“With the sabre in one hand and the Koran in the other”. : Turkish seamen in the Baltic and the decline of Swedish-Ottoman relations in the 1790s

• Sweden enjoyed friendly relations with the Ottoman empire for most of theeighteenth century. However, when Sweden signed a peace treaty with Russiain August 1790 this severed its alliance with Constantinople. Russia, a mutualenemy, had served as the glue binding the Turco-Swedish friendship. This article discusses the change in relations after Sweden’s breach of the treaty. It describes and contextualizes a little known episode following the Russo-Swedish war of 1788–90. During the war Sweden had captured a number of Turkish seamen that were fighting with the Russians in the Baltic. That European seamen and travellers were frequently seized in the Mediterranean by North African corsairs is well known. We know less about Ottoman subjects and their experiences of captivity in the hands of European powers. I will attempt to follow these sailors’ destinies as far as is possible. The Swedish king arranged for the Turkish prisoners to be sent to Constantinople in order to appease Turkey. Sweden also offered naval assistance toward the Ottoman empire’s reform of its navy. Both the transport of the Turkish sailors and the naval assistance proved difficult. I use these maritime episodes to illustrate Sweden’s role in the Mediterranean and the waning of its relationship with Turkey.

Subject headings

HUMANIORA  -- Historia och arkeologi -- Historia (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- History and Archaeology -- History (hsv//eng)

Keyword

naval history

Ottoman-Swedish relations

Pehr Olof von Asp

Johan David Åkerblad

Mouradgea d'Ohssson

History

Historia

Historia

History

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)