The 1779 Aynalıkavak Treaty (Emergence, analysis and application)

This thesis is about the reasons for the formation of the Aynalıkavak Treaty signed between the Ottoman Empire and Russia on March 21, 1779, the conduct of diplomatic negotiations, the analysis and application of the treaty text signed at the end of this and what kind of results it brings. In this direction, it is possible to evaluate the weakness of the Ottoman Empire since the beginning of the 18th century. As the time period and the general presentation of the subject, the process from the first half of the 15th century, when the Ottoman-Russian diplomacy relations started, ending with the 1792 Yasi Agreement are discussed. The Crimea issue, which basically constitutes the center of the problem and which took place around the developments, left the fulfillment of the provisions of the agreements made between the two states. Although the events that took place after the Kucuk Kaynarca Treaty were the subject of various negotiations in order to overcome the disputes between the two states through diplomatic contacts, a common compromise point could not be reached. Finally, with the contribution of France's negociation initiative, the parties were able to reach a certain compromise, albeit by causing new discussions, in the meetings between the Ottoman ruler Abdürrezzak Bahir Efendi and the Russian ambassador Stakiev at Aynalıkavak Palace. As a result, on March 21, 1779, some articles of the Kucuk Kaynarca Treaty were eliminated and rearranged and the Aynalıkavak Treaty was signed, which aimed to resolve the Crimean disputes between the two states. However, this development was not enough to prevent the Russians from abandoning their purpose and Crimea was annexed in 1783. Even the Ottoman State officially recognized this development with a "Sened" that had to be given in January 1784.