Münchengrätz Agreement
Separate and Secret Article to the Treaty of
Alliance concluded between Russia and Turkey
on the 1833, (communicated to the British
Government by the Prince of Lieven, on the
16th of January 1834.)
In virtue of one of the Clauses of 1st Article of the Patent
Treaty of Defensive Alliance concluded between the Imperial
Court of Russia and the Sublime Porte, the 2 High Contracting
Parties are bound to afford to each other mutually, substantial
aid, and the most efficacious assistance for the safety of their
respective Dominions. Nevertheless, as His Majesty the
Emperor of all the Russias, wishing to spare the Sublime
Ottoman Porte the expense and inconvenience which might be
occasioned to it, by affording substantial aid, will not ask for
that aid if circumstances should place the Sublime Porte under
the obligation of furnishing it, the Sublime Ottoman Porte, in
place of the aid which it is bound to furnish in case of need,
according to the principle of reciprocity of the Patent Treaty,
shall confine its action in favour of the Imperial Court of Rus-
sia, to closing the Strait of the Dardanelles, that is to say, to not
allowing any Foreign Vessel of War to enter therein under any
pretext whatsoever.
The present Separate and Secret Article shall have the same
force and value as if it was inserted word for word in the Treaty
of Alliance of this day.
Done at Constantinople, the , 1833 (the 20th of the
moon of Safer, in the 1249th year of the Hegira).
(L.S.) Cte ALEXIS ORLOFF.
(L.S.) A. BOUTENEFF.
3.1146 Münchengrätz Agreement
Alliance Members:Russia and Austria-Hungary, with Prussia joining
one month later
Signed On:September 18, 1833, in the city of Münchengrätz (Czech
Republic). Prussia joined in October 1833. In force until July 2, 1853,
when the Russians occupied the Danubian Principalities.
Alliance Type:Entente (Type III)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 84, p. 21–26.
Additional Citations:Martens,vol. 4, p. 445.
SUMMARY
This agreement between Metternich of Austria-Hungary and Tsar
Nicholas of Russia was a promise to cooperate in the preservation of
the territorial status quo of the Ottoman Empire. Further, if the
Ottoman Empire should collapse, the two leaders would act only in
concert to determine the best course of action.
By tying Russia to the entente, Metternich hoped to guarantee a safer
transition from the status quo should the Ottomans break apart.
However, Russia’s presence in the entente, and at the likely concert fol-
lowing any territorial dissolution, also made it difficult for Metternich
to guarantee Austrian interests in any territorial changes. Thus, Prussia
joined the alliance a month later to balance against Russian interests,
and Metternich sought other joiners (France and Britain) as well.
However, Nicholas’s distrust of the Western powers led him to shroud
the terms of the treaty in a bit of mystery—witness the two secret arti-
cles whose terms were fairly innocuous—which precluded any expan-
sion of the entente to other great powers.Description of Terms
Austria and Russia agree to maintain the status quo in the
Ottoman Empire. Further, the two powers commit themselves
to oppose together anything that undermines the sovereign
authority in Turkey, either by establishing a provisional regime
or by changing the complete dynasty. If either scenario occurs,
the two contracting parties will coordinate in order to prevent
any dangers that the imposed change might create for the inter-
ests of their states.
This treaty also had separate secret articles. In Secret Article
I, the high contracting parties apply the stipulations of Article II
especially to the Pasha of Egypt, and they expressly commit
themselves to prevent the direct or indirect authority of the
Pasha of Egypt from extending itself to the European provinces
of the Ottoman Empire.
In Secret Article II, the two parties have not excluded from
their provisions the case in which, against their wishes and
common efforts, the order in Turkey is destroyed. If this occurs,
it does not change any principles of their union for matters of
the Orient, which are consecrated in this convention. Further,
the powers will not act unless they act in concert and in the per-
fect spirit of solidarity to maintain the security of their states
and the European equilibrium.3.1147 Treaty between Austria and Russia for
the guarantee of the Polish Possessions (Treaty
of Münchengrätz)
Alliance Members:Austria-Hungary and Russia
Signed On:September 19, 1833, in the city of Vienna. In force until
July 2, 1853, with Russian action in the empire at the start of the
Crimean War.
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 84, p. 27.
Additional Citations:Martens,vol. 4, p. 454.SUMMARY
As the Ottoman Empire disintegrated and spread fears of instability
and Russian expansionism in eastern Europe, especially after the
Greek Revolution of 1821 and the Russo-Turkish War of 1828,
England and Austria-Hungary pushed for the maintenance of the ter-
ritorial status quo with Russia, formalized by Austria in the Treaty of
Münchengrätz.
Signed by Austria-Hungary and Russia in 1833, the signatories agreed
to mutual consultation on any decisions that might affect the outcome
of the so-called Eastern Question and, consequently, the eastern Euro-
pean balance of power. Never used in war or with the intent of target-
ing other states, the alliance nonetheless ended in 1853 when Russia
violated its terms by unilaterally deploying troops in the empire aimed(^268) thth Jul Juney
(^268) thth Jul Juney