Treaty of Unkiar-Skelessi
seaborne trade. The two countries pledged to cooperate with each
other against the pirates, and the alliance lasted until revolution and
unification in Italy invalidated the agreements of the formerly inde-
pendent Italian states.
Alliance Text
In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity.
His Majesty the King of Sardinia, and His Majesty the King
of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, in consideration of the ties
of blood which unite the 2 August Courts, and of the long
friendship and perfect concord which has subsisted between
them, have for some time past thought of the convenience of
joining in a common Agreement, to defend their respective
Subjects from the wrongs and the unjust and inhuman treat-
ment, to which they are from time to time exposed in the
African States ; and, at the same time, to cause their Flags, as
well as the representations made by their Royal Agents, and the
rights of their respective Crowns, to be respected by the Barbary
Regencies. Both Powers being at this present period under the
necessity of redressing injuries, which they respectively have
received from the Regency of Tunis; and being determined to
agree to a Convention, for that special purpose, His Majesty the
King of Sardinia has to this effect selected and appointed, to
conclude and stipulate the proper Articles, his Cousin, Don Vic-
tor Sallier, Count Della Torre, Knight of the most holy Annunci-
ade, General of Cavalry, his Minister and first Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs; and His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of
the Two Sicilies, Don Dominico Severino Longo, Marquis of
Gagliati, his actual Gentleman of the Bed Chamber, and Minis-
ter Plenipotentiary at the Royal Court of Sardinia, who, being
furnished with the necessary Full Powers, have concluded and
stipulated the following Articles :
ART. I. There shall be from this time henceforward a perfect
union between His Majesty the King of Sardinia, and His
Majesty the King of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, in the case
of a rupture on the part of one of the Contracting Parties with
one or all of the Barbary Regencies. In such case, the August
Monarchs shall unite, whensoever it may be expedient, their
maritime Forces, and even, if necessary, their Land Forces, for
the purpose of causing to be respected, by one or all of the
Regencies, the rights of their respective Crowns, of their Sub-
jects, their Royal Flags, and Trade. By the expression Land
Forces, shall be understood, so much of it as is necessary to fur-
ther the operations of the Combined Squadrons, and facilitate a
“coup de main.”
II. If at any time one of the High Contracting Parties shall have
received any injury from any of the said Regencies, it shall make it
known to the other, in order, first of all, to endeavour, by joint
negotiations, to settle amicably and equally, their differences, with-
out, if possible, having recourse to the expedient of arms.
III. In the event of not succeeding in an amicable and equi-
table adjustment, the injured Power shall have the right of
claiming the armed assistance of the other, who shall at no time
refuse it, unless actually engaged in a War, which may render the
armed co-operation impracticable.
The number of Ships, and of Sea and Land Forces, shall be
settled between the Contracting Parties, according to circum-
stances; nevertheless, under the agreement to exist from hence-
forth, that the claiming Party shall, of necessity, have a number
of Ships, and of the said Forces, at least a third greater than that
of the Party called upon to act.
In case of both of the High Contracting Parties having
received injuries to be redressed, the Forces employed for that
object shall be equal on both sides.
IV. The expense to which the armament, the expediting of
Ships and Troops, and the like, shall give rise, shall be at the
charge of each Power respectively, neither of the Parties having
the power to seek reimbursement of it from the other; reserving,
however, the right of Indemnity, at the hands of that Barbary
Regency which shall have caused such expense. The said Indem-
nity, the Booty, and Conquests, shall be equally divided in pro-
portion to the Forces employed and losses sustained respectively.
V. The command of the operations by Sea and Land, in case
of any taking place, shall be entrusted to an Officer of that
Power whose Forces, according to Art. III, shall be the most
numerous. In the event of the employment of equal Forces, and
of the High Contracting Parties not agreeing in the choice of
the Officer who shall have the command of them, he shall in
that case be selected alternately by one and the other Power.
VI. The present Convention shall remain in force for the
space of 5 years, and shall be understood to be fully and com-
pletely renewed from every 5th year to every 5th year, unless, 6
months previous to the expiration of the 5th year, one of the 2
High Contracting Parties which shall desire its termination, give
notice of its intention to that effect.
VII. The same shall be approved and ratified, on the part of
His Majesty the King of Sardinia, and of His Majesty the King of
the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, and the Ratifications shall be
respectively exchanged within the term of 40 days, or sooner if
possible.
In faith of which, the respective Plenipotentiaries have con-
firmed the present Convention, and have affixed to it the Seal of
their Arms.
Done in Turin, the 28th of March, in the year 1833.
(L.S.) DELLA TORRE.
(L.S.) MARQ. OF GAGLIATI.3.1145 Treaty of Unkiar-Skelessi
Alliance Members:Russia and Turkey
Signed On:June 26, 1833, in the city of Constantinople (Istanbul,
Turkey). In force until July 13, 1841, upon the signing of the Straits
Convention.
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 90, p. 2.
Additional Citations:Key Treaties for the Great Powers, 1814–1914,
vol. 1, p. 225.