WI: Peter the Great takes Constantinople 1453

Ignore 1453 i have know idea why i typed that!

In 1700 the Ottoman Empire was faced with a coalition against them made up of Russia, Austria, Venice and Polish-Lith lead by Peter the Great. The Ottomans at this time sued for peace and signed the Treaty of Constantinople. My what if is that the Coalition pushes on and doesn't make peace until they take Constantinople?
 
Ignore 1453 i have know idea why i typed that!

In 1700 the Ottoman Empire was faced with a coalition against them made up of Russia, Austria, Venice and Polish-Lith lead by Peter the Great. The Ottomans at this time sued for peace and signed the Treaty of Constantinople. My what if is that the Coalition pushes on and doesn't make peace until they take Constantinople?

Ottoman-screw.

You can always change the title by clicking on it in the thread page and changing it.
 
*Peter the Great is startled from his sleep as a bright flash envelopes his bedroom, smoke billowing forth from the epicenter of the flash. When it clears, he sees a mysterious metal chariot with no horses. From it, an old man with wild grey hair emerges and gazes directly at him with frantic eyes*

"W-who are you?!" Peter demands in shock.

"There's no time, Peter!" The old man responds, "You've got come with me right now, the fate of history is at stake!!"

"Come where with you, unknown one?!"

*The camera zooms in on Doc's face* "To the past...to 1453!!"

*As Peter reluctantly boards the Delorean, they lift off and with a trail of fire they rocket off to the past...to Peter's destiny, as the Back to the Future music thunders loudly!*

---

Okay, seriously though. Losing Constantinople would be a massive blow to the Ottomans, but Russia shouldn't expect to just keep it without it's allies raising a word. There was a reason Russia was historically unable to take the capital, and it wasn't that the Ottomans were too strong. They weren't. It was because NOBODY wanted Russia to have such a strategic port, and Peter could very well find himself soon at war with his other coalition partners if he does take it.

Austria, which has it's own designs on the Balkans always feared Russian strength growing too prominent there, and Poland-Lithuanaia doesn't want Russia growing too powerful period.
 
*Peter the Great is startled from his sleep as a bright flash envelopes his bedroom, smoke billowing forth from the epicenter of the flash. When it clears, he sees a mysterious metal chariot with no horses. From it, an old man with wild grey hair emerges and gazes directly at him with frantic eyes*

"W-who are you?!" Peter demands in shock.

"There's no time, Peter!" The old man responds, "You've got come with me right now, the fate of history is at stake!!"

"Come where with you, unknown one?!"

*The camera zooms in on Doc's face* "To the past...to 1453!!"

*As Peter reluctantly boards the Delorean, they lift off and with a trail of fire they rocket off to the past...to Peter's destiny, as the Back to the Future music thunders loudly!*

---

 
Okay, seriously though. Losing Constantinople would be a massive blow to the Ottomans, but Russia shouldn't expect to just keep it without it's allies raising a word. There was a reason Russia was historically unable to take the capital, and it wasn't that the Ottomans were too strong. They weren't. It was because NOBODY wanted Russia to have such a strategic port, and Peter could very well find himself soon at war with his other coalition partners if he does take it.

Austria, which has it's own designs on the Balkans always feared Russian strength growing too prominent there, and Poland-Lithuanaia doesn't want Russia growing too powerful period.

Yeah. I'm not sure it was strong enough, but if it was - this with a vengeance.

That can't possibly end well for Russia. Peter was capable, but not this capable.
 
I expect if they don't accept the peace proposal it may bite them in the ass, a threat like that is something that very well could force the Janissary's to accept reforms which they where never previously willing to do. If they overplay their hand even if they win this time the next war could well see them pushed back again, the supply lines for an offensive that deep into Ottoman Territory would already be difficult and the Ottomans even when at a disadvantage could begin turning it around even without modernization.
 
Okay, seriously though. Losing Constantinople would be a massive blow to the Ottomans, but Russia shouldn't expect to just keep it without it's allies raising a word. There was a reason Russia was historically unable to take the capital, and it wasn't that the Ottomans were too strong. They weren't. It was because NOBODY wanted Russia to have such a strategic port, and Peter could very well find himself soon at war with his other coalition partners if he does take it.

Austria, which has it's own designs on the Balkans always feared Russian strength growing too prominent there, and Poland-Lithuanaia doesn't want Russia growing too powerful period.

I don't think it's about Constantinople per se. It's all about the straits. So a first compromise during such a tremendously successful war would be that Austria gets the Dardanelles and Russia gets Constantinople. That's something both could live with - for the moment.

Anyway, the day the war ends would also be the day the Austrian-Russian rivalry begins in force.
 
Ignore 1453 i have know idea why i typed that!

In 1700 the Ottoman Empire was faced with a coalition against them made up of Russia, Austria, Venice and Polish-Lith lead by Peter the Great. The Ottomans at this time sued for peace and signed the Treaty of Constantinople. My what if is that the Coalition pushes on and doesn't make peace until they take Constantinople?

So instead of taking on Sweden they take on Ottoman Empire? OE wasnt a pushover in 1700 like after 1800.

I am sure Peter the great wouldnt be the great in this scenario
 
This period is not my forte, so forgive my wikipedia wander

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Constantinople_(1700)

This appears to imply that Russia initially had a cessation of hostilities starting in 1698, that in 1699 her allies made a separate peace because they'd achieved their war aims, and in 1700 the Ottoman-Russian negotiations, going on for 2 years, concluded with a treaty that gave Russia most of her aims.

So what we really need is a motivation for something different to happen. Given that Peter creates a coalition to attack Sweden, then obviously his focus shifted or was already largely focused to the North.

On top of this, barring a Crusade, what would keep the rest of his allies in the fight when they had achieved their aims? Clearly, they must have a reason to expand those aims?

Could there be an uprising in Jerusalem? Something to call to all collective Christian hearts...

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
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