Treaty of Aynalıkavak

Treaty of Aynalıkavak

Aynalıkavak bond of arbitration
Type	Commercial treaty
Signed	March 10, 1779
Location	Istanbul
Parties	Russian Empire Ottoman Empire
Languages	Russian, Ottoman Turkish

Treaty of Aynalıkavak was a treaty between Ottoman Empire and Russian Empire signed on March 10, 1779. The formal name is Aynalıkavak bond of arbitration (Turkish: Aynalıkavak tenkihnamesi). Aynalıkavak is a palace in Istanbul where the treaty was signed.

Background

The Ottoman Empire lost the Crimean Khanate, an Ottoman dependency since 1478, under the terms of the 1774 Treaty of Küçükkaynarca. Crimean khan Devlet Giray (Devlet IV) appealed to the Ottoman Porte to renew the region's dependency, a proposal that was not possible under the terms of Küçükkaynarca. The Russian government forced Devlet IV to abdicate upon hearing of his entreaties to the Ottomans and replaced him with a khan they could better manipulate, Şahin Giray. The Ottomans declared the Russian intervention in the Crimea against the terms of the Treaty of Küçükkaynarca.

The Treaty

With the French ambassador acting as a mediator, the two empires signed the Treaty of Aynalıkavak to resolve ongoing tensions in the Crimea. The terms of the treaty were

1. The terms of the Treaty of Küçükkaynarca were ratified
2. Both empires promised not to interfere Crimean politics
3. The Russians promised to withdraw their troops from the khanate in three months and twenty days
4. The Ottoman Empire acknowledged Şahin Giray as khan
5. Russian merchant ships were granted the right to free passage in the Mediterranean Sea

Aftermath

Russian empress Catherine II was planning to annex Crimea but was aware of the possible consequences. Catherine entered into talks with Sweden that ensured that Sweden wouldn't enter into an alliance with the Ottomans in the event of a Russian annexation of the Crimea. Russia ultimately annexed the Crimea in 1783.