London Straits Convention

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In the London Straits Convention concluded on 13 July 1841 between the Great Powers of Europe at the time - Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Austria and Prussia - the 'ancient rule' of the Ottoman Empire was re-established by closing the Turkish straits of Bosporus and the Dardanelles (which linked the Black Sea to the Mediterranean) from all warships whatsoever (bar those of the Sultan's allies during wartime). It thus benefited British naval power at the expense of Russia because the latter lacked access to the Mediterranean.

This convention helped preserve the European balance of power by preventing Russia's powerful navy from dominating the Mediterranean. It also forced Emperor Nicholas I to abandon his plans for reducing the Ottoman Empire into a complete dependent of Russia and liberating the Christian countries of the Balkans (such as Bulgaria) from the Ottoman yoke. Despite this, it was not wholly independent after the convention, as it relied on the Powers for protection.

The motivation of Emperor Nicholas to agree to the closing of the straits has been said to be his uneasiness over the Treaty of Unkiar Skelessi, which he feared might turn the other Great Powers against him by creating too tight an alliance between him and the Sultan. He also authorised the British Navy to quell the attack on the Ottoman Empire by its former vassal, Muhammad Ali of Egypt. However, Anglo-Russian tension over the region remained. Turkey was the area where their two empires rubbed side by side.

London Straits Convention

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