24810 - Α strategic point Analysis of the September 6, 1669, Peace Treaty

N. Lygeros
Translated from the Greek by Athena Kehagias

1) For the purpose of Democracy to enjoy constant peace with the Gate, a factor it always sought out for, the city of Chandakos with its cannons, and ammunitions which belonged to it, will be delivered into the hands of those who will be indicated by the Grand Vizier under the immediately following written rules.

Here we see that Morosini manages to change the data prior to the expected defeat, in order to continue the battle through a lateral manner, as he could already observe what was to follow, and he demanded what would’ve assisted towards the implementation of the project.

He knew well enough, that the besiegers were in a hurry to finish of with the Grand Castle, and they feared that even now they had the possibility to delay the fall, even though in reality the situation was already so desperate and without this scheme, which led to a stratagem, they would’ve slaughtered them all, as was the case in Famagusta back in 1571.

2) That the fortresses of Souda, Gramvousa and Spinalonga With their associated territories, The Fortress of Clissa and its territorial regions, and all other territories obtained during the last war in Bossina, to peaceful come into the possession of the Democracy without any harassment, or any other term imposed.

These fortresses didn’t merely constitute reference points for Christians when they were in danger, but also points of resistance, which acted as thorns towards the Ottoman system. In that manner Morosini ensured trojan horses for Venice in case of a general attack, but also simultaneously retrospectively, diversional nodes in regards to his action in the Peloponnese .

3) That all the large and smaller firearms of the Armada, which landed in Candia, may be freely re-embarked.

So that it wouldn’t be unnecessarily any loss of ammunition power, during the time of the withdrawal, and that they wouldn’t be the recipients of a treacherous attack, a fact that the commander always had in mind.

4) The 12 days of permit are provided as agreed, for the purpose of the embarkment and the deliverence of the sacred and common assorted items, the cannons and the ammunitions belonging to the above mentioned Armada, animal feed, or other goods and baggages of any sort, as well as the injured and the ill, all the remaining military forces, and all those both indigenous and foreign who intend to board, so that they can be transfered therefrom with galleons and boats.
Prior however to that deadline there should be no demand in any way or form, for the city, or part of it, to be handed over.

That providence regarding the sacred was of great importance, because it means that in actual fact the Venetians behaved like the Joannites Knights of Rhodes in 1522, and they take care to rescue the relics of its history, because they were viewing the matter long term and not merely in terms of decades, but on the contrary for centuries on, as was the case in regards to Spain with Reconquista.
As finally the liberation ocurred in 1913, after failing to take place back in 1878 with the Treaty of Berlin.
5) In the case by which the above mentioned period of 12 days should not be enough for the boarding of all their forces, as well as all of the above mentioned items, then the Grand Vizier considers it his responsability that after the city is surrendered to him, to use his own vessels in order to transport those who remained on the Venetian ships, which for this purpose are situated towards the ditch.

We see that safety valves had been predicted re: each case, and this factor indicates not only the value, but also the number of objects which should’ve been saved from the Ottomans.

6) That during the course of the determined deadline regarding the embarkation, both Parties ought to maintain the positions, which they now hold, a term which they must abide by, with all possible accuracy and respect, banning the soldiers to come into any verbal contact with one another, in order to avoid disorder, which could possibly be the outcome, and would therefore urge the officers in order to act out their duty, to undertake to treat as enemies the disobedients of the one or the other side, without it as such to be considered as a violation of the peace treaty by either side.

This article constitutes the activation of the diplomatic channel, in order for what we name in strategy “the tail of the siege” not to occur.

7) That immediately after the signing of this article, with the agreed upon white flag signal, all hostilities and military acts, both on, or under the land must stop, for there to be an indication regarding the hostages, and for four persons to be sent by either side, for the precise observation of the above mentioned actions.

The symbol used throughout the duration of the negotiations would be what would ensure the smooth course of events.
Even this was a feat regarding the Ottomans.

8) That for the certitude of the implementation of the above mentioned articles, three persons should be given from each side as a surety. They should be of high caliber and of a corresponding social position.
From our side we propose three noble Venetians, them been Faustin de Riva, Admiral of the Armada, Gio Bacca Calbo, an arms and animal feed general, and Zaccharia Mocenigo, Duke and now a private citizen in Candia, and in exchange we request, Dabri Pasha Veilervei of Semesvar, Ahmet Pasha, Aga of the Janissaries, and Gassit Bey , Chief Accountant of Rumelia.
These hostages will not return until the boarding sees completion.

This reciprocally concerted ransom constitutes one of the most purposeful stratagems of the entire case.

9) That in order to secure the proccess, on our part, every possible care will be taken during the boarding, and two representatives will be accepted who may inspect the execution of the plan.
They must be navies, in order for them to, together with two of our admirals, carry through with vigilance the entire process, within the allocated time limit for the re-embarkation.

The operative part of the process, due to the port, was assigned to navies, and it gives all the importance of this approach, which many at this point forget.

10) That the vessels which will be used during our boarding, in order for it to take place at great speed, will reach as close as possible to the port, and for this purpose, the galleons and other ships to be able to move back and forth, night and day, without any harassment.

Everything should happen as fast as possible, without friction and wear&tear, in order for there to be no delay, and a consequence a new phase change. Everyone opts for the closure of the case in the most effective manner.

11) That it would be allowed for the venetian armada to remain at the port up until it’s prepared to leave, and both parties will see to it as good friends.

Diplomacy in all its glory, in order to support the strategic choice.

12) That any ship looting, which takes place upon the Venetian Armada after the signing of this peace treaty, must be returned with precision, and this applies to all ships looted by the Turkish Fleet, and because there are some individual ships, apart from those above mentioned, which engaged in plunder under the venetian flag, not only would the removal of the flag would be imposed upon them by official order, but also all privileged documents of the crew will be removed, but also the violators of both parties will be punished by death after the lapse of forty days (period granted up until their notofication), after the expiration of which, those continuing on with the looting will be considered enemies by both parties, and their punishment will not be passed on to either party as a violation of the present Treaty.

This means that the battle can not continue in the sea after the receding from the port, and a pause in a general context is required, which of course allows all parties to replenish their units for the next moves.

13) That the slaves of both sides, which are, or may be, scattered throughout any remote places, will become mutually free, when the Democracy will send its representative at the Gate, and then not only the co patriots, and the Venetian nationals of any order, but persons of any nationality as well, who were arrested during the period in which they have been serving in this war, they will become free on good will.

The reciprocal freedom of everyone, through that exchange, which is very rare case for the Ottomans, and a factor which means that they wanted to put an end to the problem as they were not sure about the outcome of the case even at this point.

We know also that Constantinople received the news re: the signing of the Treaty only after the departure of all Venetian ships.
14) That for the sake of the Treaty an apology will be granted to nationals of both Parties, who in whichever way or form served the opposite party.

We observe here the form of Amnesty of the era in practice, applicable to all classes.

15) And under this abore mentioned peace treaty, the articles of the prior lat peace treaty will be considered as validated respectively.
Neither will for any reason whatsoever any counter claim be taken into account, except for the continuation of the subsidy payment regarding Zakynthos island according to the above mentioned previous Treaty, which payment will begin from now and hereafter.

It’s proof that there is always continuity between the Treaties.

16) All of the above stated articles of this peace treaty should be signed and sealed, written on two sheets of paper, one in the turkish language, signed by the Grand Vizier and sealed with the official seal and which inthe future is to remain in the hands of the Chief commander, the other in the italan language, signed by the Chief commander and the Council, and sealed with the seal of the Republic, to remain thereon in the hands of the Grand Vizier, each of these sheets will have a translation appended, signed by the State’s officials, ie. the Turkish article in italian, and the Italian l in turkish, in order for both parties to be able to observe that there is not any intended deception, and that all will occur unviolated by the oath of both.
That the Grand Vizier, taking into account the, of such duration, decisive and brave defense, which the besieged kept with such honour, will allow them to obtain four cannons from the artillery of the Fortress.

It is a characteristic point of the end of the siege, where the courage of the besieged is well noted, although the Ottomans took advantage of the treason of the engineer in order to manage to obtain the Great Castle, not exactly with the sword, but with the acquisition of information.

Francesco Morosini, Generalissimo.

Gieronimo Battaglia, General Counselor.

Lorenzo Cornero, The Counselor of the Armada.

Zorzi Benzon, Admiral of the gulf.

These are the names that now belong to the history of the entire Europe and not only of our Crete.