THE RETURN OF KAMIANETS-PODILSKYI UNDER THE POLISH POWER IN 1699: REACTIONS IN THE CRIMEAN KHANATE AND TURKEY

Abstract

In 1699, under the terms of the Polish-Turkish Treaty of Karlowitz, the heavily fortified city of Kamianets-Podilskyi returned to the rule of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth after 27 years of Turkish supremacy. In general, under the terms of treaties with Austria, Venice, Poland and Russia, the Ottoman Empire lost quite large areas. This defeat led to an increase in negative public sentiments in the empire towards the central government. Documents show that the loss of Kamianets was mentioned during a number of high-profile political events that took place in the Crimean Khanate and in Turkey in the early 18th century. The most important reason for such attention to this city was that it was given to the former enemy by agreement, and not as a result of armed struggle. To reduce negative public sentiments, the imperial authorities took various measures. It is known that for this purpose the former garrison of Kamianets-Podilskyi was located in several border fortresses of the empire. Warriors from this garrison were not transferred to the territory of Turkey. The imperial authorities also tried to shift the blame for the loss of the city on the Walachia ruler. However, this attempt was unsuccessful. For the Tatars, who were very active, the loss of Kamianets was important for several reasons. Firstly, the city ceased to serve as a fortified strong point for them in raids on areas that were under the rule of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Secondly, they perceived very painfully the appearance of new fortified points near the borders of the Crimean Khanate, because they feared the invasion of enemy troops. Thirdly, the Treaties of Karlowitz forced them to change their traditional way of life, because they forbade to carry out plundering raids. Such circumstances led to the emergence of revanchist ideas in the Crimea, which also existed in Turkey. In 1702, Grand Vizier Daltaban Mustafa Pasha, in agreement with the Crimean Khan, planned a military campaign against the Russian state. The Vizier wanted to restore power to the Ottoman Empire in positions that had been lost during the war. At that time, he announced his intention to capture Kamianets-Podilskyi. After the failure of this plan, the Tatar uprising began in Budzhak, led by the Kalga-sultan Saadet-Girey. The author of this article was able to find a document that shows that the Kalga-sultan accused some representatives of the Ottoman Empire of losing Kamianets. One of the main accusations leveled at the time against the Turkish Sultan Mustafa II was also the accusation of losing the city. As a result of the incident in Edirne, Mustafa II lost his power.