Treaty of the Dardanelles (Kale-i Sultaniye Treaty)

The Treaty of the Dardanelles, also known as the Kale-i Sultaniye Treaty, was a peace and trade agreement signed between the Ottoman Empire and the United Kingdom on March 13, 1809. The treaty aimed to reorganize Ottoman-British relations amid the geopolitical context created by the Ottoman-Russian wars and the Napoleonic Wars. It also served to restore diplomatic relations between the two powers, which had been disrupted following the British naval expedition to the Bosphorus in 1807 (known as the British Expedition).

Historical Background

Napoleon’s expansionist policies in Europe prompted Britain to seek an alliance with the Ottoman Empire. In 1807, the British applied diplomatic pressure on the Ottomans to prevent closer ties with France, sending a naval fleet to Istanbul. However, this move backfired and was met with hostility by the Ottomans, leading to the outbreak of the Anglo-Ottoman War (1807–1809).

Following the failure of the British attempt to occupy Egypt (1807–1809) and the continued threat posed by France, Britain opted to renew ties with the Ottoman Empire. These developments culminated in the signing of the Treaty of the Dardanelles on March 13, 1809, at Kale-i Sultaniye (present-day Çanakkale, on the Dardanelles Strait).

Contents of the Treaty

Key provisions of the Treaty of the Dardanelles included:

• Closure of the Straits: The Ottoman Empire pledged to keep the Straits (Bosporus and Dardanelles) closed to all foreign warships during peacetime. This clause became a foundational reference in future discussions concerning the regime of the Straits.
• Commercial Privileges: Britain was granted renewed commercial privileges in Ottoman territories, similar to previously existing capitulations.
• End of War: The Anglo-Ottoman War (1807–1809) officially ended, with both parties agreeing to release prisoners of war.
• Territorial Status Quo: Britain recognized the territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire and withdrew its activities in Egypt.

Significance

The treaty was one of the first international documents to assert the Ottoman Empire’s sovereignty over the Straits formally. The principle of closing the Straits to warships during peacetime was later reaffirmed in several key agreements, including the 1841 London Straits Convention, the 1871 London Protocol, and the 1936 Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits. These references granted the principle a lasting place in international law.

Additionally, the treaty marked a renewed alliance between the Ottoman Empire and Britain against France and signified a turn towards a balance-of-power foreign policy for the Ottomans.

Diplomatic Consequences

• Ottoman-British relations were reestablished.
• A balance of power was achieved in opposition to France.
• The legal framework for the Straits regime was established for the first time.
• Britain’s influence in Ottoman foreign trade increased.