The Treaty of Belgrade was signed

On September 18 (29) 1739 near Belgrade Russia and the Ottoman Empire concluded a Peace Treaty of Belgrade, which brought to an end the Russo-Turkish War 1735-1739.

Russia was anxious to get an access to the Black Sea and guarantee security to its southern regions, which suffered the attacks of Crimean Tatars. Turkey, in it turn, incited by France was preparing for the war in the hope of taking the advantage of Russia whose efforts were concentrated on the war with Poland (1733-1735). The reason for the war became raids of Crimean Tatars to Ukraine in 1735 and a campaign of the Crimean Khan Kaplan Geray to the Caucasus.

Russia’s allies were Iran and Austria. After an unsuccessful campaign of Russian troops under the command of M.I. Leontyev to the Crimea in autumn 1735, in May 1736 the Russian Dnieper army under the command of B.Ch. Münnich took by storm Turkish fortifications near Perekop, and in June occupied Bakhchisaray. On June 19 (30) Russian army managed to seize Azov; while Kinburn (Kilburun) was taken and destroyed. In the beginning of July 1737 Dnieper army captured the Ochakov fortress, whereas the Don army crossed the Sivash, stormed into the Crimea and on July 12 (23) defeated the troops under the command of Khan Fetih Geray on the Salhir River. In 1738 troops of P.P. Lacy again captured Perekop and invaded the Crimea. On August 17 (28) 1739 in the battle by the village Stavuchany the army of Münnich inflicted a defeat on the Turkish Army under Veli-Pasha, which outnumbered the Russian army, and took Khotyn and Jassy.

Triumphs of the Russian army became a turning point in the war. However unsuccessful military actions of the Austrian army, and a conclusion of a separate treaty on August 21 (September 1), according to which Austria was to return Serbia and Wallahia to Turkey, as well as worsening relations with Sweden, made Russia enter into negotiations with Turkey.

On September 18 (29) 1739 Peace Treaty of Belgrade was signed between Russia and Turkey. In accordance with the treaty, Russia regained Azov, but undertook an obligation to disarm it and destroy all fortifications; it received a right to build a fortress on the Cherkas Island on the Don River, and Turkey — in the mouth of the Kuban River. Great and Small Kabardas were recognized a neutral barrier between Russia and Turkey. Russia was forbidden to have a Navy at the Azov and the Black Seas, commerce in the Black Sea was only possible on Turkish ships. Russian pilgrims were guaranteed to freely visit the sites in Jerusalem. Therefore, the main target of the Russian diplomacy, which consisted in gaining access to the Black Sea, was not accomplished.

Conditions of the 1739 Peace Treaty of Belgrade were annulled by the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca (Kuchuk Kainarji) of 1774.

Lit.: Краснознамённый Черноморский флот. М., 1987. Гл. 1. Борьба России за выход к южным морям; То же [Электронный ресурс]. URL: http://militera.lib.ru/h/chernomorskiy_flot/01.html; Турецкая война при императрице Анне // Русский архив, № 1. 1878.

Based on the Presidential Library’s materials:

The Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774 broke out 245 years ago // On this day. 6 October 1768;

Полное собрание законов Российской империи, с 1649 года. СПб., 1830. Т. 10. № 7900. С. 899.