Ottoman–Venetian maritime treaty (1416)

The Ottoman–Venetian maritime treaty of 1416 was signed between Ottoman Empire and Republic of Venice, ending a short conflict between the two powers and stipulating the rules maritime trade between them.

Background

After the collapse of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum, four Anatolian beyliks in west Anatolia (namely Karasi, Aydin, Sarukhan and Mentese) had become minor sea powers in the Aegean Sea in the early 14th century. However, towards the end of that century, they were annexed by the rising Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans commandeered their fleets and enrolled their captains. With this enlarged navy, the Ottomans proved to be a serious threat to Venetian domination in the Aegean. Although the three of the beyliks regained their independence during Temur's campaign for a brief duration, they weren't able to acquire their past fleets.

In 1415, shortly after Ottoman interregnum, Venice sent 10 galleys to the Sea of Marmara, under the command of Pietro Loredan, to check the Ottoman fleet. With some reinforcements from the Aegean islands (most of which were dominions of Venice) this fleet began controlling Marmara. In a clash on 14 May 1416, the Venician fleet defeated the Ottoman fleet, killing its admiral Çalı Bey. Loredan then also tried to capture the Ottoman port of Lapseki, but this time he was repelled and forced to withdraw.^[1]

Treaty

Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus volunteered to be the mediator, and the two sides agreed on the following:

1. Prisoners of war were released.
2. Both sides promised to combat piracy.
3. Venice was given trade concessions in the Ottoman Empire

References and notes

1. ^ Prof.Dr.Yaşar Yücel-Prof.Dr.Ali Sevim: Türkiye Tarihi II, AKDTYK yayınları,İstanbul,1990, p. 80-81