Question 18

Where did the British fleet then head to? Why was this also not successful?

Answer 18

The British fleet then headed to Egypt and captured Alexandria. However, counter-attack led by Governor of Egypt Muhammad Ali and lack of supplies forced British to negotiate their
evacuation in Sept 1807

Question 19

When did Sultan Selim abdicate and for whom?

Answer 19

May 1807 - conservative cousin Mustafa IV.

Question 20

When was the Treaty of Tilsit?

Answer 20

7 July 1807

Question 21

Who was the Treaty of Tilsit between?

Answer 21

France and Russia

Question 22

What were the terms of the Treaty?

Answer 22

French were to abandon their alliance with Ottoman Empire, Napoleon would mediate with Sultan so Russian demands in Ottoman Empire would be satisfied, and in return,
Tsar would mediate peace between France and Britain.

However, if Napoleon’s mediation failed, then France would join war with Russia against Ottoman Empire, and its European territories would then be partitioned between two. In
return, Russia recognised all conquests of Napoleon, agreed to return Principalities to Constantinople, and left Ionian islands and Cattaro (present-day Kotor in Montenegro) to France.

Question 23

Why did the Ottoman Empire accept the provisions of the Treaty of Tilsit?

Answer 23

The Ottoman Empire finally accepted provisions of Treaty of Tilsit because Russia would evacuate Principalities and put end to her support to Serbs.

Question 24

In the end, why did the war between the Ottoman Empire and Russia resume?

Answer 24

Tsar refused to ratify the Treaty of Tilsit.Thus Russian troops remained in Principalities with view to force further concessions from Sultan regarding Serbia, trade, and Tsar’s right to intervene in Ottoman affairs.

As result, war between Ottoman Empire and Russia resumed, with on and off military operations lasting until 8012.

Question 25

What was the treaty that led to the Russia/Ottoman Empire war coming to an end?

Answer 25

Treaty of Bucharest on 28 May 1812.

Question 26

Why did the war end?

Answer 26

Internal and foreign difficulties in both Russia and Ottoman brought the war to an end.

Question 27

What were the internal difficulties in the Ottoman empire at this time?

Answer 27

Internal issues in Ottoman Empire included rebellion against Mustafa IV, which led to deposition and accession to throne of reformist Mahmud II, brother of Selim III, on 28 July
1808 and subsequent political turmoil as conservatives tried to regain upper hand while reformists tried to impose Westernisation of empire.