DOCSLIB.ORG

Moldavia and the Crimean Khanate Between Pax Mongolica and Pax Ottomanica

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Moldavia and the Crimean Khanate Between Pax Mongolica and Pax Ottomanica Entangled Histories, Entangled Chancelleries? Moldavia and the Crimean Khanate between Pax Mongolica and Pax Ottomanica Michał Wasiucionek 1 Introduction By 1686, the Ottoman Empire’s military fortunes seemed to have reached their nadir. Although the imperial forces were able to fend off Polish-Lithuanian challenge in Moldavia, they suffered major reversals on all the other fronts. In Morea, the Venetians managed to entrench their positions and achieve significant gains; in Hungary, Habsburg armies succeeded in capturing Buda and advanced far into the Ottoman territory. Finally, the Russian authorities decided to join the war, exposing the empire’s eastern flank. It is under these critical circumstances that a curious case of miscommunication took place. In a letter addressed to Transylvanian prince Mihály Apafi I, the Crimean khan Selim I Girey (1671–1678, 1684–1691, 1692–1699 and 1702–1704) barely touched upon military matters. Instead, he complained: despite the fact that people [at my court] know every language and read every script, they were unable to translate the contents of the letter that I had received from you (eğerce bu tarafta her dilibilur ve her yazıyı okur- adamlar var idi lakın sizdengelen kağıtı okuyub içinde olan ahvalı tercum- eye kadır olamadılar).1 Given the gravity of the military situation and the average speed of commu- nication at that time, the Transylvanian prince’s choice to write the letter in Hungarian could have had disastrous consequences for the Porte. Such mis- haps were not uncommon in early modern Eastern Europe, which lacked a commonly utilized lingua franca similar to that of Latin employed in Western Europe or the triad of Ottoman Turkish, Arabic and Persian in the Middle East. The cacophony of languages spoken and written throughout the region had important political consequences. Some crucial documents went unread for the lack of competent staff, and crucial information was lost in translation. 1 Direcția Arhivelor Naționale—Instituție Centrală, București, Documente turcești, 2349. © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2020 | doi:10.1163/9789004422445_013 250 Wasiucionek While this particular mishap is fascinating in its own right, equally inter- esting are Selim Girey’s assertions regarding the skill of his chancery staff. Although one may be tempted to interpret khan’s claims as an attempt to save face and shift the blame for the embarrassing situation on Apafi, this was no empty boast. Throughout the early modern period, the rulers in Bahçesaray maintained a chancellery remarkable for its versatility and impressive skillset that allowed it to handle correspondence in a variety of scripts and languag- es and produce documents in no less than four different scripts. As Dariusz Kołodziejczyk noted, the multilingual chancellery “demonstrated the political pragmatism of the Crimean court and the fluency of the Crimean chancery in various cultural spheres.”2 At the same time, this cosmopolitan approach was a point of pride for the Gireys and represented a continuation of the multilin- gual approach to diplomatics that had been employed by the Golden Horde and the Mongol Empire. Although the Crimean khans did not aspire to uni- versal sovereignty in the manner their Chinggisid ascendants had done, the ability of their scribes not only facilitated communication but also enhanced their dynastic pride and political prestige. The Gireys were not the only ones to subscribe to this model of chan- cery practice; so did their western neighbours, the voivodes of Moldavia and Wallachia. Tucked between Catholic powers of Poland and Hungary, the wan- ing steppe power of the Golden Horde and the expanding Ottoman Empire, their very existence relied heavily on the ability to adapt to their more pow- erful neighbours. Thus, although the foundations of the principalities’ po- litical institutions and legitimacy drew on the models within the ‘Byzantine commonwealth’,3 the chanceries of Moldavia and Wallachia, from their forma- tion, were remarkably receptive to influences from non-Orthodox polities as well.4 Not only were the scribes able to produce documents in multiple scripts, but also skillfully utilize rhetorical conventions and diplomatic features to their advantage.5 Thus, while relying on different ‘primary idioms’ of document pro- duction, both Moldavian-Wallachian and Crimean chancelleries partook in cosmopolitan and multilingual culture that made them particularly important 2 Dariusz Kołodziejczyk, The Crimean Khanate and Poland–Lithuania: International Diplomacy on the European Periphery (15th–18th Centuries): A Study of Peace Treaties Followed by Annotated Documents (Leiden-Boston: Brill, 2011), p. 240. 3 For the concept of the ‘Byzantine commonwealth’, see Dimitri Obolensky, The Byzantine Commonwealth: Eastern Europe, 500–1453 (New York: Praeger, 1971). 4 Nicolae Gramadă, “Cancelaria domnească în Moldova până la domnia lui Constantin Mavrocordat,” Codrul Cosminului, 9 (1935), pp. 185–87. 5 On this topic, see particularly Marian Coman, Putere și teritoriu: Țara Românească medievală (secolele XIV–XVI) (Iași: Polirom, 2013)..
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Crimean Khanate, Ottomans and the Rise of the Russian Empire*
    STRUGGLE FOR EAST-EUROPEAN EMPIRE: 1400-1700 The Crimean Khanate, Ottomans and the Rise of the Russian Empire* HALİL İNALCIK The empire of the Golden Horde, built by Batu, son of Djodji and the grand son of Genghis Khan, around 1240, was an empire which united the whole East-Europe under its domination. The Golden Horde empire comprised ali of the remnants of the earlier nomadic peoples of Turkic language in the steppe area which were then known under the common name of Tatar within this new political framework. The Golden Horde ruled directly över the Eurasian steppe from Khwarezm to the Danube and över the Russian principalities in the forest zone indirectly as tribute-paying states. Already in the second half of the 13th century the western part of the steppe from the Don river to the Danube tended to become a separate political entity under the powerful emir Noghay. In the second half of the 14th century rival branches of the Djodjid dynasty, each supported by a group of the dissident clans, started a long struggle for the Ulugh-Yurd, the core of the empire in the lower itil (Volga) river, and for the title of Ulugh Khan which meant the supreme ruler of the empire. Toktamish Khan restored, for a short period, the unity of the empire. When defeated by Tamerlane, his sons and dependent clans resumed the struggle for the Ulugh-Khan-ship in the westem steppe area. During ali this period, the Crimean peninsula, separated from the steppe by a narrow isthmus, became a refuge area for the defeated in the steppe.
    [Show full text]
  • 1768-1830S a Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate
    A PLAGUE ON BOTH HOUSES?: POPULATION MOVEMENTS AND THE SPREAD OF DISEASE ACROSS THE OTTOMAN-RUSSIAN BLACK SEA FRONTIER, 1768-1830S A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Georgetown University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History By Andrew Robarts, M.S.F.S. Washington, DC December 17, 2010 Copyright 2010 by Andrew Robarts All Rights Reserved ii A PLAGUE ON BOTH HOUSES?: POPULATION MOVEMENTS AND THE SPREAD OF DISEASE ACROSS THE OTTOMAN-RUSSIAN BLACK SEA FRONTIER, 1768-1830S Andrew Robarts, M.S.F.S. Dissertation Advisor: Catherine Evtuhov, Ph. D. ABSTRACT Based upon a reading of Ottoman, Russian, and Bulgarian archival documents, this dissertation examines the response by the Ottoman and Russian states to the accelerated pace of migration and spread of disease in the Black Sea region from the outbreak of the Russo-Ottoman War of 1768-1774 to the signing of the Treaty of Hünkar Iskelesi in 1833. Building upon introductory chapters on the Russian-Ottoman Black Sea frontier and a case study of Bulgarian population movements between the Russian and Ottoman Empires, this dissertation analyzes Russian and Ottoman migration and settlement policies, the spread of epidemic diseases (plague and cholera) in the Black Sea region, the construction of quarantines and the implementation of travel document regimes. The role and position of the Danubian Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia as the “middle ground” between the Ottoman and Russian Empires
    [Show full text]
  • Romania, December 2006
    Library of Congress – Federal Research Division Country Profile: Romania, December 2006 COUNTRY PROFILE: ROMANIA December 2006 COUNTRY Formal Name: Romania. Short Form: Romania. Term for Citizen(s): Romanian(s). Capital: Bucharest (Bucureşti). Click to Enlarge Image Major Cities: As of 2003, Bucharest is the largest city in Romania, with 1.93 million inhabitants. Other major cities, in order of population, are Iaşi (313,444), Constanţa (309,965), Timişoara (308,019), Craiova (300,843), Galati (300,211), Cluj-Napoca (294,906), Braşov (286,371), and Ploeşti (236,724). Independence: July 13, 1878, from the Ottoman Empire; kingdom proclaimed March 26, 1881; Romanian People’s Republic proclaimed April 13, 1948. Public Holidays: Romania observes the following public holidays: New Year’s Day (January 1), Epiphany (January 6), Orthodox Easter (a variable date in April or early May), Labor Day (May 1), Unification Day (December 1), and National Day and Christmas (December 25). Flag: The Romanian flag has three equal vertical stripes of blue (left), yellow, and red. Click to Enlarge Image HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Early Human Settlement: Human settlement first occurred in the lands that now constitute Romania during the Pleistocene Epoch, which began about 600,000 years ago. About 5500 B.C. the region was inhabited by Indo-European people, who in turn gave way to Thracian tribes. Today’s Romanians are in part descended from the Getae, a Thracian tribe that lived north of the Danube River. During the Bronze Age (about 2200 to 1200 B.C.), these Thraco-Getian tribes engaged in agriculture, stock raising, and trade with inhabitants of the Aegean Sea coast.
    [Show full text]
  • I INTRODUCTION Moldavia, the Smallest Republic in the Soviet Union, Has Been a Territorial Football Between Romania and Russia
    INTRODUCTION Moldavia, the smallest republic in the Soviet Union, has been a territorial football between Romania and Russia for well over 100 years. Like the Baltic republics, it fell within the Soviet sphere of influence under the l939 Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, and there is reason to believe that some Moldavians may now wish to follow the lead of the Baltic republics in pressing for secession from the USSR. The 64 percent of the republic's population that is ethnic Moldavian has its cultural heart in Romania and, at the very least, seeks freer contacts with Romanians across their common frontier. In the past 18 months Moldavian political and social life has been transformed. Fledgling independent groups have developed into major new political movements, such as the Moldavian Popular Front with a membership of between 700,000 and one million. Other independent groups include the Alexe Mateevici Club which led the successful drive to establish Moldavian as the official language of the republic, the Moldavian Democratic Movement aimed at establishing a state that adheres to the rule of law, the Moldavian Green Movement which works to increase public awareness of ecological issues, and others. Groups of citizens in late l988 began braving the wrath of the local authorities by organizing small public protests. By March l989 the rallies had grown to include as many as 80,000 demonstrators who were calling, among other things, for the i removal of Moldavia's Party leaders. Both the protestors and the Moldavian government often turned to violence. The most egregious such instances of reciprocal violence occurred in l989 on February 12 and 26, March 12 and November 7.
    [Show full text]
  • Moldova, Moldavia, Bessarabia Yefim Kogan, 25 September 2015
    Moldova, Moldavia, Bessarabia Yefim Kogan, 25 September 2015 Dear Researchers, I have received recently an email from Marilyn Newman: Hello Yefim, I've been following this project and appreciate your more complete break down in today's Jewishgen Digest. I did contribute to Bob Wascou before he passed. The reason for this message is that I'm confused. My family were from Moinesti and Tirgu Ocna, both near each other in Moldova. However, this area was not Bessarabia..... Can you explain what areas of Moldova are covered other than Bessarabia and Chisanou (sp.). Many Thanks, Marilyn Newman Marilyn thank you. I think this is a very important question. I was getting many similar message for many years. Let’s clear this confusion. Let's start with terminology. The term Moldavia and Moldova mean the same region! Moldova is in Romanian language and Moldavia was adopted by Russian and other languages, including English. Charles King in 'The Moldovans. Romania, Russia, and the Politics of Culture', Stanford U., 1999 writes that 'It is a myth that Moldova changed its name from Moldavia. What happened in the 1990s was simply that we in the West became better informed about what locals themselves had always called it.' So let's dive into the history of the region: Moldavia is known as a country or Principality from 14 century until 1812. There were also two other Danube or Romanian Principalities - Walachia and Transilvania. At some point in the history Moldavia joined other Principalities. In 1538 Moldavia surrendered to Ottoman Empire, and remained under Turks for about 300 years.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of the Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia on Ottoman Foreign Policy at the Time of Selim Iii (1789-1807)
    POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES THE ROLE OF THE PRINCIPALITIES OF WALLACHIA AND MOLDAVIA ON OTTOMAN FOREIGN POLICY AT THE TIME OF SELIM III (1789-1807) Mehmet Alaaddin YALÇINKAYA Karadeniz Technical University in Trabzon (Turkey) e-mail: [email protected] Abstract: The Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia had an important place in the relations of the Ottoman Empire with the Central and Eastern European States. From the second half of the 17th century, Greek families (Phanariot) from the Phanar area of Istanbul gained important function in the Ottoman foreign policy and diplomacy. The most important of these functions were the interpretation for the central administration and the Ottoman navy. Subsequently, they also carried out other interpreting services such as embassy translations. Instead of traditional Boyars, the Princes/Hospodars (Voivodes) of Wallachia and Moldavia were appointed by the Sultan from among these Greek families from 1711 onwards. The reign of these Greek families in Wallachia and Moldavia lasted about 110 years until the Greek Revolt of Mora in 1821. As source of information about Russia, Poland, Austria and Prussia, these princes played a key role for the Ottoman foreign policy. In this context, this paper will examine the role of the Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia on Ottoman foreign policy within the context of Europeanisation of Ottoman Diplomatic channels in the era of Selim III (1789-1807). Keywords: Wallachia, Moldavia, Ottoman Foreign Policy, Selim III, the Phanariot. Rezumat: Rolul Principatelor Țara Românească și Moldova în politica externă otomană din timpul lui Selim al III-lea (1789-1807). Principatele Țării Românești și ale Moldovei au avut un loc important în relațiile dintre Imperiul Otoman și statele din Europa Centrală și de Est.
    [Show full text]
  • Demetrius Dvoichenko-M Arkov Gheorghe Duca
    DEMETRIUS DVOICHENKO-M ARKOV GHEORGHE DUCA HOSPODAR OF MOLDAVIA AND HETMAN OF THE UKRAINE, 1678-1684* After the battle of Mohacs August 29, 1526, Hungary fell into the hands of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent (1494-1566) and was occupied by the Ottoman Turks foe over 150 years (1541-1699). For the first time the heart of Europe was threatened when the Ottoman Turkish army and their reluctant Christian satellites appeared before the walls of Vienna in the year of 15291. Due to lack of heavy siege artillery the first siege of Vienna by the Turks lasted from September 27 to October 15, 1529. The suburbs of Vienna were largely destroyed and Turkish raiders penetrated as far as Ratisbon in Bavaria and Brunn (Brno) in Bohemia. The culminating point of Turkish advance into Eastern Europe represents the beginning of direct Turkish-Russian contact and conflict when King John Sobieski of Poland (1674-1696) was forced to cede the greater part of his Right Bank Ukraine (Little Russia) including Kamienec and the province of Podolia to the Ottoman Empire. Due to the mediation of King Louis XIV of France, the war between Poland and the Ottoman Turks came to an end, and peace was concluded at Zurawna (Zurawno) on October 27, 16762. The Russian Czar Alexis “the Quiet” (1645-1676), who assumed the title of “Czar of all the Great, the Little, and White Russias” joined Poland in the defense of its half of Little Russia (the borderland of Ukraine) the so called Left Bank * I wish to express my sincere appreciation to my mother Professor Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Moldova Guidebook
    MOLDOVA PREFACE Moldova is a picturesque country of rolling green hills, whitewashed villages, placid lakes, and sunflower fields. It has an old-world charm that is hard to manufacture, and some of the best vineyards in Europe. It is densely populated, with numerous ethnic groups represented, but the majority are ethnic Romanians. The economy is heavily dependent on labor intensive agriculture, and Moldova must import virtually 100% of its primary energy. Chisinau is a moderate sized city that has preserved much of its pre-Soviet character, with many low rise, older structures and tree shaded streets remaining in the central city. With its cultural ties to Russia, Romania, and Turkey, Moldova is something of an enigma. It has risen from the ruins of Soviet socialism to become a democratic republic split in two, one area controlled by the government and the other by separatist rebels nominally loyal to Mother Russia, but it is essentially concerned with making money. The possibility of unification with Romania, its closest neighbor, has been raised, but Moldova has much in common with other former Soviet countries. The official language, Moldovan, is phonetically identical to Romanian. Often business is conducted in Russian; most Romanian-speakers also speak Russian, but many members of the Russian and Ukrainian minorities do not speak Romanian/Moldovan. A government attempt early in 2002 to reintroduce compulsory study of Russian provoked months of protests but no violence. Originally Moldova was part of the greater region of Moldavia — one of the principalities that made up Romania. It lies directly between Russia and Romania and has long been the focal point for border disputes and expansionist policies.
    [Show full text]
  • Communal Relations in Izmir/Smyrna, 1826-1864: As
    COMMUNAL RELATIONS IN ĐZM ĐR/SMYRNA, 1826-1864: AS SEEN THROUGH THE PRISM OF GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS by N. Feryal Tansu ğ A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations University of Toronto Copyright by N. Feryal Tansu ğ 2008 ABSTRACT COMMUNAL RELATIONS IN ĐZM ĐR/SMYRNA, 1826-1864: AS SEEN THROUGH THE PRISM OF GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS by Feryal Tansu ğ Doctor of Philosophy Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations University of Toronto 2008 This dissertation examines the level of social and cultural interaction between the Greek and Turkish communities of Đzmir and the impact of the centralizing Ottoman reforms on the society of Đzmir during the age of the Ottoman modernization. It focuses on the years between 1826 and 1864 that marked a turning point in the administrative history of the Ottoman Empire. Analyzing this subject requires understanding the social-cultural and economic dynamics of Đzmir that played a crucial role in the formation of the social fabric of the city. Ottoman-Turkish archival material and to some extent Greek newspapers of the time are used as primary sources. The sources discussed in this dissertation demonstrate that the central authority attempted to re- integrate Đzmir into its administrative and political structure in accordance with the centralizing or repressive Tanzimat reforms. However, Tanzimat reforms did not disturb the social cohesion of Đzmir, which the city produced over the centuries with its local character and some peculiar dynamics. The evidence also indicates that the Empire did not aim to mold social relations in Đzmir, instead benefited from city’s already existing social-cultural and economic situation, which was well suited to its modernization program.
    [Show full text]
  • Republic of Moldova
    Grids & Datums REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA by Clifford J. Mugnier, C.P., C.M.S. “The history of the Republic of Moldova is the history of two different Ottoman authorities, Moldova suffered repeated invasions by Turks, regions that have been joined into one country, but not into one na- Crimean Tatars, and Russians. In 1792 the Treaty of Iasi forced the tion: Bessarabia and Transnistria. Bessarabia, the land between the Ottoman Empire to cede all of its holdings in what is now Transnistria Prut and Nistru rivers, is predominantly ethnic Romanian in popula- to the Russian Empire. An expanded Bessarabia was annexed by, and tion and constitutes the eastern half of a region historically known incorporated into, the Russian Empire following the Russo-Turkish as Moldova or Moldavia (the Soviet-era Russian name). Transnistria War of 1806-12 according to the terms of the Treaty of Bucharest is the Romanian-language name for the land on the east bank of the of 1812. Moldovan territory west of the Prut River was united with Nistru River; the majority of the population there is Slavic -- ethnic Walachia. And in the same year, Alexandru Ioan Cuza was elected Ukrainians and Russians -- although Romanians are the single larg- prince of Walachia and the part of Moldova that lay west of the Prut est ethnic group there. To a great extent, Moldova's history has River, laying the foundations of modern Romania. These two regions been shaped by the foreigners who came to stay and by those who were united in 1861” (Library of Congress Country Studies, 1995).
    [Show full text]
  • The European Tributary States of the Ottoman Empire in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries
    The European Tributary States of the Ottoman Empire in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries Editors: Gábor Kármán and Lovro Kunčević The European Tributary States of the Ottoman Empire is the rst comprehensive overview of the empire’s relationship to its various European tributaries, Moldavia, Wallachia, Transylvania, Ragusa, the Crimean Khanate and the Cossack Hetmanate. The volume Pages: x, 450 pp. focuses on three fundamental aspects of the empire’s relationship Language: English with these polities: the various legal frameworks which determined their positions within the imperial system, the diplomatic contacts Subjects: Ottoman & Turkish through which they sought to inuence the imperial center, and Studies, Middle East and Islamic the military cooperation between them and the Porte. Bringing Studies, Early Modern History, together studies by eminent experts and presenting results of History, History of Warfare, several less-known historiographical traditions, this volume History, International Relations, contributes signicantly to a deeper understanding of Ottoman International Relations, History, power at the peripheries of the empire. Slavic and Eurasian Studies Publisher: Brill Readership Series: All interested in the history of early modern Southeastern and East The Ottoman Empire and its Central Europe, as well as the Ottoman Empire and its European Heritage, Volume: 53 peripheries. E-Book (PDF) Publication Date: 20 Jun 2013 For more information see brill.com ISBN: 978-90-04-25440-4 List price EUR €167.00 / USD $217.00 Order information: Order online at brill.com The Americas: 1 (860) 350 0041 | [email protected] Hardback Outside the Americas: 44 (0) 1767 604-954 | [email protected] Publication Date: 20 Jun 2013 Submission information: brill.com/authors ISBN: 978-90-04-24606-5 List price EUR €167.00 / USD $217.00.
    [Show full text]
  • The Conception of the N9ineteenth-Century Habsburg Empire As Polyglssic Society and State Encompassing Dominant and Subordinate
    1 Discursive practice in Bukovina textbooks: aspects of hegemony and subordination Petrea Lindenbauer 1. Introduction The conception of the nineteenth-century Habsburg Empire as multilingual society and state encompassing dominant and subordinate social groups of different languages underpins the present volume (cf. Rosita Schjerve-Rindler, Introduction, this volume). The aim of this paper is to explore the power relations between the Habsburg central power and the subordinate ethnic groups of the empire, and to examine how they manifested themselves in a wide range of public institutions in an interethnic context which was presumably characterised by diglossia. From this perspective, we will focus on one particular area of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, the Bukovina, which today forms the north-eastern part of the state of Romania. Because of its position at the easternmost periphery of the huge Habsburg state and its high degree of multiethnicity, this region represented a unique historical setting for the interplay of language, social practices and hegemony manifesting themselves in a wide range of religious denominations and languages which were in contact in this area (cf. Chapter 2). The concept of diglossia encompasses a number of factors that reflect the particular sociopolitical structure of a bi- and multilingual society. These include the interethnic relationships within a particular state, the functional distribution of languages in the various domains of public and private life, such as administration, religion, the judiciary, education, family life and neighbourhood, etc. and the valorisations ascribed to the individual languages, which operate in a hierarchical relation of High and Low Varieties. Moreover, the functional distribution of the languages can be viewed as an important indicator of the social status and prestige ascribed to the various speech communities within a state, correlating with these groups' access to power in a society.
    [Show full text]