The Questions of the Moldo-Wallachian voyvodas in Russo-Ottoman Relations from the second half of the 18^<th> century to the beginning of the 19^<th> century

Abstract

Wallachia and Moldavia, which fell under the Ottoman rule as autonomous vassal states, were under the control of the Porte during the 16^<th> and the 17^<th> centuries, while the Ottoman Empire was superior in power to Western Europe. During the 18^<th> century, however, Russia began to influence these two principalities. In the Treaty of Kyuchuk-Kainardja after its victory in the Russo-Turkish War, Russia obtained a voice in the affairs of these principalities and at the same time succeeded in establishing a puppet voyvoda in Moldavia, but could not spread its influence into both principalities voyvoda's execution at the hands of the Porte. After this incident Russia pursued a consistent policy to keep pro-Russians in the post of voyvoda and in the fermans issued in 1802 obtained more authority over the Principalities, taking advantage of the changes occurring in the international relations surrounding the Ottoman Empire and the disorder in the Balkans involving the powerful ayans at the end of the century. These fermans, making up a de facto the diplomatic agreement between Russia and the Porte, fixed the term of the voyvoda's appointment to 7 years, making the Porte's free removal of voyvodas more difficult. Simultaneously, Russia succeeded in putting a pro-Russian in the post of the Wallachian voyvoda. Afterwards, this queastion was used politically by France, which actively tried to approach the Ottoman Empire and break up the Russo-Ottoman alliance, and in 1806, according to the suggestion of France, the Porte suddenly, without any notice to Russia, dismissed both voyvodas. This event was regarded by Russia as a change in Ottoman diplomacy and resulted in the Russo-Turkish War (1806-1812). The appointment of rulers to the vassal states by their suzerain had been one of the internal affairs of the Ottoman Empire until the Treaty of Kyuchuk-Kainardia. Only 30 years after the Treaty, however, it turned into an important international question symbolizing the Ottoman diplomatic policy. We can consider this fact to be an aspect of the process by which both the Ottoman Empire and Russia were rapidly joining the western state system during this period.