TWO MISSIONS OF MAJOR HIERONYMUS NATALIETO ISTANBUL: DIPLOMATIC CONTACTS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE IN 1715-1718
Introduction. Diplomatic contacts between Russia and the Ottoman Empire between Adrianople (1713) and Constantinople (1720) treaties are explored. For Posolsky prikaz (Ambassadorial office), the main task was to keep peaceful relations between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, which gave the possibility to the tsar to concentrate on military operations in Pomerania. Methods. The study is based on the analysis of unpublished materials of the Posolsky prikaz and their comparison with notes of contemporaries and with other historical sources. Analysis and results. The absence of Russian diplomatic resident in Istanbul did not promptly allow to solve the problems caused by violations of the conditions of the Adrianople treaty: border conflicts and the entry of the tsarist army into Poland. After the Treaty of Passarowitz (1718), which ended the war of the Ottoman Empire with Venice and Austria, a new danger arose for the beginning of the Russo-Turkish war. In 1715 and 1718, the Ragusin on the Russian service Hieronymus Natali was twice sent to the Sublime Porte with the charters of Peter I. Along with handing the tsar's charters to the Grand Vizier about border conflicts, Natalie had secret assignments connected with the prevention of a military conflict with the Ottoman Empire.