1812-treatyscript

Treaty of Bucharest, May 28^th, 1812 Also 1812 - Treaty: how and why the new state was created.

Treaty which carves out a new Russian empire state - soon to be known as Bessarabia – much later to metamorphose into the (current) Republic of Moldova.

English translation of the 16 article peace treaty. This was concluded (at Manuc Bei’s Inn) in Bucharest between the Ottoman and Russia empires. Original text prepared by Ottoman proxies / civil servants. Most articles in this treaty refer to Moldavia and Wallachia. This translation is from the Romanian and French texts. There is also a Russian text. Following example: start of article four, Romanian:

Articolul patru: În primul articol al senetului privitor la preliminariile păcii, care se încheiase mai înainte, se prevedea ca hotarul dintre cele două state să fie râul Prut, de la intrarea cestuia în ţara Moldovei şi până la locul unde se întâlneşte cu fluviul Dunărea, iar de acolo să urmeze partea stângă a fluviului Dunărea, până la Gura Chiliei şi până la mare, iar gura amintita să fie folosită în comun de ambele părţi.

Translation:

Article four: The first article of the preliminaries previously signed [May 17^th], stipulated that the Prut river, from its entrance into Moldavia to the point where it meets the Danube river [Giurgiulești], and from there following the left bank to the mouth of the Kilia (Chilia) and the sea, will form the boundary of the two empires. The estuary mouth being used jointly by both parties.

Today, the Danube estuary mouth is shared between Romania and the Ukraine. From 2005/6, the new port of Giurgiulești was established as the Republic of Moldova’s only port, situated at the confluence of the Prut and the Danube. (This was the outcome of a small territorial exchange with the Ukraine). Giurgiulești location also represented the furthest point Russia’s warships were allowed to travel up to under article four.

Treaty source: The Script of Ottoman-Russian Treaty of 1812 by Ionuț Cojocaru.

Recommend Cojocaru’s first page / opening (English language) contextual assessment.

This author (Eddie Barton) has applied paragraphing, punctuation, and translation adjustments to the above original to ensure clarity through the use of (more) modern English, while being faithful to the original’s sense, purpose and meaning. Duplications and restatements have largely been edited out. Where the two language texts differ by extraneous content - adding nothing new - brevity has also been employed. Overall, at times, the outcome has been a hybrid blend from the two language versions. Any doubts? Access Cojocaru’s text, as above !

This presentation - part of a comprehensive introduction to its subject – is to quickly lead the reader into understanding the treaty’s provisions in creating Bessarabia.

Font-setting selection highlights (focuses attention on), important and significant areas impacting the Dacia region only – skip down to read these (normal print size) sentences !

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A summary of each treaty article:

Article 1 – exhortation for goodwill, and good faith to be expressed and exercised by both parties; parties to be careful and respectful in their mutual relations.

Article 2 – “amnesty and pardon to all their subjects and nobles…” for past misdeeds in acting between the two parties.

Article 3 – brief reference to “all previous Treaties, Conventions, Acts and Stipulations…” which are to remain in force unless superceded by this 1812 treaty.

Article 4 – most important: the article which effectively creates the (boundaries of the) new Russian empire state, which a year or so later would be named as Bessarabia (in its entirety).

Article 5 (part reduced font) – part reprise of items in articles 3 & 4, plus tax exemptions and adjustments for the principalities’ inhabitants, who have right to emigrate up to four months from treaty ratification.

Article 6 (reduced font) – return of non-principalities’ territories e.g. Anatolia.

Article 7 – important: eighteen month transfer window for Muslims and Christians in each empire, finding themselves in the “wrong empire” to choose (if they so wish) to sell their possessions where they are and transfer that wealth to the country they’re emigrating to. Where applicable to the Budjak Tartars, the Ottoman Empire to compensate for travel costs.

Article 8 (reduced font) – substantial (human rights) protection for the Serbian people, with self determination. All recently erected fortifications to be destroyed.

Article 9 – prisoners should be exchanged (through diplomatic officials) without recompense, unless they have voluntarily embraced the religion of their captors. Officials of one empire, present in the other, should be similarly treated.

Article 10 – any outstanding pre-war legal claims and cases to be revived, then quickly and fairly concluded with payments subject to any legitimate tax deductions.

Article 11 – the Russian empire will evacuate its troops within a three month period post ratification, during which time, they will remain under Russian supervision and receive normal supplies to maintain themselves.

Article 12 (reduced font) – protection for Russian merchants and subjects from thuggish elements in specified Ottoman controlled north African states.

Article 13 (reduced font) – Ottoman directed mediation in settling war between Persia (Iran), and Russia.

Article 14 – immediate cessation of hostilities following treaty ratification with prompt restoration of any territory taken post ratification.

Article 15 – ratification to take place within ten days of treaty signing or less.

Article 16 – conflicting with article 15, ratification to take place within four weeks of treaty signing.

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Treaty starts with (reduced font) preamble. See original language scripts for different “top and tail” versions of introduction and/or conclusion with lists of participants.

In the name of the merciful and gracious Allah!

Thanks be to Allah, who raised peace instead of war and gave peace to the people and the people! We worship and glorify our master Muhammad, the prophet of the Most High Allah, for bringing us peace and tranquility! Thanks to the great descendants of the Prophet!

The reason for writing the following pages is that His glorious, wise, great, majestic and mighty majesty our superlative sovereign of the Ottoman Dynasty, our benefactor and our lord with the high title of supreme plenipotentiary, as well as their majesty, the magnificent and powerful emperor and sovereign of all Russians, making sincere efforts to change and put an end to the enmity and intrigues which have long encompassed their states, have expressed their sincere thoughts of concluding lasting peace and renewing their bonds of friendship.

Therefore, on account of their highness, his greatness, I was appointed poor as I am, as a delegate, by the will and under the supervision of his happy, benevolent highness, the great vizier and supreme commander, for the conclusion of peace and friendship, and I was appointed, by an act of power of attorney from the High Court, as is evident from my signature, written at the end.

Also, on behalf of the emperor mentioned above, were commissioned and appointed, as special proxies, by acts of empowerment from their excellencies - the high and honoured Count Mikhail Golenishchev-Kutuzov, an infantry general and commander-in-chief of the Russian armies, knight of all orders in Russia, along with the Sultan’s appointment: the most illustrious and very excellent Lord Ahmed Pasha, Grand Vizier and General of the Sublime Ottoman Gate. Both appointed with all the necessary full powers to set-out, conclude and sign this peace treaty

Additionally appointed, the high and skilful Andrei Italinski, who is the private adviser to the above-mentioned emperor and his current chamberlain, and who, being the knight of many orders, obtained now the high distinction with the crescent. Also named was Jean de Sabaneev, who is a lieutenant general of the imperial army and the commander-in-chief of army officers and the knight of numerous orders. His Excellency, the noble Joseph Fonton was also named: current adviser of the aforementioned emperor and the knight of some orders.

[Alternative translation / version lists at this point a very large number of additional individuals including the senior Ottoman officials involved in the treaty discussions].

Therefore, after, as usual, we presented and affirmed our power of attorney documents in the city of Bucharest, which is the place of talks, we held the meetings and after repeated discussions, we agreed on the conditions and clauses shown below:

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Article one: With the conclusion of this peace treaty, the cessation and removal, on land and at sea, of all kinds of hostilities and misunderstandings, which have continued to this day between the two states, continuing forever; peace and friendship and good understanding between the superlative sovereign of the Ottoman Dynasty and the emperor and sovereign of all Russians, as well as between the heirs to the throne and their successors and kingdoms.

In order to sincerely prevent all motives which might lead to enmity, the two High Contracting States should make every effort to be careful, and comply with all the articles which have been included in this peace treaty; diligently ensuring that, from now on, no facts or actions contrary to the above-mentioned agreement will occur, either from one side or the other, secretly or openly.

Article two: According to the articles which have been renewed and confirmed with the greatest clarity between the two powerful Contracting States, both sides shall grant amnesty and pardon to all their subjects and nobles who, during this war just ended, acted against the state, and of the country, either in respect of military operations or in respect of other matters, and, considering everything as if nothing had happened; not to be held accountable and punished at all, for their past deeds, and when the kind of persons mentioned above return to their old homes, let the laws in force for others be taken into account in their regard, and let them thus be sure of the riches they had before it. and to rule them in peace.

Article three: All previous Treaties, Conventions, Acts and Stipulations concluded and adopted at different times, known between the Imperial Court of Russia and the Sublime Ottoman Gate, are fully confirmed in their original form, except for modifications made to them by these treaty articles which the two High Contracting Parties additionally undertake to abide by both religiously and inviolably.

Article four: The first article of the preliminaries previously signed [May 17^th], stipulated that the Prut river, from its entrance into Moldavia to the point where it meets the Danube river, and from there following the left bank to the mouth of the Kilia (Chilia) and the sea, will form the boundary of the two empires. The river estuary being used jointly by both parties. Given that the left-hand side of the Danube River, from in front of Ismail to the mouth of the Kilia, mentioned above, is very close to the coast, that riverbank will remain under the control of the Russian Empire.

The small islands there, unpopulated before the war, are to remain unoccupied and are not to be taken over by any of the states, and henceforth, no fortifications or buildings are to be erected on these islands, but they should be left deserted, with the allowance that subjects of the two parties should be allowed to go there to cut wood or to fish.

Signs should also be placed on the large islands in front of Ismail and Chilia, especially the parts very close to the left bank of the Danube, which as already mentioned, are to remain empty and uninhabited, except for the villages that existed there before the war, as well as old Chilia.

Given that the Ottoman Empire cedes to the state of Russia the land on the left bank of the Prut, with its existing cities and towns and villages and all their inhabitants, the middle of the Prut River shall be the border between the two states, and the mouth of the Kilia will as agreed be used jointly with access to merchant ships of both states, as well as on the waters of the Danube. Russia’s warships are permitted to enter from the mouth, but only up to the point where the Prut River flows into the Danube.

Article five: Also, the Russian Empire to hand over to the High Ottoman Empire, Moldavia principality from the right bank of the Prut River, mentioned earlier, as well as Wallachia and Oltenia, as they are at present, with their cities, towns and fairs, villages and inhabitants, as well as all that is in the aforesaid lands. Also, to hand over the islands on the Danube, in addition to those mentioned in article four above. Also, the Ottoman Empire should respect the documents and stipulations regarding the privileges of Wallachia and Moldavia, which had been concluded by the start of the war, as recorded in article five of the preliminary treaty, referred to before.

Also, the provisions of article four of the Treaty of Iasi are to be respected in toto, meaning that past taxes and levies from the two principalities covering the period of the war will be waived. Also, the Ottoman Empire consents to adjust the size of the levies from Moldavia proportional to its new size. The inhabitants of the two principalities will be exempt from state taxes for two years starting from the exchange of treaty ratification documents. From that point for four months, any inhabitants who wish to emigrate to other lands should be permitted to do so.

Article six: As provided in Article three of the above-mentioned preliminary treaty, apart from the Prut River border, the other territories, in parts of Anatolia and elsewhere, will all be returned to their pre-war border status. Therefore, the state of Russia should hand back to the High Empire, in their current state and condition: those cities, towns, villages and other places, including all that currently belongs there, along with their inhabitants, occupied by Russia during this war.

Article seven: Any Muslims present in territories ceded to Russia since the declaration of [the 1806-12] war, and also other subjects, wishing to emigrate to Ottoman Empire territory with their families, children and possessions, can indeed journey to live under Ottoman Empire rule, with no difficulties or obstacles placed in their path.

Furthermore, granting to the above and additionally, inhabitants currently resident in [post treaty] Ottoman Empire territory with wealth and property in Russian held territory, freedom to sell those Russian territory valuables to the inhabitants of those lands, to whom they want to sell, transferring that value to Ottoman held countries.

Therefore, in order to regulate the above-mentioned matters, those affected will be granted a grace period of eighteen months to complete these matters, starting from the date of the exchange of the acts of ratification of this peace treaty.

Also, Tartars from the Yedisan tribe in the Budjak, who passed into Russia, should be allowed to return to Ottoman held states, at their own free will, provided that the Ottoman Empire compensates the State of Russia for their travelling expenses.

It is also necessary to do the opposite, so that Christians owning property in the lands abandoned and ceded to the Russian state, and who were born in those lands, but who currently reside in the Ottoman countries, should be able to journey, if they wish, to settle with their families, children and their possessions in the ceded lands mentioned above, without being hindered at all. But, also within eighteen months from the date of the exchange of the documents of ratification of this peace treaty, allow them also to sell to the inhabitants of the countries of the Ottoman Empire their various kinds of wealth, which they have there, allowing them to transport their value to Russian state territory.

Article eight: According to article four of the preliminary treaty, the Serbian people are part of the Ottoman Empire, and there is no doubt that the Ottoman Empire shows mercy and generosity towards them. However, given the intervention of the people mentioned previously in wartime operations, it is considered appropriate that their peace be strengthened by clear assurances. Therefore, the Ottoman Empire grants to the above-mentioned nation total forgiveness and amnesty, and in order not to hold anyone accountable for their past deeds, to consider everything as if nothing had happened.

Also, on lands where the [Serbian] people live, there are no old fortifications; those that were built because of the war are to be demolished and ruined; they are no longer necessary from now on, and all the cities and palaces and other places fortified, existing from the past to the present, are to be handed over, as before, into the possession of the Ottoman Empire along with all their cannons, ammunition, military facilities and equipment. Given that there will be appointed, at will, guard garrisons, these guard soldiers should not persecute, in any way, the Serbian people, or violate their rights. Therefore, taking pity on their plight, the Ottoman Empire should institute measures for their safe protection.

Thus, the Ottoman Empire will comply with some Serbian requests, such as, for example, granting to them the privileges enjoyed by the nobles of the Ottoman Empire on the islands of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the nobles of the other parts. The Serbs are to achieve self-autonomy, as with other states. Additionally, the Ottoman Empire should reach agreement with the Serbs on matters such as retaining for their own use any tributes normally paid.

Article nine: All prisoners of war or other prisoners, women or men, in the lands of the two states, of any race and rank, shall be handed over without any compensation, immediately after the exchange of treaty ratification documents, apart from Christians who voluntarily converted to the Islamic faith in the Ottoman Empire and likewise, Muslims who voluntarily became Christians in the Russian kingdom.

Also, this article should be fulfilled in the same way for Russian officials who, after the signing of this peace treaty, might be in the countries of the High Empire, being detained in some way, which would have been normal process. At the same time, the Russian state is also committed to applying the same procedure to all subjects of the High Empire.

The prisoners should be brought out and handed over to diplomatic officials, with their needs supplied for until their release by each of the two states.

Article ten: All cases and claims of the respective subjects, suspended due to the war, shall be resumed and brought to a conclusion, in accordance with the law, after the treaty is effectuated. Any amounts owed by one party to another should be paid promptly, subject to any legitimate tax deductions.

Article eleven: With the conclusion of this peace, and the exchange of ratification documents by both powers, the Russian Empire will begin to evacuate its troops and all its warships from the territories and waters of the High Empire. However, given that this issue must be administered from afar, and taking into account local conditions, the two contracting powers have set a deadline of three months, as the last date for the total evacuation of parts of Anatolia and parts of Wallachia and Moldova, starting from date of exchange of ratification documents. Russian forces will leave territory restored to the Ottoman Empire through parts of Rumelia or Anatolia.

Until the completion of the Russian armed forces evacuation, and the return of Ottoman Empire territory, those Russian forces will remain under the compete supervision of the Russian state, face no interference, and continue to receive their necessary supplies in the usual way as before.

Article twelve: If, in accordance with the provisions of Article Seven of the Iaşi Peace Treaty, the Russian Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire submits in writing, complaints either about damage caused by thuggish mobs from Algeria, Tunisia and Tripoli, against merchants and subjects of the Russian Empire, or to breaches of the agreed conditions of trade, expected to be maintained, then the Ottoman Empire should take rapid and effective action to remedy this situation properly, without delay. The Russian state should also do the same for the subjects of the High Empire, in terms of compliance with the requirements of the trading conditions.

Article thirteen: Given that the Ottoman High Empire and the Persians are part of the Islamic family, after the conclusion of this peace treaty, the Russian state accepts the Ottoman Empire’s offer to assist in ending the war between Persia (Iran) and Russia, through fair minded mediation.

Article fourteen: Following the exchange of treaty ratifications, both supreme leaders will immediately issue orders to their senior military officers on land and sea to end hostilities without delay. Any territory gained or lost through military action immediately following the exchange of ratifications will have no force over this treaty agreement, and must be promptly surrendered if outside of it.

Article fifteen: After the proxies of the two powers have signed this peace treaty, it shall be ratified by the signatures of the two supreme leaders and these exchanged within ten days, or earlier if possible.

Article sixteen: This treaty of eternal peace shall be confirmed and ratified by the two supreme leaders with their own signatures within four weeks, and these documents shall be exchanged through the delegates of both parties at the place where the treaty was concluded.

Suggested useful sources for how and why in 1812 the Treaty of Bucharest came to set up the new Russian province, named Bessarabia (in its entirety) a year or so later - in date order.

History of Europe from the Commencement of the French Revolution in 1789 to the Restoration of the Bourbons in 1815, Vol. 10 by Sir Archibald Alison, 1860

The Private Diary of Travels…During Mission and Employment with the European Armies in the Campaigns of 1812, 1813, 1814 by General Sir Robert Wilson, 1861

Mémoires de l'amiral Tchitchagoff (1767-1849) – posthumous biographical diary & document assemblage from Admiral Chichagov, en Français, 1862

The Life of The Right Honourable Stratford Canning… from his Memoires and Private and Official Papers, vol 1 by Stanley Lane-Poole, 1888

The Making of The Treaty of Bucharest 1811 – 1812 by F. Ismail, 1979

Anglo-Ottoman Encounters in the Age of Revolution…by Cunningham and Ingram, 1993

The Script of Ottoman-Russian Treaty of 1812 (Rom, Fr., Russ.) by Ionut Cojocaru, 2012

The Role of British Ambassador Stratford Canning in the Negotiations of the Treaty of Bucharest by Şeyma Dereci, publ. St. Kliment Ohridski University, Sofia 2015

Bucharest during the Peace of 1812 by Ana-Maria Lepăr, 2015

Towards the Russo-Ottoman Peace (1810 – 1812)… [re] British Ambassador Stratford Canning by Andrada Ligia Manole, 2019

Manuc Bey – Secret Character of the backstage of the Bucharest Peace of 1812 by Vlad Mischevca - Limba Romana (Chisinau), 2020 – Romanian: Google Translate startpoint.

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