Treaty of Amity and Alliance between Poland and Prussia
Prussia and Great Britain. Further, both powers were discouraged
upon hearing that France had tried to incite Austria and Russia, locked
in a war against the Ottoman Empire, against Britain and Prussia.
With France sending a fleet of ships to the East Indies to undermine
Dutch merchant interests, Prussia concluded an alliance with the
Dutch in April 1788 to check French aggression.
A similar alliance was soon signed with Prussia and Great Britain in
June 1788, resulting in the Triple Alliance of 1788. The alliance sought
to return tranquility to the continent in the interest of the allied states
and, therefore, to the detriment of, among other states, France. France
was powerless to respond to the Triple Alliance, and Prussian involve-
ment with the Dutch Republic was a source of significant humiliation
for French diplomacy.
Description of Terms
This peace treaty and defensive alliance pledged Prussia to aid
in defense of any attempted change in the status quo in the
Dutch territories in Europe. The terms of the assistance were
similar to the Anglo-Prussian agreement signed one month
later.
2.1101 Provisional Treaty of Defensive Alliance
3.1181 Alliance between Prussia and Württemberg
Alliance Members:Great Britain and Prussia
Signed On:June 13, 1788, at Het Loo Palace (Netherlands)
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 50, p. 333.
SUMMARY
Both the British and the Prussians were overly concerned about the
French, but British entry into the alliance with Prussia represents
Britain’s new interests in northern and eastern European affairs.
British policy toward the east and the north was never well defined,
but Britain grew interested in checking Austrian and Russian might. In
exchange for the assistance of Prussian military personnel in warding
off French fleets from Dutch colonial holdings, the British agreed to
extend diplomatic support to Prussia regarding Austria and Russia.
The most immediate effect the alliance had was drawing Sweden into
conflict with Russia in the summer of 1788. Russia was overwhelming
the Ottoman Empire in the Russo-Turkish War, and all powers felt
that Russia could be distracted from its war efforts in the south by a
new war in the north. However, the Russo-Swedish War that followed
was, at the most, a minor distraction for Russia as it continued to
overwhelm the Turks.
Description of Terms
This defensive treaty affirmed a sincere and constant friendship
as well as a good correspondence between the two parties. If one
party was attacked in a way not already guaranteed by prior
treaties, the other party would provide aid. The military aid
would be in the form of 16,000 infantrymen and 4,000 men of
cavalry provided two months after notifications. If that aid
proved not to be enough, the assistance would be increased to a
sufficient number.
2.1102 Provisional Treaty of Defensive Alliance
between Prussia and Turkey
Alliance Members:Prussia and Turkey
Signed On:January 31, 1790, in the city of Constantinople (Istanbul,
Tu r k e y )
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 50, p. 473.
SUMMARY
The Russo-Turkish War was going badly for Selim III, the new sultan
of the Ottoman Empire. As military disaster threatened the Ottoman
Empire, Selim III attempted to gather one significant military victory
before negotiating a peace with the Russians and the Austrians. To do
so, the Ottoman Empire enlisted Prussia in an offensive alliance signed
in January 1790.
Unfortunately for the Turks, the Prussians stalled on ratification of the
treaty and never actually followed through on their commitment to
join the war against Russia and Austria. After forming the alliance, the
Ottoman Empire was routed in rather ignominious fashion at Izmail,
Tendra, and Mˇacin. The Ottoman Empire acquiesced to the Treaty of
Jassy in 1792, confirming Russian victories and acquisitions during the
war.
Description of Terms
This offensive and defensive alliance pledged Prussian aid dur-
ing conflict against Austria and Russia. In fact, Prussian assis-
tance would not cease until Russia was compelled to return its
recent territorial acquisitions from Turkey. The treaty also
acknowledged support for Ottoman claims to the Crimea.
2.1103 Treaty of Amity and Alliance between
Poland and Prussia
Alliance Members:Poland and Prussia
Signed On:March 29, 1790, in the city of Warsaw
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 50, p. 489.
SUMMARY
Poland was in a significantly weakened state by 1790, having under-
gone the Partition Sejm that significantly reduced the domain and
wealth of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. As Russian wars for
territorial acquisitions in Sweden and the Ottoman Empire continued,
Prussia decided to take advantage of Poland by coercing Poland into
an alliance and, thus, into Prussia’s sphere of influence. In exchange,
Poland was to cede Danzig and Thorn to Prussia.
The alliance infuriated Russia. After the Treaty of Jassy that ended the
war with the Turks, Russia invaded Poland in May of 1792. Prussia was
distracted by the First Coalition against France and failed to come to
Poland’s aid. Poland was routed, and the resulting treaties that fol-
lowed with Russia and Prussia cut the size of the commonwealth by
two-thirds compared with its antebellum state. The treaty is known
now for the second partition of Poland.
