Later Roman Empire

turkey, austria, pasha, mustafa, venice, ahmed, war, army and poland

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Events in the Ukraine led Turkey into war with Poland in 1672. The Turks captured Kamenetz, Lemberg and Lublin. The Poles sued for peace and a treaty was signed in 1672 at Buczacs whereby Podolia was ceded to Turkey, Ukraine left to the Cos sacks, and Poland consented to pay Turkey an annual tribute of 22,000 sequins. But John Sobieski, who ascended the Polish throne, refused to abide by the terms of this treaty and war was renewed and continued till 1676 when the Treaty of Buczacs was reaffirmed, both parties abrogating the tribute clause.

Kuprullu Ahmed Pasha having died, Kara Mustafa Pasha suc ceeded him as grand vizier. A man of great military ambitions, he led Turkey into a series of unnecessary wars. The first was against the Russians, and, although the Turks conquered Cehrin at the beginning, their losses were so great that they signed a treaty at Radzin (Jan. 8, 1681) ceding the disputed territory to Russia. The internal disputes in Austria due to Protestant persecution caused Kara Mustafa Pasha to violate the truce signed by Ahmed Kuprullu and lead a vast army against Austria which laid siege to Vienna. The emperor and his court fled from the capital when John Sobieski of Poland saved the Austrian cause by attacking the Turks in the rear and defeating them. This kindled the cru sading spirit in Europe against Turkey and an alliance between Austria, Venice, the Pope, Poland, Russia, Malta and Tuscany was formed and some of them attacked different parts of Turkey. The Austrians made conquests in Hungary, the Venetians in Greece, the Russians in Crimea and the Poles in Podolia. Turkey tried in vain to get France to join her against this general alliance. The janissaries mutinied and Mohammed IV. abdicated in favour of his son.

Soliman II. (1687-1691), Ahmed IL (1691-1695), Mustafa II. (1695-1703).—Kuprullu Fazil Mustafa Pasha was made grand vizier, and, true to the tradition of his illustrious family, he re stored order in the army and in the fleet, and by wise and tolerant administration won the sympathies of the non-Muslim subjects. Austria captured Erlau, entered Transylvania and reached Bel grade and Uskub, but Kuprullu Mustafa Pasha drove out the Austrians and recaptured Belgrade. He also defeated the Rus sians in Crimea. Mustafa Pasha went as far as to distribute seeds for the crops of the people of the recaptured countries. In 1691 while the Turkish army was fighting in Morea Soliman II. died and was succeeded by his brother Ahmed II.

The Turks were defeated at Slankamen in Hungary under Kuprullu Mustafa Pasha who was slain on the battle-field. An attack on Peterwardein was equally a failure and the Venetians captured the island of Chios. In 1695 Ahmed died and was suc ceeded by his brother Mustafa II.

Chios was recaptured and the war with Austria continued under the command of the new sultan. The Turks conquered Lippa and defeated the Austrians and the Austrian field-marshal von Veterani was killed. But the Russians took Azov and in 1697 the

Austrians under the command of Prince Eugene defeated the Turks at Zenta-on-Theiss. The war was ended, on the pressure of Venice, Holland and England by a series of treaties with Austria, Poland and Venice concluded at Karlowitz (Jan. 1699). By the terms of these treaties Turkey retained the Banat, Austria kept Transylvania, Poland restored the places captured in Moldavia but retained Kamenetz, Podolia and Ukraine, Venice retained the Morea and Dalmatia and a two years' truce was signed with Rus sia. In 1700 Azov was ceded to her by a separate treaty. During this time Hussein Pasha, again a Kuprullu, was grand vizier, but his efforts to introduce order into the country were frustrated, he was driven out of office, and a fresh revolt of the janissaries forced the sultan himself to abdicate. He was succeeded by his brother Ahmed III.

Ahmed III. (1703-1730).

Ahmed began his reign by con ceding the demands of the janissaries and accepting their chosen grand vizier. Charles XII. of Sweden, having been beaten by the Russians at Poltava, took refuge in Turkey and was invited to reside at Bender. This involved Turkey in another war with Russia which had already sent troops across the frontiers in pur suit of Charles XII. (1710). Baltaji Mohammed Pasha, in com mand of the Turkish army, was induced by her entreaties to grant the Empress Catherine a peace less to Russia's disadvantage than her defeat merited. Azov was left to Turkey, Russian fortresses on Turkish frontiers were razed, Russia consented to the return of Charles XII. and renounced all claims over the Tatars in Crimea and in Polish territory. As the hospodars of Moldavia and Walachia had assisted Russia during the campaign they were punished and Phanar Greek notables (see PHANAIUOTS) governed these principalities till the Greek insurrection of 1821. Venice was next to be punished for having incited the Montenegrins to revolt, and having invaded Bosnia and having captured Turkish ships in the Mediterranean. In 1715 Turkey declared war against Venice, quelled the Montenegrin revolt, captured Modon and Coron and with her fleet took the islands of Tinos and Cerigo, as well as the remaining Venetian fortresses in Crete. Austria intervened, urging Turkey to cede to Venice certain places in Dalmatia as compensation for her losses in Morea. This led to a declaration of war against Austria in 1716. The Turkish army was routed near Peterwardein, and pursued by the Austrian army led by Prince Eugene, which took Belgrade and overran the Banat (1717). The Turkish army then retreated to Adrianople. By the mediation of England and Holland the Treaty of Passarovitz was signed on July 21, 1718: Belgrade, a part of Walachia and Banat passed to Austria, and strongholds in Albania and Dalmatia to Venice.

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