The Ottoman-British diplomatic relations (1812-1815)

Although the Treaty of Bucharest signed in 1812 opened a period of peace in Ottoman- Russian relations, it would also bring new problems. This treaty, which was signed due to Napoleon's Moscow campaign, did not satisfy both sides. While Russia was in search of an alliance after the treaty, the Ottoman Empire intended to regain the territories it had lost. England was one of the countries that wanted the signing of the peace between the two countries the most. The London government, not wanting the front against Napoleon to weaken, would make intense efforts both for the continuation of the peace and for the neutrality of the Sublime Porte after the treaty. The implementation of this policy would fall to the British envoys in Istanbul, Stratford Canning and Robert Liston. Liston, who arrived in Istanbul after the signing of the Treaty of Bucharest, would work especially hard to keep the Ottoman Empire neutral during the struggle against Napoleon. In this process, the Ottoman Empire would endeavour to evacuate the regions in the Caucasus occupied by Russia in violation of the Treaty of Bucharest. It had planned to follow an active policy for this purpose at the congress to be held in Prague. However, the inability to evacuate the regions in the Caucasus would lead to the rejection of the invitations to send representatives to the Vienna Congress. Later, proposals to include the territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire within the scope of the general guarantee would also be rejected due to the negative image created against Europe. The mediation offers of Austria, Britain and France for the solution of the problems between Istanbul and Petersburg were also rejected. In this study, both Ottoman diplomacy and Ottoman-British diplomatic relations will be analysed in the period from the Treaty of Bucharest to Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. Keywords: Diplomacy, Ottoman Empire, England, Treaty of Bucharest, Congress of Vienna, Robert Liston