"A Humiliating Treaty Followed the Great Victory": The Ahdname of 1573 Issued by Selim II

Abstract

The Ottoman-Venetian war of 1570 began with the naval campaign against the Venetian-held island of Cyprus. Soon thereafter, the action evolved into a war between the Ottomans and the Holy League that ultimately included the battle of Lepanto, in which the Ottomans experienced a heavy defeat. Nevertheless, the Ottomans continued to fight the Holy League by rebuilding their navy the following year. The efforts of the 1572 campaigns, while not resulting in an overall victory, caused cracks in the alliance of the Holy League. Venice, for example, made a separate peace with the Ottomans, and Selim II issued an ahdname. This article will examine the aforementioned peace (ahdname) and discuss its various articles. Finally, the author will offer a general evaluation of the struggle between the Ottomans and Venice.