ABSTRACT

Russia first secured the right to free trade with the Ottoman Empire through Article 11 of the Treaty signed on 21 October 1720 during the reign of Ahmed III. This treaty granted Russian merchants the right to trade in the Ottoman Empire on the same terms as Ottoman merchants in Russia. With Article 9 of the Belgrade Treaty, signed on 3 September 1739 during the reign of Mahmud I, Russian merchants obtained the right to trade via Ottoman ships. Later, with the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca in 1774, they gained the right to trade in the Black Sea using their own ships. Thus, Russians, who had initially traded via Ottoman ships, came to conduct trade via Ottoman and their own ships. Until the Turco±Russian Trade Treaty of 1783, Russia continued to trade with the Ottoman Empire in accordance with the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca of 1774. With the Trade Treaty of 1783, Russia, which already possessed its own ships, exported a considerable amount of goods to the Ottoman Empire while still utilizing Ottoman ships as well. As a result of these trade treaties, Russia became more privileged in the Ottoman Empire than most European countries. Britain is considered to have attained similar privileges only with the Balta Limanõ Treaty of 1838. The Russians, who lost their advantage with the Balta Limanõ Treaty and feared the possible consequences of Egyptian independence, concluded that any action against Britain could prove harmful to themselves. After mending their relations with Britain, Russia signed the Turco±Russian Trade Treaty of 1846 with the Ottoman Empire. This study examines the Turco±Russian Trade Treaty of 1846 from the perspectives of both countries and analyzes the period before and after the treaty.