The Great Turk returns - Alternate resurging Ottomans (1747-1947)

[EMT]

I'll be keeping an eye on this, good so far!

 

[Koprulu Mustafa Pasha]

The path to war (1751-1754)

Although Europe has recently come out of war, it isn’t going to stay at peace for long. The peace deals didn’t make anyone but the Prussians happy. The peace was only concluded in Europe. In the Americas and India there still conflict over towns, regions, rivers. The French were establishing a presence in the Ohio Valley, building fortifications. The British however, were not happy with it due to East Coast colonists settling and trading there. There would be a conflict anytime soon between the two powers. In Europe, the Austrians haven’t forgot about Frederiks conquest of Silesia and empress Maria Theresa desires the region to be back under the control of Vienna. Willem IV, even though ill, desired some cities of the Southern Netherlands back to Republican control. His first economical gain was gaining the Asiento for the next 40 years in the name of the WIC. Making a fair deal for the Spanish and giving them the right to stop the deal after a minimum of 10 years for no less than 400,000 Gulden to the WIC, 200,000 after 20 years and 100,000 after 30 years. The British unhappy about the Dutch working behind them were guaranteed that in the next war, the Dutch republic will help them with 5 ship of the line and 8,000 men. anywhere where the British fight in Europe. Sultan Mahmud Khan, ofcourse has set his eyes on the remaining Venetian possessions outside Italy. What remains is a justification for war. Any such conflict will the draw Vienna on the Ottomans.

All of Europe is in on the brink of war. The borders will be redrawn and/or the losing side will have to live with whatever they gain.



The grand naval reforms of the Ottoman Empire (1749-1755)

In the six years in which the Ottoman navy underwent a major reorganisation and reform. This was deemed necessary due to ongoing development of the European major powers. In order to keep up with the latest development there was a plan to build a school for naval officers. The pride of the Navy was the newly built Mahmudiye (1754-1809), finished during the reign Osman III who still named after his brother due to his efforts. A Ship of the line with 80 guns. Then there was the recruitment of newly trained marines. These were no ordinary men or bandits from Anatolia. These were disciplined and strong recruited infantry. The reason to create a new infantry corps was not new. With the letter of Seyyid Pasha indirectly suggesting to create a new army to replace the janissaries, Mahmud acted carefully and ordered Ali Pasha to recruit new disciplined infantry for the navy. Doing this, Mahmud made sure the Janissary corps did not get suspicious at all. And the number of the recruits were merely 2,300 men while the Corps had 90,000 men in total and growing. The numbers would grow later years but the new infantry form were ready. If the Corps ever dares to revolt again, Mahmud and his successors now have a strong back up. Although the costs were high, the ‘navy’ and its reorganisation proved to be worthy up until the early 19th century.

”The conquerors of the oceans”, named by the Kapudan-i Derya to the reorganised Ottoman navy.



The Georgian campaign (1753-1755)

After the failed assassinations attempt on Heraclius II, the Georgian landscape changed. Heraclius II has become slightly paranoid due to the betrayal. When Mehmed Ragip Pasha failed, he ended his siege of Tabriz and decided to go for an all out campaign in Georgia to end it in the next two years. Starting with stealing the crops of the Georgian peasants and sending it to Syria. The rural lands became more and more abandoned as the peasants flee the advancing Turk. The towns became flooded with refugees. Mehmed Ragip Pasha marched on Tbilisi from Azerbaijan, in order to caught Heraclius in the town, without having to take Gori first. With 20,000 Janissaries, 20,000 Sipahis, 10,000 Tatar light cavalry, 6,000 Turkmen allies from Azerbaijan, 8,000 Abkhazians allies and 100 artillery pieces, he started to siege Tbilisi. During the siege, he dispatched Tatar regiments to scout for any enemy movement. Never since the Mongol invasion has Tbilisi suffered such attacks by the enemy. The defenders, merely 3,000 men are to hold the town. Heraclius still has another 18,000 men but it will take at least a month reach them, have them to get ready, march back and reach Tbilisi. His army is currently besieging Kutaisi, an attempt to take over Western Georgia from the Ottoman vassals. For Mehmed Ragip Pasha, the siege has become personal. He wants to get rid of Heraclius before Heraclius can get rid of him. During the siege, mehmed Pasha hears that the Sultan Mahmud I(1730-1752) has died and is succeeded by Osman III, his younger brother. Like many Pasha’s Mehmed Ragip Pasha was unsure how to feel as Osman was an unreasonable person with strange habits. The siege continues and there is no message by the new Sultan to end the campaign.



Death of Mahmud I (1730-1752)

Mahmud I, already in his old age was getting tired. Falling ill more often than predecessors his age. Yet he survived his illness more than once. After returning from Friday prayers he fell of his horse when he just arrived at the Topkapi Palace. After a few days in a coma he had awaken and the palace people were happy thinking that the sultan has recovered. He called for his younger brother Osman to come. Osman, fearing that he was about to be executed by his brother, the sultan, resisted only to be convinced by his own mother. When Osman arrived in the sultans room, he was afraid. He didn’t dare to look at the Sultan, fearing that at any moment, the deaf mutes will come. Mahmuds looked at is brother and asked him why he was afraid of him. Osman was silent and Mahmud turned his head back, looking at the plafond, closing his eyes never to wake up again. And afterwards all servants bow to the new Sultan. The reign of Osman III has started.


The New Sultan executes the long awaited plan (1753)

The first thing Osman III did was appointing Hekimoglu Ali Pasha as his Grand Vizier and send a letter to Ragip Pasha in Georgia to finish the campaign as soon as possible with or without Kakheti. Hekimoglu told the new Sultan about the war justification. Knights of Malta are still raiding Muslim shipping till this day. And it seems that they stop at Venetian possession to return to Malta with the gains from Muslim merchants or start their attack from Venetian islands. Osman orders Hekimoglu to give the Venetians an ultimatum to abandon Dalmatia, Ionian Islands and their Greek fortresses. At the same time, the Janissary Corps Aga* was ordered to mobilise the Janissary Corps by the next month immediately. The fleet is ordered to sail to Resmo. From there, they will be instructed what their next move will be.

The Janissaries round up near Corlu, Eastern Thrace to march to Preveza (1754)



The battle between the foxes (1754)

Mehmed wanted to end the siege as soon as possible. His plan was to bombard the town at night, not giving the besiegers any time to sleep or rest, advancing on the town only to retreat with the Georgians unsure when the real advance will happen. When all of this didn’t speed it enough he ordered captured enemy soldiers who have smallpox or any other contaminous disease to be brought. If they seem to be dying they were executed, their heads cut off only to be thrown and shot at the town. The bodies were dumped in the river so the water of the people will be contaminated. On the 189th day of the Siege, Ragip Pasha ordered a general attack on the South side of the wall under protection of artillery. Before the attack was realised, the relief army was arrived on the battle. As soon as Ragip Pasha realised that he was about to be attacked in the rear, he countered the enemy with the Sipahi reserves until his Janissary troops reorganise against the relief forces. The Kakheti forces hit and stopped by the Sipahi cavalry were not badly damaged but the Janissaries had reorganised and started to advance on the relief forces. For nearly 7 hours of battle between the two forces it ended at night when the centre and Right wing of the Kakheti forces were battered by hours of artillery fire and attack in the rear by Tatar horse archers. During the battle, 5,098 of the 18,000 of the Kakheti forces died against a 4,279 of 64,000 Ottomans. It was a brave but foolish attempt to relief the town. Being already more than a month expected late it was more panic that caused the immediate attack. The panic that King might be dead already. When morning had broken, the Tatar scouts told Ragip Pasha that the Georgians had abandoned town, maybe hours ago. Mehmed Pasha entered the town and saw a enough dead bodies in town that he did not order a pursue forces. The remaining defenders, possibly not more than 800-900 men must be retreating to the mountains in the North. At best they will do small attacks. Ragip Pasha rushed to the palace of Heraclius but did not found the King. He looked in the entire town to any body he found on the ground, asked any person about him. But it seems that once again, even when losing, the Georgian fox has outsmarted Ragip Pasha. A town without its king was not worth anything for the victorious Pasha. The second time Ragip Pasha was outsmarted. And he knew where the Georgian fox would go. To Moscow.

 

[haider najib]

So the russians now have a perfect reason for war?

Will the reforming ottomans push for more muslim immigration into balkans or try to pursue a conversation polic? It could work (not on a mass scale but enough to make a strong plurality) they got close to it in real life something similar, to counter national sentiments it could help. If you reform the army and make the upper ranks more open (more rewards and incentives) to balkan muslims you could see conversation as their was originally little reason to convert in the empire from something to islam.

 

[Koprulu Mustafa Pasha]

So the russians now have a perfect reason for war?

Will the reforming ottomans push for more muslim immigration into balkans or try to pursue a conversation polic? It could work (not on a mass scale but enough to make a strong plurality) they got close to it in real life something similar, to counter national sentiments it could help. If you reform the army and make the upper ranks more open (more rewards and incentives) to balkan muslims you could see conversation as their was originally little reason to convert in the empire from something to islam.

As long as the Crimean Khanate exists, the Russians will always have justification for war. Heraclius can provide a new front, in tje Caucasus.

Most migration to the Balkan is by Turkomans in Anatolia, deemed a threat by Constantinople. With a really small addition of Tatars, Circassians and Egyptians. Large scale migration will happen in the 19th century when things start to heat up.

 

[Koprulu Mustafa Pasha]

The Venetians stall negotiations, (1754)

In the middle of the 18th century Venice was in no position to engage a war against the Ottomans. The fleet was too small, and the Army was almost non existent. The main force were mercenaries who did not like to fight another lost cause. What was left was to stall the negotiations with Hekimoglu Ali Pasha, a Venetian himself. Venice knew that there was war waiting for them if they did not give the regions the Ottomans desired. But the Venetians accepted that. What they wanted was to give up their right to those regions to anyone who would pay for it. The Austrians and Russians were the biggest possibilities. Russia already desired the Greek part for their navy in warm waters. The Austrians made no secret to get the Wealthy Dalmatia. The only problem left was the money to get. Venice demanded 3,000,000 for Dalmatia and 1,200,000 for their Greek possessions. The Russians were more than willing to pay for these possessions. However. Things turned differently when Venice did not include Corfu in the deal. According to the doge, the Spanish wanted to pay 2,000,000 for all of the Greek possessions (a bluff by the Venetians, the Spanish only wanted the Ionian Islands and did not want to pay more than 800,000. Kythira and Preveza was not a part of the deal). For at least a year, there was no answer by the Russians until the Russians agreed to pay 2,200,000 for everything. The Venetian-Russian Agreement of 1755 was made in Verona (Treaty of Verona). But by the time this treaty was made, the Ottomans captured all but Corfu, which was agreed. When the Russians arrived on Corfu in August 1755, the fortress was taken. Much to Russian anger whom decide to negotiate with both the Ottomans and Venetians. The sultan was not even close to give up these possessions. The Russians threatened the Venetians with blockading the Venetian lagoon unless they were compensated. Venice agreed to pay back 1,200,000 of the 2,200,000. The Russian negotiators held correspondence between Venice and Constantinople. The Russians were offered 200,000 akce, limited favored trade rights in some parts of the empire and were allowed to settle a maximum of 10 warships anywhere in the Ottoman Empire for the next 20 years as long as both nations were at peace. Grand Vizier Hekimoglu Ali Pasha did not want a two front war without having a knowledge of military situation (The Russians, by the time of the Russo-Turkish deal, did not know about the situation in Dalmatia). The Austrians weren’t much lucky either. Most of the Slavic hinterland was overrun by the Ottomans, with the Italian populated coast under siege. The Austrians however were more impulsive. Although they negotiated with Constantinople, they made an Army ready to invade Bosnia. At the same time Austria also threatened Venice with occupation unless they were compensated. Venice offered to pay back 1,000,000 and free movement of the Austrian Army through their territory for 40 years. For Vienna, this was enough for the time being. The plans however were thwarted when Frederick of Prussia invaded Saxony and thus, threatening Bohemia. Regardless, the Ottoman Army wasn’t really viewed as a big threat by the nobles in Vienna. If the Russians will help against Prussia, then Vienna can dispatch a Army to the Balkans and Wallachia. When the Russians found out about an upcoming war between Vienna and Constantinople, they decided to wait out for the course of war before directly intervening. Elizabeth viewed Frederick of Prussia as a bigger threat to Russia in the near future.


The Invasions starts, (1754-1755)

Grand Vizier Ali Pasha refused all offers made by the Venetians. When the first negotiations failed, Ali Pasha did not want to waste any more time and send order for the fleet to set sail. Husamettin Pasha left Resmo for Corfu. In the meantime, ordered the Janissary Corps Aga, Sari Mustafa aga to recruit another 15,000 for the corps. The Pasha’s of Bosnia, Yanya and Morea had were instructed as well to attack weak spots like Cephalonia, Preveza and Sinj. The Pasha of Bosnia was assisted by 30,000 Janissaries, 15,000 Sipahis, 10,000 Bosnian militias and 60 artillery pieces. The first siege was of Sinj, one of the two most guarded places fo the Venetians. The siege started in June 28th, 1754. The fleet of Husamettin Pasha dispatched 40,000 Janissaries, 10,000 Sipahis and 8,000 Albanian militias, accompanied with 100 artillery pieces in Corfu while himself left the newly recruited Marines on the remaining weakly defended islands. Preveza was stormed by 4,000 Janissaries, 15,000 Albanian militias and 25,000 Sipahis. The Greek militia, no more than 300 men, retreated to the St. Charalampos Church and defended the the attack for a week before the Artillery was place in town and blowed the church to the ground. None of the 300 men defending survived. But during the defence they took another 3,000 men with them. The campaign looked like it was going to succeed in just one year. Sinj had surrendered. The town on the coast were on the brink of surrender due to land and sea sieges. The only thing that remained was was Corfu. Corfu was under a large siege, bombed every day by sea and land. The fortress had 2,800 men. This included the 2,000 volunteers as well. On the 116th day, there were two breaches in the wall. The Janissaries stormed the town and the defences made by the defenders hold on for several hours on both breaches. When a large explosion was heard, the volunteers started to flee thinking that the armoury exploded (In reality, it was an Ottoman frigate hit by the Venetian artillery). The garrison could not hold off both breaches alone eventually gave in to the larger Janissary force. The fleet of Husamettin Pasha, besieging Corfu, then left Corfu to join the fleet of Hasan Pasha near Zadar. The local population of Zadar were offered to become a vassal of the Ottomans with their own autonomy, like the Republic of Ragusa. The Coastal area of Dalmatia would become the Republic of Zara was established in 1756. It had its own senate, with a limited force and navy. The Senate was dominated by Italians with an addition of Croatians. The Slavic hinterland however, would join the Bosnia Eyalet.



Tiflis Eyalet established, 1754

After Ragip Pasha was victorious in Georgia he established the eyalet of Tiflis in the former Kingdom of Kakheti. Hadzi Mustafa Pasha was appointed as the Pasha for the time being. The central government ordered that there would be no taxation for five years in the eyalet. The local people would recover from war and then can start taking the burden of taxation. The state spend around 1,000,000 akce to rebuild and finance the farmlands. The Georgian Orthodox Church got the authority over the justice system of the Georgian Christians. It seemed to be all looking well. But that can change in a few years. After all. These people are Turks for the locals. At the end, God will be merciful for his children, like the Church said. And that is what motivates the people everyday to continue their lives. God will protect them against all evil.


Sultan Osman III (1752-1755) declared unfit to rule

Osman III rule didn’t start too bad. He followed his brothers policy and continued what Mahmud began. But the almost 50 years he spended in the ‘cage’ were not healthy. Not for him at least. Osman had no children. He did not like the attention of women in the harem nor did he like music. This wasn’t a problem as there were still heirs. But the problem became worse when Osman ordered his Grand Vizier to execute Sehzade Mehmed. The Grand Vizier, Ali Pasha, was removed from his posts and thrown in the dungeon at orders of Osman III, to await upcoming death. His mother however, prevented this. She secretly talked with Ali Pasha. She made sure to spare him but in return, he would not let Osman execute when he is deposed. Even the mother of the Sultan agreed to it. Ali Pasha was released and with the support of the Shaykh Ul Islam, Osman III was declared unfit to rule. For his place, Mehmed V (1755-...) would become sultan. To prevent the Janissary Corps to riot, Janissary Corps Aga told the Janissaries that Osman III would form a new Army. As far as the Janissaries were concerned, Osman should have been executed. But this was prevented as the Shaykh Ul Islam said that the old Sultan was of age and already ill. He would die within a year maybe. The new sultan Mehmed V would protect the Janissary rights as long as they obeyed him. This prevented a major riot in Constantinople during the most important time. The Janissaries were given Culus salary for the new Sultan and the same day they forgot about Osman III. Little did they know that Mehmed was not any different than his nephews Mahmud and Osman. He as well planned to replace the Janissaries eventually. An army enthousiast, Mehmed V would join the Army to battles. He wouldn’t participate but go with them to motivate the soldiers and to coordinate the Battles, defences and offensives. But safe in nearby settlements.

Osman III (1752-1755)


The Austrians are in trouble, 1756

For the first time since 1739 there has been a chance to give the Islamic neighbour in the South a beating. The last war didn’t go well for the Habsburgs, losing Oltenia and the Smederevo Sanjak in the process. Due to Russian success in Moldova, the Ottomans refrained from attacking the Banate and prevented a possible bigger loss. For Austria, this isn’t just acquiring Dalmatia. This is to revenge the loss of 1739. Although nobody really hopes for it but the nobles at court in Vienna think about getting Bosnia and Belgrade Pashaluk as well. Even Catholic Albanian nobles in Italy and Catholic clergymen hope for a bigger Austrian success so the Habsburgs can occupy Albanian territory. The radical thought among Albanian Catholic nobles was that Islamic Albanians under Catholic rule would return to their ancestral religion. The least common but existing thought was that this time, the Imperial forces will end the war in Constantinople. And so, Vienna was enthousiast.

In Constantinople, the Pasha’s were enthusiast as well. Many Pasha’s have fought in the last war against the Habsburgs. Some had even hoped for the reconquest of Timisoara. Sultan Mehmed V as well as Grand Vizier Ali Pasha knew better. The reconquest of old Sanjaks is highly unlikely. Ali Pasha hoped that in best case, Transylvania became independent and under protection of Constantinople like the Danubian principalities. In the future, Transylvania would be a base to invade Central Hungary. When the Sultan asked Ali Pasha what would be ideal, Ali Pasha said that instead of regaining Hungary, Hungary should be independent. It wouldn’t happen in one war but if the first step is made, the rest would follow. That’s why Ali Pasha had Transylvania in mind. It would divide Austria from the Russians as well. But this would still be highly unlikely. The Austrian have one of the best armies. Repelling them two, three times won’t break their morale in their defence. Keeping Dalmatia is what matters now.
Just as Vienna was preparing for war, the horror scenario became reality. The Prussians have invaded Austrian ally Saxony. If Vienna still sends all force to the Balkans, Frederick will definitely occupy Bohemia and Moravia as well. And Vienna will be left defenceless.

 

[haider najib]

Prussian-ottoman alliance? How will the sultan reform the government especially the power the harem, rewards and land organisation.
So ottomans are going to want to knock out austria before they are challenged by the russians or when they attack the russians.

Polish-ottoman alliance both empires are in deline and need of much needed reform.

 

[Koprulu Mustafa Pasha]

Prussian-ottoman alliance? How will the sultan reform the government especially the power the harem, rewards and land organisation.
So ottomans are going to want to knock out austria before they are challenged by the russians or when they attack the russians.

Polish-ottoman alliance both empires are in deline and need of much needed reform.

Prussian-Ottoman Alliance is coming for the near future, I won't keep that as a secret. In OTL, Prussia was as good as defeated but was miraculously saved. In TTL, an alliance with the Ottomans would divide the attention of Vienna. This alliance would also do its best avoid Russia to influence Poland-Lithuania. PLC will draw away from the pro-Russian camp and this will cost them. The new Sultan will have to reform the Army, continue to reform the Navy like his predecessors. But also the tax system needs a to change as well. The current Tax Farming is hated by the population and is not efficient. The state is also losing a lot of income because of it.

The Ottomans will experience some nasty truths about the military during the war. It is mostly remain on the defensive, and wait out how the war goes. Russia will wait out the course of the war. If any weakness is shown by the Ottomans, the Russian will likely intervene... Either that or if the Ottomans show too much succes.

 

[Koprulu Mustafa Pasha]

For anyone who's following my TL, new update will follow today.

Kinda busy lately

 

[Koprulu Mustafa Pasha]

Sultan Mehmed V, A lost cause

Mehmed V was an extraordinary sultan for his time. Unlike his predecessors he gave his heir the best education he could get to prepare him if he was to become sultan. Mehmed experienced the harsh truth upon ascending the throne. He was 37 and had no experience. In his short but effective reign he let his heir, his younger brother Mustafa join his side and learn from the Sultan himself and the Pasha’s of the Divan. An ambitious idea was to let the Shehzades join the Pasha’s in the Army. Something he learned from Europe but not really pleased by the Grand Vizier, fearing for a coup by the Army and the Shehzade. The idea was off for the time being. Mehmed of course had more important matters to do. The Austrians were said to prepare an invasion of Bosnia and Smederevo. Due to an already ongoing war In the Holy Roman Empire, the Austrians can’t sendt big forces. But to win the war, the Austrians need to be prevented from taking key areas in the Balkans. Already during Mahmud I reign, Belgrade fortress was being built. The city walls were not close to that of the Austrians built in between 1718-1737 but it was solid, could hold for a long time and was after all cheap.

But Mehmed V effectiveness did not come from his efforts to defend the Balkans alone. Mehmed V was the first sultan since Osman III, to plan to replace the Janissary Corps as the main Armed forces. The Janissary Corps would have to decrease numbers to the 10,000 men or even lower. Such decrease what would never have been accepted. The new Army would contain Turks from Anatolia, Bosnians and Albanians from the Balkans, Georgians from the Caucasus and Egyptians from the Middle East. Unlike his predecessors, Mehmed V still believes in a lost cause which is to reorganise the Janissary Corps to let it remain as the elite force. Something he believes, which could let to his downfall. When the Janissaries were sent to the front Mehmed V ordered the Pasha’s who remained in Constantinople to go to Anatolia with the Prussian Officers to start building and recruiting the the new Army. The build up would take 4 brigades.

Mehmed V new Sekban Army (1757, Bursa)



Tiflis, military Eyalet (1755-...)

After Ragip Pasha’s victory in the Kingdom of Kakheti against Heraclius II, he created the Eyalet of Tiflis. The capital, the town of Tiflis, with a population of 17,000 was the capital of this eyalet. The conquest of Tiflis was not only strategically but also symbolically important. The city, once a Seljuk and Muslim city was conquered by the famous Georgian King David IV. The city became the capital of the Georgian Kingdom and thus the symbol of Georgian victory over the Turks and Persians. After the conquest, Ragip Pasha ordered his troops not to pillage religious buildings. After ending the pillage of Tbilisi, Ragip Pasha restored order in town. In the following months, the town was being rebuild. The new Pasha of the Eyalet was Hadzi Mustafa. He came with the order of Osman III to send a 1,000 Armenian families of the town to Istanbul. Osman III wanted the Armenians in the capital. The Armenians, being one of the most loyal and skilled population of the Empire would be better used in the Capital. And Tbilisi would be better controlled if its Muslim Population is increased. Turks from Azerbaijan and Eastern Anatolia (3,500), Abkhazians from Western Georgia (1,500) and Kurds from Mosul (1,000) were sent to settle in the town. The number Georgians increased as well (3,000) due to migrating after the war.

The Eyalet became more important in warfare and offering troops to the Ottoman Army. Surprisingly, a decent share of the Georgians joined the Ottoman Army, both the Janissary Corps as well as the Sekban Corps. These men, mostly from Rural lands migrated to West to join the Army. The biggest influence might have been the occupation of high positions by Georgians in the government, Army and even in Mesopotamia as the Mamluks as well as being mother of the Sultan. From 1757 to 1840, it was almost a century of the Georgian influence in the Empire.

Tbilisi, 1760


Statistics of Tbilisi (1762)

Armenians: 40,7%; 8,750

Georgians: 29,8%; 6,400

Turks: 17,9%; 3,850

Abkhazian: 7,0%; 1,500

Kurds: 4,6%, 1,000


Christian: 67,0%

• Armenian Apostolic: 40,7%
  
  
• Georgian Orthodox: 26,3%
  

Islam: 33,0%

• Sunni: 29,0%
  
  
• Shia: 4,0%
  

The Austro-Turkish war, 1755-1757 period

The Austrians and Ottomans were already in state of war during Osman III reign. The Austrians however tried to negotiate peace with a better deal and focus on a Prussian threat. The envoy from Vienna demanded Dalmatia. The offer to give it up was 400,000 thalers. The Ottomans refused and negotiations lead to nowhere. The preparations were made and the Austrians send and army of 35,000 men to occupy Bosnia, under Ernst von Laudon. Another 25,000 men were sent to Belgrade, containing about half of Serbian militia. The Austrian goal was simple, occupy the frontier regions of the Ottoman Empire and enforce peace. Additional is to get Belgrade in the deal. When the Austrians were sending a force to the Balkans the Ottomans had assembled an army of 80,000 men in Corlu. A second Army was being formed just outside of Istanbul, another force of 100,000 men. The first army contained 30,000 Janissaries, 30,000 Sipahi, 8,000 Tatars cavalry, 10,000 Albanian militias and 2,000 Mamluks. The first army was sent by early 1756 under leadership of Sari Mustafa Pasha, a former Janissary Captain. The Army was heading to Belgrade to prevent it falling in hands of the Austrians. If the Austrians succeed in to taking Belgrade they have the ability to take Nis and cut the supply routes to Bosnia.The Army under Sari Mustafa Pasha, was supported by the already aged but experienced Hekimoglu Ali Pasha, the governor of Egypt. The Second Army of 100,000 men was ready in May and set for Bosnia. The Army consisted of 40,000 Janissaries, 30,000 Sipahi, 10,000 Tatar Cavalry, 15,000 Turkmen Militia and 5,000 Mamluks.

Mehmed V, prepares to join the Army to Bosnia


Belgrade Campaign

First Phase of the war: Battle of Smederevo (1756)

One of the main goals of the Habsburg forces were to take over Belgrade. In order to start the siege as soon as possible, the mobile Serbian militias were crossed 40 miles west of Belgrade. The main Habsburg Forces would go for the ill defended Smederevo and defend it against reinforcements from Vidin. The Serbian Militia would let more Serbs revolt and fight against the Ottoman rule in Belgrade Pashaluk. And they really succeeded in recruiting more soldiers during the Siege. the Serbs had 16,000 more recruited in the Army, besieging Belgrade as addition to the 10,000 existing.

During the cross of the Danube near Smederevo by the Habsburg Army, the local forces and from Vidin tried to halt and stop them. Initially successful, the Austrians lost around 800 men during the cross but the 1,400 Ottoman local irregulars failed to stop them and lost around 400 men, retreating back to Smederevo. Around 2,000 Serbs from the siege of Belgrade were sent as reinforcements for the siege of Smederevo. During the 11th night of the siege, the Austrians were caught unprepared by the Army of Hekimoglu Ali Pasha. With 15,000 Janissaries, 10,000 Sipahi, 5,000 Tatars and around 40 artillery pieces he attacked the besieging Austrians. The Serbian militia attempted to attack the left Flank of the Ottoman forces, in order to save some time for the Habsburg Army to reorganise and counter the Ottomans. The Militia held out for about an hour until being crushed and retreated to the ranks of the Habsburg Army, to regroup. The Habsburgs reorganised to guard their position against an advancing Ottoman force. After fierce clashes four about 8 hours, the Sipahi have broken the remainder of the Serbian militia and were about to surround the Habsburg Army. Noticing the collapse and rout of the Serbs, the Habsburgs Army started to retreat to the Danube as fast as possible, swimming fleeing to the Habsburg Ships to cross back to Hungary. Hekimoglu Ali Pasha was victorious in his battle and secured the link between Smederevo and Vidin. The Ottomans lost around 2,000 men, the Habsburgs lost around 4,500 men, this includes the 1,200 captives. Of the 2,000 Serb militia, only 200 managed to retreat back to the main force besieging Belgrade.



Battle of Kragujevac, 1756

During the Siege of Belgrade the Serbian militia with Habsburg Artillery support besieged Belgrade. Although a militia, these were highly trained and motivated men. Mobile and fast. Before Hekimoglu Ali Pasha divided the Ottoman Army in Nis, the plan was to attack at the same time to prevent them to support each other. Hekimoglu was an experienced Pasha and so it was decided he would attack the Habsburg regulars with a smaller force. Sari Mustafa Pasha was to attack the Serb militia in a surprise attack.

Sari Mustafa moved his 50,000 men and 60 artillery piece towards Belgrade. He sent scouts to find out what the situation was. The scout said that the Serbs are still concentrated on the siege, have around 2,000 men in Kragujevac. There is no possibility to reach Belgrade without going unnoticed. It was either by directly confronting the Garrison and thus the risk to alert the besiegers. Or it was letting Belgrade fall. Sari Mustafa ordered all soldiers who are from Kragujevac to give whatever information they know about this town. Sari Mustafa Pasha found nothing useful and decided to bomb the town until they leave. He came with a risky plan to cross the Tatars to the North side of town and during the attack. When the militias flee the Tatars will hunt them down.
The artillery fired in the early morning on the town trying force them to retreat. Surprisingly, the Serbs did not retreat trying to hold out in the town. This made it easier to cross the Tatars. Instead of trying to retreat, the Serbs, hold out. After two days, the Serbs surrendered the town in exchange to retreat. Taking too long, Sari Mustafa allowed it and marched immediately towards Belgrade. When Sari Mustafa arrived in Belgrade, Hekimoglu arrived as well. The Serbs have retreated to Habsburg territory.

 

[Tauseef Ahmad]

Really a nice update. Keep it up. Waiting for the next one impatiently.
By now the Austrians would be heavily engaged with the Prussians, thereby not being able to send any big detachments to balkans. Is this gonna leave the Ottomans free to penetrate the hungarian plains? And what would be the Russian response. And would the Austrians sue for peace on this front before the Russians mobilise?

 

[Koprulu Mustafa Pasha]

Really a nice update. Keep it up. Waiting for the next one impatiently.
By now the Austrians would be heavily engaged with the Prussians, thereby not being able to send any big detachments to balkans. Is this gonna leave the Ottomans free to penetrate the hungarian plains? And what would be the Russian response. And would the Austrians sue for peace on this front before the Russians mobilise?

The Austrian goal was to occupy key regions to enforce a peace treaty. The Armed forces sent 60,000 men, almost half irregular. The biggest chunk of the main force is fighting in Saxony and Silesia. They're supported by the Russians as well as the French. I'll try to show the fronts around the world as well.

The Ottomans are still not sure about a larger offensive in the Banate. The Russians are also more focused on the Prussians. In their eyes, Frederick of Prussia must be dealt with ASAP.

 

[Koprulu Mustafa Pasha]

Bosnia Campaign (1756-1757)

Siege of Sarajevo, 1756

The Austrian Army under Ernst von Laudon advanced on Sarajevo with 35,000 men. Having 22,000 infantry; 8,000 cavalry; 5,000 militia and 30 artillery pieces. The objective was simple: Conquer Sarajevo and control the route to Dalmatia. Dalmatia will be surrendered and the Austrians will retreat when the war is over. The Ottoman army isn’t too much valued by Vienna. The main threat is Prussia and the most needed focus needs to be against Prussia. The Russians promised to send 80,000 men to fight the Prussians. The siege started on June 14th 1756 and the defenders are local garrison led by the Kapetan Hadzi Ibrahim Bey. Experiencing a heavier resistance than expected, General von Laudon decided to siege the city. In Sarajevo, even the women of age were armed to defend. General von Laudon, was advised by his Serb officers to let him incite a rebellion among the Orthodox Serbs.

Before plans were made to incite a Serb rebellion in Bosnia, a force of 12,000 Serbs have been sent from Belgrade to assist the Army of von Laudon.

By the 2nd of July, the Ottoman Army under the command of Mehmed V, Mehmed Ragip Pasha, Shezade Mustafa, and Ismail Safavi are only 20 km close to Sarajevo. Hearing about this threat, Von Laudon decided to call the siege and retreat back to Zenica, already occupied by the Habsburgs. Seeing it is impossible to retreat all the way to Banja Luka without being attacked in the back by the Turkish cavalry. Retreating to only Zenica will give enough time as well to organise defences. The Ottomans won’t leave Sarajevo too soon. As far as the defenders are concerned, they are victorious.



Battle of Zenica, 1756

Mehmed V leading the Army motivated the Bosnian defenders so much they decided to join as volunteers. Mehmed wasn’t going to actually lead the battle but coordinate with the Pasha’s from close range. Mehmed remains in the Army camp North of Sarajevo between Zenica and Sarajevo. Mehmed Ragip Pasha, assisted by Ismail Safavi and Shehzade Mustafa. Mehmed Ragip Pasha decided to take the hills around Zenica before the Austrians permanently settle on the hills, bringing the Ottomans in a negative position. Mehmed Pasha made a surprise attack on the hills driving the Militias and regulars back to town. As soon as the hills were taken, he ordered defences were to be formed and half the artillery being positioned there.

Von Laudon, fearing an encirclement, orders a direct attack before the Ottomans form defences. The Serb Militia and Dragoons were used to break the Janissary flanks. The Dragoons were continuing rather successful until the Serb Militias lost their captain and started to rout, forcing the Dragoons to retreat before being caught surrounded. The first attack failed. Von Laudon decided to retreat entirely from Zenica while the Ottomans are busy positioning. This will likely cause heavy casualties but it is either this or complete surrender. In the early morning, the Austrians tried to force breach up north of Zenica. Of the 47,000 men during the major retreat, the Austrians attacked the forces in the North while letting the Militia defend the South against the advancing Janissaries. Von Laudon and the Dragoons forced a breach managed to retreat all the way to Croatia. His attempted retreat cost the Austrians 10,000 men, death or captured. During his retreat from Sarajevo he already sent more than half the artillery back to Banja Luka and then to Croatia. Around 10 artillery remained and all of them being captured by the Ottomans after the battle.


After the failed campaign in the Balkans, the Austrians decided to remain defensive while sending most of the forces to Bohemia. As far as Vienna is concerned, the Ottomans won’t likely start an offensive.

Mehmed V advancing on Sarajevo, 1756

 

[Koprulu Mustafa Pasha]

The Sultan returns to Constantinople, 1756

The summer is almost over and the Sultan returns with the Army. The people rejoice. It has been almost 60 years since the last sultan left for battle. Mehmed V returned as a hero in the eyes of the citizens of the capital. Mehmed, decided to call for his Pasha’s to about the status of the new Sekban Army. Yusuf Aga, an assistant of Hasan Pasha told the Sultan about the situation. The Prussian officers in Amasya recruited 12,000 new forces. They are partly trained, not ready yet for battle. They will be used by Mustafa Pasha of Tbilisi in his Tabriz campaign. The Prussian officers will look what the status of the Sekban is and will look for further trainings if necessary. Just as Mehmed arrived, he is pleased to hear that he has twin sons. The people are getting more and more certain that Mehmed V is a blessed man. His named his sons Murad and Ibrahim and celebrates the victory in the capital. The plans for next year are planned as well. But for the next campaign, the Pasha’s will lead and Mehmed V wants to go to Tabriz. He has his reasons, not really likely to tell the people. Mehmed wants to inspect his new Army in the upcoming Azerbaijan campaign to subdue the remaining Khanates.


Hekimoglu Ali Pasha, a living legend of the Ottomans, 1757

Hekimoglu Ali Pasha has served as Grand Vizier for three times. He fought on different fronts in different times. He governed several provinces during war and peace time. Although Ali Pasha became older and more tired, he refused to retire. Earning the respect of most Pasha’s and sultans whom he served as well as enemy commanders. Beloved by the people where he served as a governor. For this magnificent Pasha would be the last time to go on a campaign. Ali Pasha was going for his last campaign in his life. He would go for the last time to enemy lands. A first time since 1716, to attack the Hungarian lands. In his campaign he would be accompanied by Mehmed Ragip Pasha, Seyyid Abdullah Pasha, Sari Mustafa Pasha, Grand Vizier Bahir Mustafa Pasha, Ismail Safavi and Sehzade Mustafa. The Army of 100,000 men strong was preparing for the offensive. This time the targets were Temesvar or Petrovaradin. In order to prevent an attack on either Wallachia or Belgrade Pashaluk. Attacking into the core lands of Hungary might spark a rebellion by Hungarian nobles.

Regardless. Ali Pasha knew that this was his last campaign. After this campaign, he would return to Egypt and govern it until the Sultan gives the next order.



Horror in Uskudar, 1757

It happened. Without realising how or what, it happened. The Sultan is dead. Someone has killed the Sultan yet nobody knows who. Only recently, the Janissary Corps have found out that Mehmed V (1755-1757) has not kept his promise and built a second Army to replace them. Little did the Janissaries know Mehmed was the only and would be the last to believe in the Janissary Corps Survival. But know… The man is gone. His bodyguards killed with several cuts on them, from swords. The Sultan as well. What nobody dared has happened. Even Mehmed is killed by a sword. The Grand Vizier Bahri Mustafa Pasha is in shock. He ordered Sehzade Mustafa to come immediately to Uskudar. The Death is being kept secret from the Public. If the people found out, there is going to be a riot and it will target the Janissaries. And if the Sipahis found out, the riot will turn into civil war in the capital. Nobody knows what to do. Sehzade Mustafa orders the Pasha’s who know about the Sultans death to tell about it but not about how he died. Nobody knows by whom, although it isn’t that hard to guess. But the new sultan is certain. It were members of the Janissary Corps. All he can do now is avenge his brothers death. Avenge it. It was almost 150 years ago they did this to Osman II. But even then they strangled him rather than spilling his blood, something that should not happen. And with this, there are dark days to come. It is the rule of Mustafa III (1757-...).

Mustafa III, sultan of the Empire



Istanbul riot, 1757

The death of Mehmed V was not taken lightly. When the Sipahis heard about it they immediately accused the Pasha’s of lying and protecting the Janissaries. The tensions rise in the capital but there was no real fighting yet. Until some Sipahis went to Sari Mustafa Pasha’s home. He was the old Janissary Corps Captain and would definitely know who would kill the Sultan. The Pasha did not know and the Sipahis left. When they heard some Janissaries talking how Mehmed V deserved it they took their swords and attacked the two Janissaries, lynching them and getting answers from. They only heard one name, Alemdar Musa aga, an officer within the artillery corps of the Janissaries. When they got to him they got their awaited answers, killed him and immediately went to the coffeeshops as they expected them to be there and they were. Killing them immediately and beheading them, telling the people that Mehmed V was avenged. At the same time the news of the death of the earlier 3 Janissaries came to the Corps, Immediately arming themselves and attacking the Sipahis. In only two hours after the event there was a large riot between the supporters of the Sipahis and Janissaries in the city. The houses were burned, people were killed and merchants robbed. As soon as the Grand Vizier Bahri Mustafa Pasha heard this he ordered the Navy to bomb the masses and drive them away. The Marines were sent to restore order and force them back to their barracks. By the height of the riot, 6,000 Janissaries and 10,000 Sipahis were fighting. The Marines entered the conflict zone and were ordered to kill all who did not heed their surrender. By nightfall, the riot was over and the Marines had restored order. Mustafa III was unhappy about the lack of control over the capital and replaced Bahri Mustafa Pasha with Mehmed Ragip Pasha. Bahri Mustafa Pasha was appointed as the commander of the Army in Belgrade. The riot costed more than 7,000 deaths and about 1,600,000 akce worth of destruction in the city. Mustafa III reign already started with chaos. In order to punish those who could not control the order he sent the Janissary Corps officer to Athens and the Highest Sipahi officer to Trabzon.



Mustafa III heads for a second campaign (1757-1758)

As soon as the riot ended, Mustafa prepared for a second campaign in order to divert attention of the public. Mustafa was to say, least happy and did not want to remain in Istanbul for the time being. He ordered his younger brother Sehzade Abdul Hamid to join him and left for Vidin. Mustafa would remain with his brother in Smederevo while Mehmed Ragip Pasha, Bahri Mustafa Pasha and Hekimoglu Ali Pasha would lead the forces.

By the time they arrived in Smederevo, Mustafa had heard the plans of his Pasha’s en let his Pasha’s march out. Being alone, he talked through with his younger brother Abdul hamid. At this point he realised about his brothers loyalty and worth of having more freedom in the palace. He could, to say at least, trust him. In case Mustafa dies anytime soon, Abdul Hamid should know about how to rule a country. Mustafa had in his two years time learned a thing or two. Not enough, but it helps him. Abdul Hamid should not experience the difficulties his brothers experienced.



Second Phase: Hungary campaign (1757-1759)
Siege of Zemun (1757): Ottoman tactical victory, Austrian Retreat

With About 100 ships of the Danube fleet, Mehmed Ragip Pasha leads the Army to besiege Zemun and then advance on Petrovaradin. If successful, the Ottoman Army can use Petrovaradin as a base to raid Southern Hungary. Mehmed uses the ships to bombard Zemun as well as the field artillery. Before the Siege started he ask the Austrians to surrender but to no avail. The siege started on April 16th. With no reinforcements near, the Austrian garrison has to hold out until October when winter starts. The Habsburg garrison consist mostly Croats and Hungarians. Their will to defend against the Ottomans is higher and more efficiently. The German soldiers are mostly used in the North against the Prussians who are by now, in Prague. After weeks of bombardements, Mehmed offers a new surrender to the garrison and safe passage to Osijek. And again refused. Being bombarded from 3 sides, the garrison has no easy task. After 96 days, the garrison surrenders with half of the 800 men defending died during the siege. Mehmed Pasha is delayed in his campaign to conquer Petrovaradin. Only divine help can finish this campaign with success in conquering the town. And with a bit of luck, a campaign in Hungary can start next year.


Surrender of Petrovaradin (1757)

And the divine help came for Mehmed Pasha. The commander of Petrovaradin surrendered the town after receiving no help. Mehmed Pasha’s bluff helped after all. But by the time the Ottoman Army has taken Petrovaradin it was almost September. It was time to return to Istanbul and prepare for the third campaign in the Banat of Temesvar. The Ottoman Pasha’s are slowly getting more hope. Will there be a chance to regain Hungary? Hekimoglu Ali Pasha and Mehmed Ragip Pasha already know that any gains in Hungary is only for a short time to keep. If the Habsburgs take the initiative, it will have bloody consequences. A garrison of Ottoman troops are left in in the two fortresses. Mehmed Pasha had in mind to take Osijek as well but there is no time and the gains made already is enough. Belgrade Pashaluk is safeguarded for now. And the campaign next year will determine what the result of the war will be.



Reaction in Vienna

The Austrians, although not surprised about the difficulty in the Western Balkan Campaign, were shocked about the Ottoman conquest of Zemun and Petrovaradin. The shock became bigger and scarier with Frederick of Prussia’s success in Bohemia and the unhappiness among the Hungary nobles. There were even rumours that the nobles would look for descendants of Rakoczy to have as future King of Hungary, incase the Habsburgs completely collapse the remainder of Hungary should be preserved. Regardless, these rumours who were partly real had impact on Vienna. Empress Maria Theresa took a loan from bankers in Vienna, Italy and the HRE to create a new Army, consisting of Hungarians, Croats and Transylvanian Saxons. An Army focussed on the Ottoman front. It will be an addition to the existing 25,000 men already in Szeged. There will be another recruitment of 40,000 men. Vienna heard from their spies in Istanbul about the third campaign, being in the Banat of Temesvar. And this will be the place where the Ottoman Army will be caught. If the Ottoman Army is destructed, there initiative can be taken again.

Imperial recruits for the Banat campaign, 1758


Defend against the Turk, fellow Christian!

In 1757 the empress of Austria, Maria Theresa, sent a letter to all nobles in the Kingdom of Hungary for the recruitment of new soldiers. In the letter, she writes that the Turks will not be kind when they occupy Hungary and it will await them. With a false information, that the Turks planned to occupy Transylvania and Buda, she created fear among the Hungarian nobles and offered the money she acquired. The nobles, feeling hopeless about the Turkish threat, asked the Clergy in all of Hungary to call for the believers. The believers should join the Army and defend their families, land and their values against the Turks. If they don’t, the Turks will not care for their request of mercy. And these calls were answered. There were 60,000 volunteers to join for the defence of Hungary against the Turks. Like the volunteers the churches are motivated as well. During the proclamation of the empress, the Churches have rang bells for the day and eventually when the recruits left for war. This was the last time of the Turkish noon bells of war even to be heard again (1761).

The Imperial Army, the Banat campaign, 1759

 

[Nurhaci]

Very good Ottoman TL.As there already a Nader Shah TL in AH.The idea start at his death very interesting

 

[haider najib]

Random thought portugal had an earthquake, lisbon one. It devastated them as part of rebuilding they cut military funding, Portuguese foreign territories are vulnerable it would seem. With a strong navy maybe the ottomans focus on the indian ocean and take their colonies.

 

[Koprulu Mustafa Pasha]

Random thought portugal had an earthquake, lisbon one. It devastated them as part of rebuilding they cut military funding, Portuguese foreign territories are vulnerable it would seem. With a strong navy maybe the ottomans focus on the indian ocean and take their colonies.

It is tempting of course... But anything on its time. The Portuguese still have strong Navy in this era. It will take some time until the reformed Ottoman navy can challenge other nations on the Sea. And at the moment, Austria and Russia are the main threat. Allowing them to take their colonies so early in TTL would be ASB. Which I do not want...

What I can say is, there will be some colonial adventure. Mostly for 'protection' purposes. And it won't be too large.

I'll try to keep an update of the situation in Europe if I don't forget about it...

 

[Koprulu Mustafa Pasha]

Economical and land issues in the Ottoman state

During the reign of Mustafa II (1695-1703), a new form of taxing was introduced. The taxing was suppose to get more revenues to the long lasting war in Hungary. But reality showed otherwise. Next to being unpopular it was also not efficient. The people were taxed for a longer time of period time to get as much as possible. The people could most likely not pay for it or had to sell their belongings to pay it. The problem was worse as most of the money did not go to the central government. Only a fraction of the supposed massive income arrived in the treasure. The local Pasha’s, Janissaries, Sipahis kept most of the money amassing wealth with corruption, which was some of the times also supported by Pasha’s in the capital in exchange for that wealth. Mehmed V (1755-1757) was already pointed about the inefficiency of the taxing system by the Grand Vizier Bahri Mustafa Pasha. Unfortunately, Mehmed V died too early. The Grand Vizier pointed out the inefficiency about the taxing system with Mustafa III as well. Mustafa, although interested, did not want to start implementing new reforms during wartime.

A different matter was the pleads of peasants in the Balkans about abuses in the lands of Ayans. Since the end of the 17th century, the powerful military figures enforced more demands on the sultan by taking the land and having the option for their sons to inherit these lands. Losing a lot of revenue and getting in return a more angered peasant population. Unlike the tax system Mustafa isn’t ready to challenge the powerful landlords yet.



The Europeans at war, 1756-1763

The Europeans were at war again since the the end of the Austrian war of Succession. One could say that the European powers had only a truce for 8 years until the war was recontinued. But this was different. The alliances have changed. The French decided to go for an alliance with Austria and Russia, while the British chose the Prussians. The reasons were simple. The Austrians wanted Silesia back from the Prussians. Feeling that the British could not offer them what they desired and the French as a continental power could. It went even far enough that the Habsburgs offered the Southern Netherlands fort the French in exchange of successfully reconquering Silesia. Not only were the British alarmed by a largening French existence near the French coast, the guarantee of family holdings in the Holy Roman Empire of George II was in danger. With Prussia feeling isolated as well, the British offer was welcomed by Berlin. At last, there was also the Dutch feeling the threat of the French victory in this war. Willem IV, the stadtholder, was least to say concerned about the alliance and reconsidered Dutch neutrality in a war. But they did demand additional financial support from Britain as well as support of 10,000 men. Europe was on the brink of war by 1755. The French were believers in a total victory over the the British and their allies. For Britain, it wouldn’t be enough on the continent. The sudden Austro-Turkish War of 1755 turned things around in favor of the Prussians and British. With the Prussian intervention in Saxony, Austria was caught between two fires and although a defensive treaty was made with Russia in 1746 against Prussia or the Ottoman Empire, Russia did not intervene due to the war being started by Austria. The British hoped that the Swedish would remain at least neutral off the war against the British allies. But after the chaos after the death of Mehmed V in 1757, the Russians reconsidered their neutrality and intervened on behalf of Austria against the Ottoman Empire in 1758. When the Russians send a bulk of their forces to the Crimea and the Danube, the Swedish, supported financially and promised the Livonia and Estonia, decided to go for British alliance and declared war on Russia. The European war was not only a war around the globe, it had any European power with some sort of a power projection.



Seven Years War (1756-1763) alliances

British Alliance:

• Great Britain
  
• Prussia
  
• Dutch Republic
  
• Ottoman Empire
  
• Portugal
  
• Hannover
  
• Brunswick
  
• Hesse-Kassel
  
• Lippe
  
• Iroquois Confederacy
  

French Alliance:

• France
  
• Austria
  
• Russia
  
• Spain
  
• Saxony
  
• Bavaria
  
• Mughal Empire
  
• Abenaki Confederacy
  

There were some interesting notes about the war. While the Ottomans were at war with Austria and Russia, they declared no hostility against France and considered the war its own war. The same could be applied to Sweden who only fought against Russia. Both nations continued trading with France without much problem. The Dutch did not fight the pro-French Indian factions whom were valuable trade partners of the Dutch. But this would be enough for the British and the French as long as it didn’t harm them directly.


Crossover interventions, 1758-1761

The Russian empress did not intervene, declaring that the war against the Ottomans was not an Ottoman declared war but rather from Vienna. In reality, Russia wanted to know what the situation of the Empire was during its war with Austria. At first, it looked like there would not be a war with the Porte. But the sudden death of Mehmed V changed everything. The chaos after the assassination of Mehmed V was followed by an ultimatum of Russia:

• End all hostilities with Austria
  
• Return Dalmatia to Austria
  
• Return the Ionian Islands to Russia
  
• Allow Russia to occupy the Danube principalities and the Crimea, the Austrians to occupy Bosnia and Smederevo eyalets for 40 years to enforce the treaty
  
• The Crimean Tatars abandon all their territory north of the peninsula and allow the Russians to build a fortification to prevent them to go North
  
• The Ottomans restore the Kingdom of Kakheti in their eyalet of Tiflis in favor of King Heraclius II of Kakheti
  
• The Ottomans abandon their conquests in Azerbaijan and return to their 1746 border
  
• The Ottomans do not protect the prince of Abkhazia
  
• The Ottomans pay 4,000,000 akce to Russia
  
• The Ottomans reduce their fleets to 10 ship of the lines and at least 10 more smaller ships
  
• The Ottomans do not intervene in Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth and recognise Russia’s influence
  
• The Ottomans agree that Russia is the protector of all Orthodox Christians and can intervene on their behalf.
  
• The Ottomans agree Orthodox authority over the Church of Christ in Jerusalem
  
• The Ottomans do not intervene on Behalf of the Muslims in the Russian Empire
  

When the Russian embassy sendt their demands to the Grand Vizier he refused to negotiate a better deal. He gave the ambassador a time to rethink his demands, only to use this time to tell Mustafa III about the threat of war with Russia. Mustafa realising the threat, still refuses to negotiate and said what he expects when he refuses this. The Russian envoy left Constantinople and returned to St Petersburg with the Ottoman answer. Empress Elizabeth, confident of a victory in war, ordered forces to be sent down to the Ottoman and Crimean border. The Swedish intelligence in St. Petersburg, hearing about the Russians sending more forces South, felt confident about declaring war against Russia, a last hope to regain the Baltic provinces and be the sole power in the Baltic Sea. The Swedish King asked the British embassy that they agree to British financial support in the war. The condition was that Sweden would only fight Russia and not France. The British half heartedly agreed. The Swedish began to mobilise while the Russians were already on their way south.

 

[haider najib]

Hopefully sweden can win it seems a block will form of ottomans, brits, prussians, swedes banding togather to counter the HRE, france and russia. Poland must be hard situation as either side they are screwed, prussia will oppose any chance of poland joining them in a alliance, due to them wanting there land and the russians want their land aswell.

 

[Avrorrange]

The Russians are nuts.

 

[Koprulu Mustafa Pasha]

When the war expands, 1758

After the death of Mehmed V, the Ottoman state experienced a short time of chaos. But that short amount of time was enough reason for empress Elisabeth of Russia to go for war. The Russians could spare around 60,000 men to fight the Ottomans in the Ukraine. For the Ottomans, this was a burden. After the Austrian front was as good as empty, the Ottomans prepared to fight the Russians. Mehmed Ragip Pasha, Sari Mustafa Pasha and Bahri Mustafa Pasha left with an Army of 100,000 men to Moldova where the Russians would be expected. According to the Grand Vizier Mehmed Pasha, the Russians would try to take key towns along the Dniester river and cut down the Ottoman access to the Crimea. The Russians were in Kiev and divided their troops to 35,000 men to invade the Crimea and 25,000 to hold the Ottoman Army near Tirighina.

While the Ottomans were preparing to drive the Russians back to the Ukraine, the Dey of Algiers had mustered an Army of 60,000 men to attack the Spanish possession of Oran. The Dey, the powerful lord of Algiers, Kabyle and Tlemcen, acts almost independently from the Sultan. Seen as an opportunity to drive the Spanish out who only recently joined the war on the French side. Since then, the Royal Navy is active in the Eastern Mediterranean making Spanish help for Oran nearly impossible. The Dey, allied with the King of Morocco, Mohammed III, offered to help the King to reconquer the Spanish possessions as soon as he can drive the Spanish out of the Oran enclave. King Mohammed, enthousiast of these plans, offered 20,000 cavalry to support the Dey in his conquest of Oran. The Dey, officially having around 8,000 Maghreb Janissaries and 15,000 cavalry of his own go support of 10,000 mercenaries Tunis and Mali and another 7,000 were Berber tribes who offered to support him. In addition, he had 40 artillery pieces ready to bomb Oran. Before the plans of a siege even were made, the Spanish garrison of Oran was about 2,000 men and 4 Galleons in the harbour. When war broke out with the British Empire, 1,500 of those garrison men were taken to Cadiz due to the threat of raiding by the Royal Navy. The Galleons were sent to support the Spanish navy to reconquer Menorca from the British. The island was already a base of Royal Navy activity in the Western Mediterranean, and thus a knife in the back of Spain. Regardless, the situation around Oran did not go unnoticed by the Dey of Algiers. As soon as the larger Spanish force left he raised his troops. The Spanish, alarmed by the sudden increase of forces by the Dey, tried to call for support but they were ordered to wait out the result of Menorca. With 60,000 men, the Dey could overrun Oran in the same day. His plan to hold it was to put the allied Berber tribes around there to let them defend the area of Oran and Mers El Kebir.

The plan of the Dey did not go unnoticed by king Mohammed III as well, preparing his own plan to reconquer Mazagao (El Jadida) from the Portuguese while afterwards, his forces would besiege Ceuta and Melilla at the same time. Mohammed III, an ambition man he was, wanted to clear the Moroccan coast of European powers and establish Morocco as a regional power the Europeans should not take lightly of. Earlier, King Abdallah IV, tried to get the attention of various European powers with little success. The French were not interested, also due to Spanish pressure not to. The British were willing to help to give the Moroccan state artillery and latest muskets but nominal help was not happening due to constant wars the British had to fight. At last, King Abdallah sent envoys to Sultan Mahmud I to help him. Mahmud, interested to expand influence to the Atlantic had at the time, his hands full with the Persians of Nader Shah. He promised to help when the Persian war was over. But as a beginner, he sent a hand full of Janissary aga’s to Morocco, to help the Moroccans to build their own muskets and artillery. Manufactories were built in small scale, but any attempt of larger Army reform was thwarted due to succession crisis in Morocco with pretenders trying to take the throne. Abdallah IV, never succeeded to reform the Army. But his attempt for it was taken over by his son and he as well tried to get the Sultan to help Morocco. At the time, he sent an envoy to Mehmed V, but he died and the envoy returned without even talking to the new sultan due to the chaos of the time. Regardless, Mohammed sent a new envoy to the new sultan which would later be more successful.


The Russian advance, 1758

The Russians had moved along the river Dnieper, south to the Crimea. There was eventual success, taking over the capital Bakhchisaray. But due to minimal logistical support, the Russians were forced to retreat. The Russian Army retreated to a village on the coast of the Sea of Azov, in order to get supplies from Azov. The Ottoman Naval Vizier presented the Sultan a plan to conquer Azov fortress, making Russian activity in the eastern part of the Crimean Khanate rather impossible. The Russian Army was however not so easy to mislead like the desperate Austrians in a two front war. They wouldn’t easily be harassed by the Ottomans. In order to break their morale, the fleet needs to take Azov fortress. The Crimean Khan raised around 50,000 men to harass the Russians while the Ottomans send a second army to take Azov fortress. The Navy, around 10 ship of the line, 5 frigates, 13 smaller ships moved out to Azov while an army of 20,000 men was transported. During the Azov campaign, the Circassians and Abkhazians aid the Ottoman Army. The campaign was led by no other than Hasan Pasha, a rather famous Naval commander among the Ottoman Military. In his campaign he is supported by Ahmed Pasha.

The recently built Russian Black Sea Fleet was caught unprepared the battle of Taganrog, 1759


A second attempt was made by a smaller force of the Russian Army, 25,000 men. The Army was sent over to conquer Tirighina and defend it until the Russian Army in the Crimea finished off the Tatar Army. In the early day of August, the Russians attempt to halt the Ottomans and with success. The Army of Mehmed Ragip Pasha was unable to drive the Russians out of town and surrounded the town and bombed it for days, weeks, months. Unable to beat the Russians, he returned to Varna to wait out winter. Although there were minimal casualties on both sides, the Russians repelled the first attack on their position, gaining their first victory in the war. During the winter campaign, the Russians went out for Iasi, abandoned by the Prince of Moldova unable to defend it and joined the forces of Mehmed Pasha in Bulgaria. In the winter, the Russians quickly moved to conquer Iasi and then Chotyn, placing a garrison there while the main army left for Galati. The Russians hoped to conquer Izmail as well, controlling entire Moldova. But by then, winter was over and the Russians decided to wait out in Galati and scout for Ottoman Military movements. Hearing about the cross of the Ottoman Army under Sari Mustafa Pasha near Izmail, the Russians rushed to catch it before it crossed over the Danube. Sari Mustafa Pasha was cross the Danube while the Army of Mehmed Pasha was crossing from Sillistre. Caught while crossing, the Russians bombed the crossing Army under Sari Mustafa Pasha. The ambushed Army was almost entirely crossed but the casualties were heavy. Of the 40,000 men, the Pasha lost 4,000 men and 10 artillery pieces in the ambush while the Russians lost 238 men. Sari Mustafa Pasha was unable to move forward and catch the Russians. The Russians won their second (tactical) victory. Mehmed Pasha was joined by the armies of Wallachia and Moldova. Mehmed Pasha had 80,000 men and made forward to Galati.


The news of Sari Mustafa Pasha’s loss of soldiers was not well perceived by the Grand Vizier. Mehmed Pasha relieved him of duty and replaced him with Ahmed Pasha. Sari Mustafa Pasha was ordered to defend Petrovaradin from possible Austrian attacks. Mehmed Pasha let Bahri Mustafa Pasha command the Army of the dismissed Sari Mustafa Pasha. In April 1759, the Ottomans surrounded the Russians in Tirighina. Unable to retreat, they were waiting out for help, never to come as the Russians sent the reserves up to the Swedish border due to war broken out. When by July, no help came, the Army attempted to break out from town. Unable to breach the Army of Ahmed Pasha the Russians routed and the Ottomans finally gained Tirighina back. The Russian garrisons around Moldova, retreated with what was left of the routed Army. Of the 25,000 men, 13,000 survived and retreated back to Kiev awaiting orders for further plans. When the Russians in the Eastern Crimean Khanate heard about the loss in Moldova they retreated as well, back to Kiev and join forces in order to start a new attack. Mehmed Pasha reached Ozi fortress and heard about the surrender of Azov by the Russians. It was almost September and Mehmed Pasha retreated back to Constantinople.


The ending of the Austrian campaign 1758-1759

The Grand Vizier and the Sultan made their plans to finish the Austrian war for once and for all. The sudden Russian declaration of war resulted in the diversion of attention of the Ottoman Army. Although the Russians were caught between three fronts (Eastern Germany, Ukraine and Baltic Sea) they had enough troops to fight their enemies. The fact that the Russians could sent more than 40,000 men to the Crimea while fighting numerous enemies raised fear among the Ottoman government officials. The Sultan decided to lead his army by himself in his Banat Campaign. His campaign was to conquer Sebes, Resadiye, Temesvar and Arad and waiting out for winter in Belgrade. The Sultan had 100,000 men under his command. By August 1758, the Sultan conquered Sebes and Resadiye already while preparing to advance on Temesvar and finish the campaign in October. Two months the time to finish the campaign with the conquest of those 4 towns.

The recently created Habsburg Army had not let the Ottoman Army movement seen unnoticed. As soon as the Army realised that the Sultan himself was on the road for Temes, they decided to find the Army. The Army was not what empress Maria Theresa imagined. it lacked more artillery that it needed to support campaigns to start the offensive. The soldiers were not trained or disciplined like the main army. but it was enough to defend. The Army of Hungary, as it was called, advanced towards Temesvar. By nightfall, they arrived. The Sultan had recently taken Temesvar and had the Army camped outside the town. Seeing this as an opportunity, the Hungarian Hussars and Uhlan cavalry charged on the camp. Although it was supposed to be an ambush, the Ottoman Artillery realised movement and fired artillery although it was strictly forbidden by the Sultan. Doing this, it might have saved the Sultans life himself. The ambush had some effect. During the attempt, the Ottomans lost 6,000 men while the Habsburgs lost 1,600 men. As morning arrived, Mustafa realised that the Habsburg Army was near and was not secure until he finally defeated the Army. A plan to invade Transylvania after succeeding in the Banat was gone by now as Sultan Mustafa decided to destroy the Austrian Army in order to enforce a victory. The Sultan left the Banat by late October 1758 for Istanbul.


Either all or nothing, 1759

Sultan Mustafa’s gains were lost when he retreated from the Banat. He decided to leave early, in March for his campaign and finish in November. Mustafa left for the Banat again with his force. By late May, he arrived in Temes, taken over all towns planned last year except for Arad. When he finally took Arad in June he sent a Tatar force to raid and burn undefended Transylvanian towns. Mustafa stayed until the end of July in Klausenburg when he retreated with his Army from Transylvania to Petrovaradin to take over Osijek. When Mustafa reached with his Army Osijek, he laid siege to Osijek. The Army of Hungary hearing about the siege attempted to lift the siege. A captive from the Habsburg Army told the Ottomans about an advancing Habsburg Army. When the Tatar scouts of the Ottoman Army told the Sultan about an approaching Habsburg Army the Sultan prepared to counter it. Mustafa left Sari Mustafa Pasha, the commander of Petrovaradin to continue the siege while he himself decided to caught the Habsburg Army. Knowing about the lack of the Army, he caught the Army between Pecs and Osijek. In Mohacs, a battle was fought between the Sultan and the Croat lord of Sisak. The Ottoman artillery bombed the marching Habsburg forces. The Ottoman Army was 50,000 men strong, in the centre of the Ottoman Army were the Janissaries, On the right wing, the Ottomans placed the Sipahis while on the left flank the Circassian Cavalry were to hold. The artillery was placed in the centre behind the Janissaries. The Habsburg forces attempted to break the Circassian Cavalry. When there seemed to look success, the Sultan sent Tatar reserves to support the Circassians, preventing its retreat. The Sipahis managed to break the Habsburg left flank while the Habsburgs attempted to support it with Uhlan cavalry. The Sipahis were in much trouble and close to break when the last reserves, the Albanian militia supported it. After hours of intense fight, the Janissaries managed to break the centre, crumbling it and in return caught the Habsburg flanks separated and surrounded by the Ottoman forces. The Uhlan cavalry was broken and the remainder surrendered while the right flank retreated being exhausted. The Habsburg Army, 65,000 men lost around 25,000 men while another 12,000 surrendered and all of the 20 artillery pieces were captured. About half of the deaths were soldiers attempting to flee by crossing the Danube. The Ottoman Army lost around 9,000 men during the battle. Sultan Mustafa, fearing a larger Habsburg Army being already in Vienna decided to retreat and not continue the siege. Mustafa left for Constantinople. After the loss in Mohacs in 1759, it was enough for the Habsburgs. The fighting did lead to nothing nor gaining Dalmatia as planned. Empress Maria Theresa sent envoys to the Ottomans in Novi Pazar.


Peace between the two empires

Mustafa deciding to wait out winter in Belgrade made fears greater in Vienna. The bulk of the Austrian Armies were fighting in Saxony, Silesia and Brandenburg. Although the Austrians gained the initiative, the Habsburgs feared that the Ottomans prepared a campaign for Buda. Considering peace came after Mustafa’s Army burned down half the towns in Transylvania angering more Hungarian nobles. After the crushing defeat in Mohacs, the Austrians were ready to talk with the Sultan. Mustafa III, although positive, was not happy with the results. The Army casualties were high, defeat was close. Letting the Habsburg think he prepared an invasion of Hungary with 200,000 men was a Gods gift. Mustafa was now stronger to negotiate. He ordered the Grand Vizier back to Novi Pazar to talk with the envoys. Mehmed Ragip Pasha demanded as followed:

• Accepting Ottoman rule in Dalmatia
  

• Surrender of Gracac to the Ottomans
  
• Pay war reparations of 3,000,000 Thaller in 10 years
  
• Remove the Military frontier zone on the Ottoman border
  
• Demilitarized towns of Zemun, Petrovaradin and Osijek and Banat region
  
• No longer accepting Serbs as refugees in the entire domain of the Habsburgs
  
• No interference in the Danube principalities
  

The Austrians made a counter offer:

• Surrender Gracac to the Ottomans in exchange for Starigrad and Jasenice in Dalmatia
  
• Pay 800,000 Thaller as war reparations in 8 years.
  
• Remove military zone only on the border of the Belgrade Pashaluk
  
• Demilitarise Zemun
  
• No longer accepting Serbian refugees
  
• No longer interference in Moldova
  

When Mehmed Pasha threatened to invade Croatia if the Habsburgs did not accept his offer the Habsburg envoy made another counter offer which was seemed acceptable:

• Gracac becomes Ottoman territory, Vis island becomes Habsburg
  
• The Habsburgs pay 2,000,000 Thaller in 10 years
  
• The military frontier zone on the border of the Belgrade Pashaluk
  
• Serbian refugees will no longer be accepted in Habsburg domains
  
• No interference in the Danubian principalities
  

With the treaty being accepted, there was a little change in territorial gains, with the Ottomans gaining Gracac in Dalmatia while the Habsburgs officially gained Vis island near Dalmatia which was unoccupied by the Ottomans and ruled by renegade Croatian and Italian pirates during the era without law and order. For the Habsburgs, the islands could be a possible naval base in the future. The Ottomans used the money to pay their armies and focussed fully on the front with Russia.


Siege of Kamieniec, 1760

When the treaty of Novi Pazar was signed between the Ottoman and Habsburg government, there was peace between Austria and the Ottoman Empire with the Austrians attempting to break Prussian resistance in Saxony. The Russians were also active in Eastern Germany, notably in Eastern Pomerania. In order to draw Russian attention and to protect the Northern border of Moldova, Ahmed Pasha and Bahri Mustafa Pasha advanced to Kamieniec. The town in Podolia was a part of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth. But the Russians were de facto rulers of the town due to Russian Military activity around the town.
Bahri Mustafa Pasha ordered to siege the town. with 40,000 men Kamieniec was under siege from May to August. In August, a Russian Army of 47,000 men from Kiev arrived. The Russians successfully drove the Army of Bahri Mustafa Pasha away. Ahmed Pasha returned to Iasi being too ill to participate in the battle. Bahri Mustafa did not want to encounter the Russians as it was impossible to drive them back and retreated back to Chotyn. The Russians saved Kamieniec from the Turks but in return firmly controlled the town more from the Commonwealth government, something king Stanislaw hated.