Constantinople Treaty between Russia and Turkey concluded

On July 3 (14), 1700 in Constantinople Russia and Turkey concluded a peace treaty which resulted from Azov campaigns of Peter I in 1695-1696.

From the Russian side the treaty was signed by Russian envoye, Duma’s clerk Yemelyan Ignatievich Ukraintsev, from the Turkish side – grand vizir of Turkish sultan Nikolai Mavrokordato.

Russo-Turkish war of 1686–1700 began after Russia joined the European defensive anti-Turkish “Holy League” (Austria, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Venice) in 1686. During the war the Russian army had carried out Crimea campaign (1687 and 1689) and Azov campaign (1695–1696).

In the situation when Russia was preparing for the war with Sweden on one hand while other states of the world made peace with Turkey at Sremski Karlovci congress in 1698–1699 on the other, the Russian government sent its delegation to Constantinople in August of 1699 for negotiations. For the first time in Russian diplomacy the mission were making its way to Turkey by ship, not by land, demonstrating to Turks the fact that Russia had become a maritime power.

Negotiations between the parties started in autumn of 1699. The Russian party proposed the eternal peace under the conditions that the parties retained the territories the way they were. Turkey, supported by some European states (Britain, Austria, Venice), was trying to protract the negotiations. As a result Russia was obliged to make some concessions.

Under the treaty Russia received Azov along with the adjoining territory and restored fortresses (Taganrog, Pavlovsk, Mius). It was also granted exemption from tribute to Crimea khan. Turkey got back the region near Dnieper River previously occupied by Russians along with minor Turkish fortresses which were subject to immediate destruction. The parties committed themselves not to build any new fortifications in frontier zone and not to tolerate any armed raids. Turkey was obliged to free Russian prisoners and to authorize Russia to have a diplomatic mission in Constantinople on equal terms in respect of other states.

The signed treaty was an important strategic achievement which provided for Russia the access to Azov Sea and facilitated the preparation for the war with Sweden.

The Treaty of Constantinople, concluded for 30 years, was observed up to November 1710, when Turkish sultan declared war to Russia.

Lit.: Заключён Константинопольский мирный договор между Россией и Турцией [Электронный ресурс] // Хронограф. 2003-2010. URL: http://chron.eduhmao.ru/page_7_3_0p.html; Константинопольский мирный договор между Россией и Турцией, 3 (14) июля 1700 года [Электронный ресурс] // Нумизматика в ГМИИ им. А. С. Пушкина. 2010. URL: http://www.coins-and-medals.ru/medals/db/russia/peter_1/constantinople_peace/index.shtml?rus; Соловьёв С. М. История России с древнейших времён. Кн. 7. М., 1962. С. 607—612.

Based on the Presidential Library’s materials:

Foreign Policy // Peter I (1672–1725): [digital collection];

Russian army captured Turkish fortress of Azov // On this day. 29 July 1696.