Vassal and tributary states of the Ottoman Empire

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The Ottoman Empire and its vassals in its peak during the late 16th century during the regime of Murad 3 Ottoman Empire Detailed.png
The Ottoman Empire and its vassals in its peak during the late 16th century during the regime of Murad 3

The Ottoman Empire had a number of tributary and vassal states throughout its history. Its tributary states would regularly send tribute to the Ottoman Empire, which was understood by both states as also being a token of submission. In exchange for certain privileges, its vassal states were obligated to render support to the Ottoman Empire when called upon to do so. Some of its vassal states were also tributary states. These client states, many of which could be described by modern terms such as satellite states or puppet states, were usually on the periphery of the Ottoman Empire under suzerainty of the Sublime Porte, over which direct control was not established. The Ottoman Empire maintained relationships with various states, some of which were under their direct rule (provinces) and others that were vassal states or tributary states, meaning they recognized Ottoman suzerainty but retained a degree of autonomy.

Contents

Functions

The tributary system of the Ottoman Empire was dictated by a series of small states that paid tribute in one way or another to the Ottoman Empire. Initially, the system started after the 14th century, when Balkan states (Serbia, Bulgaria, Byzantium, Wallachia) accepted vassal status after defeats. Ottomans first demanded only a small yearly tribute from vassal princes, as a token of their submission. They later demanded that a vassal prince's son should be held as hostage, that the prince should come to the Palace once a year and swear allegiance, and that he should send auxiliary troops on the sultan's campaigns. Vassal princes were required to treat the sultan's friends and enemies as their own. If the vassal failed in these duties, his lands would be declared as darülharb (lit. territory of war) open to the raids of the Ghazis. [1]

The Ottomans considered as their vassals all states whose rulers agreed to pay tribute. Even the Habsburgs fell into this cateogry after Ferdinand I (1526-64) agreed to buy peace from the Ottomans in 1533. In fact the Habsburgs were vassals in name only, as was Ragusa. Transylvania depended much more on the good will of the Ottomans than did those ruling in either Vienna or Ragusa, and the so-called Danubian Principalities, Moldavia and Wallachia, were indeed vassal states in the strictest legal sense of the term. [2] [3]

Most of Ottomans conquests were normally Transform into vassal states [4] , such examples as Fezzan, Transylvania, tripoli, Hungary, and many more. The Ottomans established a pattern of government within the territories or principalities that were incorporated gradually through tribute and military alliance before full annexation. [5] The Ottomans preferred indirect rule in the Balkans and the Arab provinces rather then being a vassal, the Ottomans would give Local dynasts that were retained as vassals, particularly in border zones, [6] this policy allowed local ruler to have local authority exchange for tribute such as military support and coinage, public rituals such as naming the sultan in khutba, [7] while recognize the ottomans as Head ruler, and serve as buffer zones.

Forms

There were also secondary vassals such as the Nogai Horde and the Circassians who were (at least nominally) vassals of the khans of Crimea, or some Berbers and Arabs who paid tribute to the North African beylerbeyis, who were in turn Ottoman vassals themselves. Other tribute from foreign powers included a kind of “protection money” sometimes called a horde tax (similar to the Danegeld) paid by Russian envoys to the Crimean/Ottoman turks, and for the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, It was usually Crimean khanate rather than to the Ottoman sultan. This tribute was called upomynky [11] (Part of the Crimean–Nogai slave raids in Eastern Europe)

List of Ottoman tributary and Vassals

1683 Central europe 1683.png
1683

See also

References

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