Charter of Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Charter of Alliance was a treaty between the grand vizier
of the Ottoman Empire
and a number of powerful local rulers signed in 1808, in an attempt to regulate their power and relations with the central Ottoman government.
sipahi
s") in return for their military services during war. The system was similar to the fief system of Medieval Europe, except that the land was non-inheritable, precluding the rise of feudalism
in the Ottoman Empire. However during the Empire's decline
in the 18th century, two factors provoked a kind of feudalism:
The cavalrymen were replaced by the tax collectors and local military rulers who were called derebey
s ("river lords") or ayan. These powerful local leaders formed de facto local dynasties supported by considerable military power. By the end of the 18th century, the authority of the sultan had become almost non-existent outside the capital Istanbul
, and the empire had become highly decentralized.
an ayan in Rusçuk (Ruse, Bulgaria
) was supporting the reformist Sultan Selim III
(reigned 1789–1807). After Selim III was dethroned, Alemdar marched to Istanbul to reenthrone Selim III. However Selim had been killed by the new Sultan Mustafa IV
. Alemdar dethroned Mustafa IV and enthroned his brother Mahmut II (reigned 1808–1839). To show gratitude, Mahmut II appointed Alemdar as his grand vizier.
. Although only four of them showed up, Alemdar and they signed a document called the "Charter of Alliance" on 29 September 1808. The terms were
. Others, however; point out that the Charter, signed in the first half of the 19th century, can't be compared to the Magna Carta of the 13th century.
In any case, the Charter was short-lived. According to the treaty, Alemdar's successors would also sign the treaty. But after Alemdar's tragic death no Grand Vizier ratified the treaty, probably due to the sultan's only half-hearted support to it. The Sultan saw this treaty as a challenge to his prestige. In the following years however the energetic Sultan fought against the ayans and was able subdue most of them.
.
Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier, in Turkish Vezir-i Azam or Sadr-ı Azam , deriving from the Arabic word vizier , was the greatest minister of the Sultan, with absolute power of attorney and, in principle, dismissable only by the Sultan himself...
of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and a number of powerful local rulers signed in 1808, in an attempt to regulate their power and relations with the central Ottoman government.
Background
In the Ottoman Empire, agricultural land was considered to be the sultan's private estate. These estates were granted to cavalrymen ' onMouseout='HidePop("46256")' href="/topics/Timariot">timariotTimariot
A timariot was another name given to the Timarli Sipahi cavalry that served the Ottoman sultan and in return was granted a fief called a timar. The timariots had to assemble with the army when at war, and had to take care of the land entrusted to him in times of peace...
sipahi
Sipahi
Sipahi was the name of several Ottoman cavalry corps...
s") in return for their military services during war. The system was similar to the fief system of Medieval Europe, except that the land was non-inheritable, precluding the rise of feudalism
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
in the Ottoman Empire. However during the Empire's decline
Decline of the Ottoman Empire
The Decline of the Ottoman Empire is the period that followed after the Stagnation of the Ottoman Empire in which the empire experienced several economic and political setbacks. Directly affecting the Empire at this time was Russian imperialism...
in the 18th century, two factors provoked a kind of feudalism:
- The advance in military technology, which rendered the Ottoman cavalry far less effective.
- Loss of profitable land and almost continuous wars forced the Ottoman Porte to collect more tax and to appoint tax collectors to provinces.
The cavalrymen were replaced by the tax collectors and local military rulers who were called derebey
Derebey
A derebey was a feudal lord in Anatolia in the 18th century, with considerable independence from the central government of the Ottoman Empire....
s ("river lords") or ayan. These powerful local leaders formed de facto local dynasties supported by considerable military power. By the end of the 18th century, the authority of the sultan had become almost non-existent outside the capital Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, and the empire had become highly decentralized.
Alemdar Mustafa's rise to Grand Vizier
Alemdar Mustafa PashaAlemdar Mustafa Pasha
Alemdar Mustafa Pasha was an Ottoman military commander and a Grand Vizier born in Khotyn in Turkish-occupied Ukraine in 1765...
an ayan in Rusçuk (Ruse, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
) was supporting the reformist Sultan Selim III
Selim III
Selim III was the reform-minded Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1789 to 1807. The Janissaries eventually deposed and imprisoned him, and placed his cousin Mustafa on the throne as Mustafa IV...
(reigned 1789–1807). After Selim III was dethroned, Alemdar marched to Istanbul to reenthrone Selim III. However Selim had been killed by the new Sultan Mustafa IV
Mustafa IV
Mustafa IV was sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1807 to 1808.-Biography:...
. Alemdar dethroned Mustafa IV and enthroned his brother Mahmut II (reigned 1808–1839). To show gratitude, Mahmut II appointed Alemdar as his grand vizier.
The Charter of Alliance
Originally an ayan himself, Alemdar tried to end the chaos in the empire by a treaty. He invited other ayans to IstanbulIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. Although only four of them showed up, Alemdar and they signed a document called the "Charter of Alliance" on 29 September 1808. The terms were
- The ayans promised to show respect to the Sultan.
- The ayans agreed to assign their military units in the Sultan's army.
- The ayans promised to help to protect the Sultan’s treasury.
- The ayans promised to obey the orders given by the Grand Vizier under the condition that the orders were not illegal. The ayans also agreed not to interfere in other ayans' sphere of influence.
- The Porte legitimised the ayans and their estates. Furthermore, the estates were declared inheritable.
- The ayans promised to support the Sultan against revolts.
- The Grand Vizier promised to consult with the ayans to solve taxation problems, while ayans promised not to oppress the poor.
Aftermath
According to some historians, the Charter of Alliance was a form of Turkish Magna CartaMagna Carta
Magna Carta is an English charter, originally issued in the year 1215 and reissued later in the 13th century in modified versions, which included the most direct challenges to the monarch's authority to date. The charter first passed into law in 1225...
. Others, however; point out that the Charter, signed in the first half of the 19th century, can't be compared to the Magna Carta of the 13th century.
In any case, the Charter was short-lived. According to the treaty, Alemdar's successors would also sign the treaty. But after Alemdar's tragic death no Grand Vizier ratified the treaty, probably due to the sultan's only half-hearted support to it. The Sultan saw this treaty as a challenge to his prestige. In the following years however the energetic Sultan fought against the ayans and was able subdue most of them.
.