Treaty of Constantinople
- When
- 1800
- Where
- Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
- Episodes
- 2
The Treaty of Constantinople, concluded between the Ottoman and Russian Empires in spring 1800, created the Septinsular Republic, the first autonomous Greek state since the fall of the Byzantine Empire. The treaty followed the Russo-Ottoman expulsion of the French from the Ionian Islands and was recognized by the United Kingdom in January 1801.
Episodes
- Conclusion of the Treaty of Constantinople
Russia and the Ottomans signed the treaty in spring 1800, creating the Septinsular Republic as the first autonomous Greek state since 1453.
- Sanctioning of the constitution and flag
On 1 November 1800 the Grand Vizier presented the delegates with the constitution, a diploma of autonomy, and the new flag, blessed by the Patriarch.
Background and detail
Background. In autumn 1798 a joint Russo-Ottoman fleet evicted the French from the Ionian Islands, capturing Corfu in March 1799. Ali Pasha of Yanina meanwhile seized Butrinto, Preveza, and Vonitsa from the French. On 21 June 1799 the islands' Senate sent a twelve-member delegation to Constantinople and Saint Petersburg to thank the Sultan and Tsar and press for recognition of the islands as an independent state.
Aftermath. In practice the islands remained under Russian rather than Ottoman influence, and political developments produced new constitutions in 1801 and 1803. The treaty was recognized and adhered to by the United Kingdom in January 1801. The initial constitution proved short-lived amid popular reaction.
People involved
- Ottoman Empire · treaty party
- Russian Empire · treaty party
Sources
- Treaty of Constantinople (1800) Wikipedia, revision of 2026-03-11
- Septinsular Republic Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-22
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.