Austro-Turkish War (1788–1791)
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The Austro-Turkish War was fought in 1788–1791 between the
Habsburg monarchy The Habsburg monarchy (german: Habsburgermonarchie, ), also known as the Danubian monarchy (german: Donaumonarchie, ), or Habsburg Empire (german: Habsburgerreich, ), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities ...
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) ...
, concomitantly with the
Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792) The Russo-Turkish War of 1787–1792 involved an unsuccessful attempt by the Ottoman Empire to regain lands lost to the Russian Empire in the course of the previous Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774). It took place concomitantly with the Austro ...
,
Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790) The Russo-Swedish War of 1788–1790 was fought between Sweden and Russia from June 1788 to August 1790. The war was ended by the Treaty of Värälä on 14 August 1790 and took place concomitantly with both the Austro-Turkish War (1788–1791) ...
and
Theatre War {{Campaignbox Dano-Swedish Wars The Theatre War ( sv, Teaterkriget), Cowberry War, Cranberry War or Lingonberry War ( no, Tyttebærkrigen, da, Tyttebærkrigen), was a brief war between Denmark–Norway and Sweden, starting on 24 September 1788, ...
. It is sometimes referred to as the Habsburg–Ottoman War or the Austro-Ottoman War.


War aims

The war began as a Russian-Turkish conflict. 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. ...
, headed by
Catherine the Great , en, Catherine Alexeievna Romanova, link=yes , house = , father = Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst , mother = Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp , birth_date = , birth_name = Princess Sophie of Anhal ...
, had been involved in previous wars of conquest against the Ottomans, and the two nations were openly hostile. In August 1787, after "numerous Russian provocations" according to Hochedlinger, the Ottoman Empire declared war on the Russians.Hochedlinger (2003:382) The Austrian Emperor
Joseph II 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 unt ...
had concluded an alliance with the Russians in 1781, which (Hochedlinger) "obliged imto assist the Russians with his full might ... Vienna felt that it had to act promptly so as not to annoy the
mpress Mpress was a girl group that consisted of Lauren (born Lauren Mareen Hart) from St. Petersburg, Zoraida (born Zoraida Virginia Rosario) from Orlando and Marissa (born Marissa Rosalia Clark) from Florida. They released their debut album ''Suddenly ...
What Joseph had to make sure this time was that Austria did not come away empty-handed again, as over the Crimea in 1783–84." In fact, Joseph was facing a serious threat to his rule in a distant portion of his empire, in what is now Belgium; as well as long-term tensions with a powerful northerly neighbor,
Prussia Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an em ...
. Hochedlinger opines that "war could not have come at a more inopportune moment." Hochedlinger also judges the Turks also made a mistake in starting the war themselves. From the Russian point of view, "the conflict could now be presented to the European public as a defensive war against an aggressor. Turkish aggression also made it much more difficult for France to continue its traditional role as the Sultan's protector against Russian rapacity".


Fighting

The Austrians entered the war in February 1788, though they had by now lost their best chance for an easy victory. The slow preparations of Russia resulted in the Ottoman concentration on
Belgrade Belgrade ( , ;, ; Names of European cities in different languages: B, names in other languages) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city in Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers a ...
. The Austrians relied on Russian support in Moldavia, which only began in late 1788, and Joseph II seemed to have been reluctant to fight the Ottomans. In July, the Ottomans crossed the Danube and broke into the Austrian
Banat Banat (, ; hu, Bánság; sr, Банат, Banat) is a geographical and historical region that straddles Central and Eastern Europe and which is currently divided among three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania (the counties of T ...
. Shortage of supplies struck both sides, while disease struck the Austrian soldiers. As many as 50,000 Serb refugees flooded across the Danube, causing logistical problems for the Austrians. In mid-August, Joseph II dispatched 20,400 soldiers into the Banat. A
Serbian Free Corps The Serbian Free Corps (german: Serbische Freikorps), known simply as ''frajkori'' ( sr-cyr, фрајкори), was a volunteer militia composed of ethnic Serbs, established by the Habsburg monarchy, to fight the Ottoman Empire during the Austro-T ...
of 5,000 soldiers had been established in the Banat, composed of refugees that had fled earlier conflicts in the Ottoman Empire. The Corps would fight for liberation of Serbia and unification under Habsburg rule. Later on, the balance shifted toward Austria: the Turks were expelled from parts of
Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...
, the Banat, parts of Bosnia, and Belgrade was taken in a three-week campaign by the aging Field Marshal Laudon.
Habsburg-occupied Serbia (1788–92) Habsburg Serbia may refer to several periods and territories in the history of Serbia: * Habsburg-occupied Serbia (1686–91), temporary Habsburg occupation of central Serbia (1686–1691) * Kingdom of Serbia (1718–39), crown land of the Habsburg ...
was established. The Austrian army also decisively participated in the victories of Focşani and Rymnik under the overall command of
Suvorov Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov (russian: Алекса́ндр Васи́льевич Суво́ров, Aleksándr Vasíl'yevich Suvórov; or 1730) was a Russian general in service of the Russian Empire. He was Count of Râmnicu Sărat, Rymnik, C ...
, and Josias of Saxe-Coburg conquered Bucharest.


Disease

At the front, outbreaks of
malaria Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...
and other diseases played a major role. According to Braunbehrens, in the Austrian army during 1788 there were "epidemics: the
lazaretto A lazaretto or lazaret (from it, lazzaretto a diminutive form of the Italian word for beggar cf. lazzaro) is a quarantine station for maritime travellers. Lazarets can be ships permanently at anchor, isolated islands, or mainland buildings ...
s were filled to capacity, half the army was sick, and thousands of soldiers died". Joseph II spent most of the war at the front, and was one of those who fell ill there; he ultimately died of his illness after his return home (20 February 1790).


Outcomes

Joseph's successor Leopold II was compelled to end the war due to the threat of Prussian intervention in support of the Ottomans. In the final negotiated outcome, established in the
Treaty of Sistova The Treaty of Sistova ended the last Austro-Turkish war (1787–91). Brokered by Great Britain, Prussia and the Netherlands,''The Peace Treaties of the Ottoman Empire'', Karl-Heinz Ziegler, Peace Treaties and International Law in European Histo ...
of 4 August 1791,Jeremy Black, ''British Foreign Policy in an Age of Revolutions, 1783–1793'', (Cambridge University Press, 1994), 263. Austria's gains were "meagre": Austria returned all the territory from its conquests save the small town of Orsova and a strip of Croatian land near the Bosnian-Croatian border (e.g. Drežnik Grad,
Cetin Castle The fortress of Cetin is situated south of Cetingrad above the village of Podcetin, in Croatia. The date when Cetin was founded is unknown. There are some indications that a settlement existed there in the times of the Roman Empire. The Parish ...
,
Donji Lapac Donji Lapac ( sr-Cyrl, Доњи Лапац) is a settlement and a municipality in Lika, Croatia. Geography Donji Lapac is located a region of eastern Lika called ''Ličko Pounje'', by the river Una that flows near the town in the valley between ...
, Srb). The Russians won new territory along the Black Sea and forced the Turks to acknowledge previous conquests in the
Treaty of Jassy The Treaty of Jassy, signed at Jassy (''Iași'') in Moldavia (presently in Romania), was a pact between the Russian and Ottoman Empires ending the Russo-Turkish War of 1787–92 and confirming Russia's increasing dominance in the Black Sea. T ...
of 9 January 1792. For the Ottomans, the war was a salient event in a long period of national decline (see Stagnation and reform of the Ottoman Empire). In 1791, the withdrawal of troops and warships to Europe led to the overthrow of Emir
Ismail Bey Ismāʿīl Bey ( 1735? - March 1791), also known as ''Ismail Bey al-Kabir'' ("the Great") was a Mamluk emir and regent of Ottoman Egypt. Biography Ismail was of Georgian origin, and became a Mamluk of the Emir Ali Bey al-Kabir in Egypt. During th ...
in Egypt. His successors,
Murad Bey Murad Bey Mohammed ( 1750 – 22 April 1801) was an Egyptian Mamluk chieftain ( Bey), cavalry commander and joint ruler of Egypt with Ibrahim Bey. He is often remembered as being a cruel and extortionate ruler, but an energetic courageous fighter ...
and Ibrahim Bey, established a regime independent of Istanbul.


Serbia

Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Bas ...
had been under Ottoman rule before the war and was closely fought over, remaining an Ottoman possession after the final treaty settlement. The war was to have important consequences for the future history of Serbia. Rajić writes,
The wars of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries instilled in the Serbian consciousness the deep-seated expectation that only Austria could lend a helping hand .e., in liberating Serbia from the Ottomans This faith was largely shaken after Kocina Krajina and the last Austro-Turkish War (1788–1791), when it became clear that despite the Serbs' merits and heavy casualties in the fight against the Turks, the emperor abandoned them and made peace with the sultan. Since then, Russia superseded Austria in the Serbs' plans to restore their state.
For discussion of the fate of Serbia during the war, see
Habsburg-occupied Serbia (1788–92) Habsburg Serbia may refer to several periods and territories in the history of Serbia: * Habsburg-occupied Serbia (1686–91), temporary Habsburg occupation of central Serbia (1686–1691) * Kingdom of Serbia (1718–39), crown land of the Habsburg ...
.


Home front in Austria

The war had serious negative effects on the economy of Austria, and derailed progress in creating a modern civil society. Calinger writes:
To have the time and financial resources to establish his domestic reforms, Joseph II needed stability in foreign affairs. It is a well-tested maxim that war stops reform. Joseph's predatory foreign policy, however, joined with that of Catherine II, led to a war against the Ottoman Turks from 1787 to 1790. This war devastated his domestic economy. The next year the national debt soared to 22 million gulden, and in 1790 it reached 400 million. As
food prices Food prices refer to the average price level for food across countries, regions and on a global scale. Food prices have an impact on producers and consumers of food. Price levels depend on the food production process, including food marketing an ...
and taxes rose and a new conscription was implemented, the mood in Vienna turned ugly. Bread riots erupted after the bad harvest of 1788/89 and the emperor's popularity plummeted.
Solomon writes that even "the morale of the cultural elite was severely eroded; fears of conscription led many aristocratic families to leave
Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...
, and there were widespread feelings of disillusionment with Emperor Joseph, a sense that he had betrayed the promise of an enlightened reform movement."Solomon 1995, 433. For detailed discussion of Joseph II's attempted reshaping of Austrian society, see Calinger (2003).


See also

*
Habsburg-occupied Serbia (1788–1792) Koča's frontier ( sr, Кочина крајина / ''Kočina krajina'') refers to the Serbian territory established in the Sanjak of Smederevo, Ottoman Empire, during the Austro-Turkish War (1787–1791). The Habsburg-organized Serbian Free Cor ...
*
Battle of Karánsebes The Battle of Karánsebes ( hu, Karánsebesi csata; german: Rückzug von Karánsebes; ro, Bătălia de la Caransebeș; tr, Şebeş Muharebesi) was a friendly fire incident in the Austrian army, supposedly occurring during the night of 21–22 ...
*
Battle of Rymnik The Battle of Rymnik ( tr, Boze Savaşı) on September 22, 1789 took place in Wallachia, near Râmnicu Sărat (now in Romania), during the Russo-Turkish War of 1787–1792. The Russian general Alexander Suvorov, acting together with the Habsbu ...
*
Siege of Belgrade (1789) In the siege of Belgrade (15 September – 8 October 1789) a Habsburg Austrian army led by Feldmarschall Ernst Gideon von Laudon besieged an Ottoman Turkish force under Osman Pasha in the fortress of Belgrade. After a three-week leaguer, the Aust ...


References


Sources

* * * * * * Braunbehrens, Volkmar (1990) ''Mozart in Vienna''. New York: Grove Weidenfeld. *Calinger, Ronald (2003) "Reform absolutism of Joseph II in the Austrian monarchy in 1781", in George F. McLean, Robert R. Magliola, William Fox (eds.), ''Democracy: In the Throes of Liberalism and Totalitarianism''. CRVP. Viewable on Google Books:

*Hochedlinger, Michael (2003) ''Austria's wars of emergence: 1683–1797''. London: Longman. * *Miller, W. (1901) "Europe and the Ottoman Power before the Nineteenth Century", ''The English Historical Review'', Vol. 16, No. 63. (Jul., 1901), pp. 452–471. *Solomon, Maynard (1995) ''Mozart: A Life''. Harper Perennial. {{DEFAULTSORT:Austro-Turkish War (1787-1791) Conflicts in 1788 Conflicts in 1789 Conflicts in 1790 Conflicts in 1791
1787 Events January–March * January 9 – The North Carolina General Assembly authorizes nine commissioners to purchase of land for the seat of Chatham County. The town is named Pittsborough (later shortened to Pittsboro), for ...
18th century in Austria 18th century in Serbia Habsburg Monarchy–Ottoman Empire relations 1780s in Austria 1790s in Austria 18th century in the Ottoman Empire 1790s in Serbia 1780s in Serbia 1790s in the Ottoman Empire 1780s in the Ottoman Empire Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor