Treaty of Unkiar-SkelessiSUMMARY
Forces under the command of Mehemet Ali had begun to threaten the
core of the Ottoman Empire by 1833, prompting the Ottomans to seek
Russian military assistance despite a history of rivalry. After pushing
the Egyptians back from Constantinople and establishing a peace, the
Russians demanded an alliance under the Treaty of Unkiar-Skelessi,
effectively making Russia the sole defender of the crumbling empire.
The treaty’s terms bound the Russians and Ottomans into a defensive
alliance for eight years, and the treaty also forbade the presence of for-
eign mercenaries in the Bosporus and Dardanelles, ensuring Russian
dominance on its southern flank and safe entry for its navy and mer-
chant shipping into the Mediterranean.
After forcing Ali south and out of Syria by 1841, the parties allowed
the treaty to expire. Russian interests in the Bosporus and Dardanelles
remained protected, however, in the subsequent Straits Convention of
1841, which was signed by the major powers of Europe.
Alliance Text
In the Name of Almighty God.
HIS Imperial Majesty, the Most High and Most Mighty
Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias, and His Highness the
Most High and Most Mighty Emperor of the Ottomans, being
equally animated with the sincere desire of maintaining the sys-
tem of peace and good harmony happily established between
the 2 Empires, have resolved to extend and strengthen the per-
fect friendship and confidence which reign between them by the
conclusion of a Treaty of Defensive Alliance.
Their Majesties have accordingly chosen and named as their
Plenipotentiaries, that is to say : His Majesty the Emperor of All
the Russias, the Most Excellent and Most Honourable Alexis,
Count Orloff, his Extraordinary Ambassador at the Sublime
Ottoman Porte, &c. &c. &c, and the Most Excellent and Most
Honourable Apollinaire Bouténeff, his Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Sublime Ottoman Porte,
&c. &c. &c.
And His Highness the Sultan of the Ottomans, the Most
Illustrious and Most Excellent, the Most ancient of his Vizirs,
Hosrew Mehmet Pacha, Seraskier, Commander-in-Chief of the
regular Troops of the Line, and Governor-General of Constan-
tinople, &c. &c. &c., and the Most Excellent and Most Hon-
ourable Ferzi Akhmet Pacha, Mouchir, and Commander of the
Guard of His Highness, &c. &c. &c., and the Most Excellent and
Most Honourable Hadgi Mehmet Akiff Effendi, actual Reis
Effendi, &c. &c. &c.;
Who, after having exchanged their full powers, found in
good and due form, have agreed upon the following Articles :
ART. I. There shall be for ever peace, amity, and alliance,
between His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias and His
Majesty the Emperor of the Ottomans, their Empires and their
Subjects, as well by land as by sea. This alliance having solely for
its object the common defence of their Dominions against all
attack, their Majesties engage to come to an unreserved under-
standing with each other upon all the matters which concern
their respective tranquillity and safety, and to afford to each
other mutually for this purpose substantial aid, and the most
efficacious assistance.
II. The Treaty of Peace concluded at Adrianople on the 2d of
September 1829, as well as all the other Treaties comprised
therein, as also the Convention signed at St. Petersburgh, on the
14th of April 1830, and the Arrangement relating to Greece,
concluded at Constantinople on the 9th (21st) July 1832, are
fully confirmed by the present Treaty of Defensive Alliance, in
the same manner as if the said Transactions had been inserted
in it, word for word.
III. In consequence of the principle of conservation and
mutual defence, which is the basis of the present Treaty of
Alliance, and by reason of a most sincere desire of securing the
permanence, maintenance, and entire independence of the Sub-
lime Porte, His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, in the
event of circumstances occurring which should again deter-
mine the Sublime Porte to call for the naval and military assis-
tance of Russia, although, if it please God, that case is by no
means likely to happen, engages to furnish, by land and by sea,
as many troops and forces as the 2 High Contracting Parties
may deem necessary. It is accordingly agreed, that in this case
the land and sea forces, whose aid the Sublime Porte may call
for, shall be held at its disposal.
IV. In conformity with what is above stated, in the event of
one of the 2 Powers requesting the assistance of the other, the
expense only of provisioning the land and the sea forces which
may be furnished, shall fall to the charge of the Power who shall
have applied for the aid.
V. Although the 2 High Contracting Parties sincerely intend
to maintain this engagement to the most distant period of time,
yet, as it is possible that in process of time circumstances may
require that some changes should be made in this Treaty, it has
been agreed to fix its duration at 8 years, from the day of the
exchange of the Imperial Ratifications. The 2 parties, previously
to the expiration of that term, will concert together, according
to the state of affairs at that time, as to the renewal of the said
Treaty.
VI. The present Treaty of Defensive Alliance shall be ratified
by the 2 High Contracting Parties, and the Ratifications thereof
shall be exchanged’ at Constantinople within the space of 2
months, or sooner if possible.
The present Instrument, consisting of 6 Articles, and to be
finally completed by the exchange of the respective Ratifica-
tions, having been agreed upon between us, we have signed it,
and sealed it with our Seals, in virtue of our full powers, and
have delivered it to the Plenipotentiaries of the Sublime
Ottoman Porte in exchange for a similar Instrument.
Done at Constantinople, the , 1833; the 20th of the
moon Safer, in the 1249th year of the Hegira).
(L.S.) CTE. ALEXIS ORLOFF.
(L.S.) A. BOUTENEFF.26 June 8 July