Original scientific paper
Veneto-Austrian Alliance of 1716 in the Light of English Sources
Marija Kocić
; Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Abstract
The alliance concluded on 13 April 1716 in Vienna represented the highest peak of the efforts of both Venetian and papal diplomacy to drag Austria in the new war with the Ottoman Empire. Some contemporaries and contemporary press, that just became an important means of informing in “Classical” Europe, anticipated that step since the moment when Venice found herself alone in the struggle with great, even though visibly weakened, Ottoman state. The experience of the creation of previous Holy League of 1683-1684 was still alive, but new constellation of relations in Europe influenced change of the side which played the role of its initiator. This time, it was Venice who, together with the papacy, influenced Emperor Charles VI to enter into new war adventure with uncertain result.
British diplomats in Venice, Alexander Cunningham (with the title of a resident), and Constantinople, Robert Sutton (ambassador), became witnesses of political contest and a number of problems which were put in motion by the initial idea of the creation of that alliance. Even though they resided on territories of opposed sides, they both presented their views on the negotiations, in the form which their diplomatic authority allowed them to obtain or means on their disposal allowed them to buy information. In their reports, which are sometimes contradictory to the views expressed in the press, they point at the course of the negotiations. Exactly from this reason, these reports are important historical sources, partially explaining “turning point” on which Vienna stood by the decision to enter into the new war with the Ottoman Empire.
Keywords
Venice; Robert Sutton; Alexander Cunningham; the Porte; diplomacy
Hrčak ID:
136437
URI
Publication date:
29.12.2014.
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