Convention of London (1840): Difference between revisions

{{DablinkHatnote|For other treaties and conventions signed in London, see [[Treaty of London (disambiguation)|Treaty of London]]}}

| date_signed = [[15 July]] [[1840]]

| location_signed = [[London]], United Kingdom

| signatories =
* {{flag|UKGBI|name=United Kingdom}}<br>
* {{flag|Austrian Empire}}<br>
* {{flag|Prussia|1803}}<br>
* {{flag|Russian Empire}}<br>
* {{flag|Ottoman Empire}}

The '''Convention of London of 1840''' was a [[treaty]] with the title of ''Convention for the Pacification of the [[Levant]]'', signed on 15 July 1840 between the Great Powers of [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]], [[Austrian Empire|Austria]], [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]], [[Russian Empire|Russia]] on the one hand, and the [[Ottoman Empire]] on the other. The Convention lent some support to the Ottoman Empire, which was having difficulties with itsthe rebellious [[Wali (administrative title)|Wali]] Egyptianof possessionsEgypt.

The treaty summarized recent agreements concerning the Ottoman Empire under [[Abdulmecid I]], and its [[Egyptian–Ottoman War (1839–1841)|second war]] with Muhammad Ali's [[Egypt Eyalet of Egypt|Egypt]]. It was brought about by the Great Powers' fear of the destabilizing effect an Ottoman collapse would have on Europe.

The Ottomans agreed to declare the [[Dardanelles]] closed to all non-Ottoman warships in peacetime. Muhammad Ali was to withdraw immediately his forces from Arabia, the holy cities of [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]], [[Ottoman Crete|Crete]], and the district of [[Adana]], all within the Ottoman Empire. In return, the signatories offered to Muhammad Ali and his heirs permanent control over [[Eyalet of Egypt|Egypt]] and the [[Eyalet of Acre]], providedif that thesethose territories would remain part of the Ottoman Empire. If he did not acceptagree to withdrawal of his forces within ten days, he should lose the offer in [[Ottoman Syria|southernSouthern Syria]]; if he delayed acceptance more than 20 days, he should forfeit everything offered.<ref>Geoffrey G. Butler, Simon Maccoby, [https://books.google.com/books?id=hEK83BhHp-4C&pg=PA440& ''The Development of International Law''], p. 440</ref> He also had to return, to Sultan [[Abdülmecid I]], the [[Ottoman Navy|Ottoman fleet]] whichthat had defected to [[Alexandria]].Egypt Muhammad Aliand was also to immediately withdraw its forces from Arabia, thein [[Holy city|Holy CitiesAlexandria]], [[Ottoman Crete|Crete]], the district of [[Adana]], all within the Ottoman Empire.

Muhammad Ali finally accepted the terms of the Convention and the ''[[firman (decree)|firmans]]'' subsequently issued by the sultan, confirming his rule over [[Eyalet of Egypt|Egypt]] and the [[SultanateTurco-Egyptian of DarfurSudan|Sudan]]. He withdrew from [[Ottoman Syria|Syria]] and [[Ottoman Crete|Crete]] and sent back the Ottoman fleet. The London Convention and the ''firmans'' were the legal basis for Egypt's status as aan [[Egypt Province, Ottoman Empire|privilegedautonomous Ottoman province]]. Later Egyptian nationalists cited them to discredit claims for the British occupation.

* Goldschmidt, A.; Johnston, R. (2004), ''Historical Dictionary of Egypt'' (3rd ed.), American University in Cairo Press, p.&nbsp;243

* Berger, M. (1960), ''Military Elite and Social Change: Egypt Since Napoleon,''. Princeton: Center for International Studies, p.&nbsp;11

* Rich, N. (1992), ''Great Power Diplomacy, 1814-19141814–1914''. Boston: McGraw-Hill.

[[Category:1840s1840 in London]]

[[Category:1840 in Russiathe German Confederation]]