With the Treaty of Karlowitz signed during the stagnation period of the Ottoman Empire, we lost so much land and quickly moved to a defensive position that the process called the regression period in our history has begun. Let’s take a closer look at what the Karlowitz Treaty is and see its importance and results in all details.
The Ottoman Empire, which started its life as a small principality, ruled over most of the world for hundreds of years, first as a state and then as an empire. But like any empire, the Ottoman Empire did not last forever and was eventually destroyed. Of course, its destruction did not happen in a day, The decline period that started with the Treaty of Karlowitz In fact, it was the beginning of everything.
The Ottomans had struggled to gain new lands even if they lost land until that day. With the Karlowitz Treaty, our only goal has now become to regain the lost lands. In other words, we started to struggle to exist in a way. Let’s take a closer look at what the Karlowitz Treaty is and see its importance and consequences for both the world and the Ottoman Empire.
Let’s start by briefly summarizing; What is the Karlowitz Treaty?
Treaty of Karlowitz; Consisting of the Ottoman Empire, Austria, Poland and Venice It is a peace treaty signed between the Holy Roman Empire and the Germanic Empire. The reason why the Treaty of Karlowitz, which was signed during the stagnation period among the numerous treaties signed at that time, was so important is that it was the treaty that started the period of decline for the Ottomans.
Where and when was the Karlowitz Treaty signed?
Treaty of Karlowitz, which is located in today’s Serbia It was signed in a small town called Karlowitz. At the end of years of wars, the parties that sat down at the agreement table to ensure peace signed the Treaty of Karlowitz on January 26, 1699.
The names sitting on the table were different: During which sultan’s reign was the Treaty of Karlowitz signed?
For many years, wars took place between the Ottoman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire, which we now call the Wars of the Holy Alliance. Sultan II. These wars in the period of Mustafa Finally, when different states intervened, it was decided to sign a peace treaty. Reis-ül Küttab Rami Mehmed Pasha and Chief Translator Alexandros Mavrokordatos represented the Ottoman Empire at the treaty table.
Let’s take a closer look at the Holy Alliance Wars; Why was the Karlowitz Treaty signed?
Even though the Ottoman Empire lost power in the 17th century, it still had the hope of gaining new lands, and in line with this goal. He launched three rather large expeditions against Austria. Pope XI, who was disturbed by this situation. Innocentius formed the Holy Alliance of Austria, Poland, and Venice in 1684. In 1686, Russia was included in the union.
Since then, there have been successive wars that we now call the Wars of the Holy Alliance. Besides the Erdel wars Venice attacked Peloponnese and Dalmatia, Poland attacked Moldavia. On the other hand, the efforts of Peter I, who became the head of Russia, to modernize the army and reach the Mediterranean, increased the number of wars.
Russia has already started the process leading to the Karlowitz Treaty. After countless attacks The Russians first took the Azov Castle in 1696. and in 1697, they inflicted great losses on the Ottoman army in the Battle of Zenta. When the Ottomans were completely defenseless, England and the Netherlands intervened and II. They persuaded Mustafa to sign a peace treaty.
The articles of the Karlowitz Treaty are completely against the Ottoman Empire:
We said that Reis-ül Küttab Rami Mehmed Pasha and Chief Translator Alexandros Mavrokordatos represented the Ottoman Empire in the Karlowitz Treaty negotiations. On the opposite side, there were representatives of Venice, Austria and Poland and an Italian as a consultant. For the first time in history, peace negotiations were held around a round table. and each representative entered the meeting tent through a different door, eliminating the protocol problem.
With the Karlowitz Treaty, all Hungary and Erdel except Banat and Temeşvar were left to Austria. Poland took Ukraine and Podolia. Peloponnese and Dalmatia belonged to Venice. The Russians, who were the reason for signing the treaty, did not sign this treaty because they wanted Kerch Fortress together with the Azov Fortress. A 25-year peace treaty was signed with the Russians the following year.
What were the results of the Karlowitz Treaty?
Until that day, the Ottoman Empire had lost many small and large lands in the west with numerous treaties. The Treaty of Karlowitz was the first treaty in which the Ottomans lost so much territory in the west. After the Treaty of Karlowitz, the period of decline began for the Ottoman Empire and the hopes of gaining new lands fell into disrepair, and the policies of regaining the lost lands were implemented.
The European consequences of the Treaty of Karlowitz were only to delay the anticipated great European War. Since France and Spain were under joint administration at that time, Austria thought that there would be a war at any moment. and that’s why he signed the Karlowitz Treaty. The Treaty of Karlowitz delayed things by only two years, and the War of the Spanish Succession began in Europe in 1701, which would last for 13 years.
Why is the Treaty of Karlowitz so important?
The Treaty of Karlowitz marks the beginning of an important period in many respects. It is important for Europe because it has been historically Europe united many times against Turks and Muslims, It was reunited under the name of the Holy Alliance. This unification was somehow preserved in the numerous wars that Europe went through in the following years, even if the sides changed, and the struggles were fought accordingly.
The Treaty of Karlowitz actually has a greater importance for Turkish history than for world history. Because until that day Even if the Ottomans somehow lost territory regained its strength and hoped to regain its former strength. However, the large piece of land lost with the Karlowitz Treaty has revealed that there is no such hope anymore.
For historians, the Karlowitz Treaty is considered a milestone. Finally The first step of the process that resulted in the collapse of the Ottoman Empire In other words, the period of decline began with this treaty. Maybe if the Turkish statesmen of the period had followed the right policies after the Karlowitz Treaty, the situation would have changed, but this treaty was the beginning of the end.
resulting in the Ottoman Empire’s first major territorial loss in Europe What is the Treaty of Karlowitz By answering the question, we talked about its importance in Turkish and world history. When it comes to Turks, how is Europe that will drown each other in a spoonful of water, isn’t it?