Austro-Russian Alliance refers to the treaty signed by the

Austrian Empire The Austrian Empire (german: link=no, Kaiserthum Oesterreich, modern spelling , ) was a Central-Eastern European multinational great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs. During its existence ...

and the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...

in May–June 1781. Russia was previously allied with Prussia ( Russo-Prussian Alliance). However, with time, Russia's attention was increasingly drawn towards the south, and the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

. Advocated by

Grigory Potemkin Prince Grigory Aleksandrovich Potemkin-Tauricheski (, also , ;, rus, Князь Григо́рий Алекса́ндрович Потёмкин-Таври́ческий, Knjaz' Grigórij Aleksándrovich Potjómkin-Tavrícheskij, ɡrʲɪˈɡ ...

, the new direction reduced the strategic value of Prussia as an ally to Russia and made Austria once again a more appealing candidate. The Russo-Prussian Alliance was once again extended in 1777, but at the imperial court in

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

Nikita Ivanovich Panin Count Nikita Ivanovich Panin (russian: Ники́та Ива́нович Па́нин) () was an influential Russian statesman and political mentor to Catherine II of Russia, Catherine the Great for the first 18 years of her reign (1762-1780). In ...

's pro-Prussian faction had its influence eclipsed by the Potemkin's pro-Austrian faction. After the death of

Maria Theresa of Austria Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina (german: Maria Theresia; 13 May 1717 – 29 November 1780) was ruler of the Habsburg dominions from 1740 until her death in 1780, and the only woman to hold the position '' suo jure'' (in her own right) ...

Joseph II of Austria Joseph II (German: Josef Benedikt Anton Michael Adam; English: ''Joseph Benedict Anthony Michael Adam''; 13 March 1741 – 20 February 1790) was Holy Roman Emperor from August 1765 and sole ruler of the Habsburg lands from November 29, 1780 un ...

wanted to improve relations with Russia, and secret negotiations begun in early 1781 and resulted in an Austro-Russian alliance being formed around May and June 1781. The Russo-Prussian alliance existed formally until 1788 but lost most of its significance upon the declaration of the Austro–Russian alliance, which isolated Prussia on the international scene. The most notable consequences of the Austro-Russian alliance were the

Austro-Turkish War (1788–1791) The Austro-Turkish War was fought in 1788–1791 between the Habsburg monarchy and the Ottoman Empire, concomitantly with the Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792), Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790) and Theatre War. It is sometimes referred to as the H ...

and the Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792). In 1790, the alliance was strained since Russia informed Austria that it has no desire to interfere in a possible conflict erupting between Austria and Prussia.J. A. R. Marriott, ''The Eastern Question An Historical Study In European Diplomacy'' (4th ed. 1940), pp 154-63.

References

Sources

* * De Madariaga, Isabel. "The secret Austro-Russian treaty of 1781." ''Slavonic and East European Review'' 38.90 (1959): 114–145
online
* Mayer, Matthew Z. "The Price for Austria's Security: Part I—Joseph II, the Russian Alliance, and the Ottoman War, 1787–1789." ''International History Review'' 26.2 (2004): 257–299
online
1781 treaties Treaties of the Habsburg Monarchy Treaties of the Russian Empire 1781 in Austria 1781 in the Russian Empire Austria–Russia relations 1781 in the Habsburg Monarchy Habsburg Monarchy–Russia relations Bilateral treaties of Russia 18th-century military alliances {{politics-stub