War 101: 1715-1718 Ottoman-Venetian-Austrian War in Ottoman Perspective

• Political Background and Situation of the Ottoman Empire in 1714-1715

Ahmed III (1703-1730). Credit: Konstantinos Kyzikinos, Wikipedia 

The Ottoman Empire had reached its pinnacle expansion in 1683. That development arranged the conflict of Second Vienna Siege and Great Turkish War and caused Ottomans to enter more burdensome occasions in the mid eighteenth century. Through the reign of Ahmed III, Ottoman Empire sought a serene timeline for overcoming the failure of previous wars. Then, not quite later, Russian Tsardom under the command of Peter I, triggered Ottoman Empire to declare war towards Russia which concluded with the Treaty of Pruth 1711 and the resurrection of Ottoman power. With the revival of Ottoman strength on account of Russo-Turkish War, Ottoman first class considered reconquering the regions which were lost to Austrian Empire by the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699. In other words,  the characteristics of Ottoman political and military conditions was not such a positive or negative position. Nonetheless, it is unmistakable to decipher that these events incited the Ottoman Empire to look for another “casus belli” for pronouncing battle against Austrian Empire and Venice Republic, to recuperate its lost territories. In conclusion, the Treaty of Karlowitz 1699, and the Russo-Turkish Campaign which is cited as Pruth River Campaign in 1711, and Ottoman resurrection from 1711 again, constituted the fundamental of the idea of declaring war against Austria and Venice in 1714.

• Causes of the War; the Incidents that Prepared the War;

The location of Peloponnese Island. Credit: Wikipedia.

The reasons for the 1715-1718 Ottoman-Austrian-Venetian War must be dissected regarding Ottoman political point of view and Venetians’ incitements. To begin with, the Treaty of Karlowitz had influenced the Ottoman Empire as far as political and social way adversely. The conviction of Ottoman “invulnerability” was disappeared ,so Ottoman predominance all through the Balkan and Europe terrains began to dissolve progressively. Nevertheless, Ottoman Empire undertook it absolutely less and acted peacefully in the early 18th century. However, the Russian threat from the northern side of Europe ensured Ottoman to gain a more realistic view towards Europe. In addition, the Pruth River Campaign, Ottoman Empire proved its resurrection and enthusiasm for regaining the lands that it lost to Holy League. Additionally, the personal aims of the Ottoman elite also possessed much significance to declare war against Venice and Austrian Empire. Contemporary Grand Vizier Silahdar Damat Ali Pasha was another vital point that should be taken care of. As indicated by Grand Vizier’s own points, recovering the Island of Peloponnese where taken by the Venice Republic in 1699, may advance his standing all through the Ottoman Community and elite positively. Because the Island of Peloponnese was conquered by Mehmed I in 1460, recapturing Peloponnese was as important as the achievement of Mehmed I’s. Furthermore, desire of recapturing of the given lands and the enormous strategic location of the Hungarian mainland consistently pulled in and assisted Ottoman with growing its predominance through eastern center and western Europe. Besides the lost of Hungarian mainland except Timișoara and Belgrade, in the Karlowitz Treaty, Ottoman Empire wanted to take these lands from Austrian Empire. Lastly, the provocations of Venetians were likewise another critical point for understanding the circumstance of war.  Venetian army which took control on Peloponnese Island tortured the native people of Peloponnese. Upon this incident, the Venetian Navy assault of Ottoman Ship, caused the Ottomans to declare war against Venice. To sum up The causes of the 1715-1718 Ottoman-Austrian-Venetian War had to be investigated with Ottoman political horizon and Venetians’ provocations’

• Pursuing circumstance of the War;

Princ Eugen Savojski (1663-1736). Credit: Jacob van Schuppen (1670.-1771.), Wikipedia

          The pursuing circumstances of the 1715-1718 War started with the declaration of the War against Venetian Republic in 1715. Ottoman army under the command of Silahdar Damat Ali Pasha launched the army to Peloponnese Island with the support of the local people. Peloponnese Island was occupied by Ottoman army ın a short time and Ottoman Navy attacked the Islands of Venice in the Ionian Sea. While these incidents were manifested in favour of the Ottomans, Austrian Empire renewed its treaty with Venice and delivered an ultimatum to the Ottomans in terms of Ottoman infringement of the Karlowitz Treaty. According to the demand, Austria ordered Ottoman Empire to withdraw from Peloponnese Island and to follow the principles of the Karlowitz treaty. However, with the impact of the Silahdar Damat Ali Pasha, Ottoman authority declared war against the Austrian Empire, which meant the division of the Ottoman Army into two parts in 1716. Aftermath of this occasion, Austrian army under the command of Prince Eugene of Savoy and Ottoman army under the rule of the Silahdar Damat Ali Pasha clashed with each other in Petrovaradin where Ottoman Army was vanquished by Austrian troops. Upon this suffering, Silahdar Damat Ali Pasha died while war was happening. After that, Ottoman army had to retreat from Petrovaradin and Austrian army besieged the Timișoara castle which was the last castle of Ottomans in Hungary. Newly Grand Vizier Haci Halil Pasha and Crimean Khan Saadet Giray wanted to defeat Austrian army and save the Timișoara castle but,  Prince Eugene of Savoy beat them and eventually Timișoara castle fall to Austrian Empire. As a continuation of the chain of bad luck,  Prince Eugene of Savoy also conquered Belgrade, after the fall of the Timișoara which affected Ottomans negatively. Exhaustment of the army and the manifestation of the defeats over and over forced Ottomans to make a peace with Austrian Empire and Venice Republic with the offer of the new Grand Vizier Nevsehirli Damat Ibrahim Pasha. The ongoing circumstance of the 1715-1718 Ottoman-Venetian-Austrian War, started with the declaration of war towards Venice Republic and finished with the Passarowitz treaty. 

Battle of Petrovaradin (1716). Credit: Georg Philipp Rugendas (1666–1742), Wikipedia

• Results of the War and Treaty of the Passarowitz (1718);

          The results of the 1715-1718 Ottoman-Venetian-Austrian war have to be undertaken as lots of objectivity and tolerance. As a last standard of the conflict, the Treaty of the Passarowitz assists us with understanding what had occurred at the conflict. As per the Treaty of the Passarowitz; 

1. Ottoman Empire will take Peloponnese Island.
2.  Northern Serbia, Timișoara, Smederevo, Banat, Belgrade and western part of the Wallachia will be taken by Austria.
3. The shores of Dalmatia and Albania will be received by Venetian Republic.

Nevsehirli Damat Ibrahim Pasha(1660. – 1730.). Credit: Jean Baptiste Vanmour (1671-1737), Wikipedia

         Austrian Empire received Timișoara, Belgrade and its environment, Venetian Republic received the shores of Dalmatia and Albania while Ottoman Empire gained lands from Venice Republic such as Peloponnese Island and other islands in the Ionian Sea. After this agreement, Ottoman Empire entered the famous “Tulip Era” by the reign of Ahmed III and his Grand Vizier Damat Nevsehirli İbrahim Pasha who was an effective person that persuaded Ahmed III to accept the peace treaty. The Ottoman immortality cracked again and the political structure of the Empire changed to the mentality of peace. 

• Conclusion

       As a result, the 1715-1718 Ottoman-Venetian-Austrian war is quite important for understanding the ottoman History in the early 18th century. The clashes and the peace agreement had left a massive impact towards the Ottoman Empire which was not as strong as its previous times. Upon the disgrace of the Karlowitz in 1699, and the Treaty of Passarowitz, proved Ottoman power was not such a big power anymore. 

• Sources;

1. Uzunçarşılı, İsmail Hakkı. “Osmanlı Tarihi III. Cilt I. Kısım”, Turkey/Ankara: Türk Tarih Kurumu publishing, 2009.
2. Finkel, Caroline. “Osman’s Dream: The History of the Ottoman Empire”, United States/NY: Basic Books, 2006.
3. www.encyclopediaofukraine.com
4. www.britannica.com
5. en.wikipedia.org
6. www.encyclopedia.com
7. antlasmalar.com