A „szináni ajánlat”. Oszmán vazallus államok létesítésének terve 1593-ban
The ‘Offer of Sinan’ (The idea of establishing vassal states in 1593)

Summary/Abstract: The study discusses the plans of the Porte at the beginning of the so-called Fifteen Years’ War (1593–1606), focusing on the ideas of Grand Vizir Sinan, the decisive figure of the Ottoman court. The aim of Sinan Pasha was to get the whole Royal (Habsburg) Hungary and to invade Vienna, Prague (the centres of the Habsburg Empire) and possibly Rome (the seat of the pope). These cities were considered „kizil elma” (red or gold apples) by the Otttomans, i. e. the main targets of their expansion. In the case of Hungary Sinan wanted to occupy the key forts near the Danube and to annex these Transdanubian parts to the Ottoman Empire. For the territories he did not want to attack he reserved the vassal status. These territories were north of the main routes of the Ottoman line of attack towards Vienna. These regions included the Hungarian Highlands (nowadays: Slovakia) and the Czech (Bohemian) Kingdom. Sinan renewed the policy of Sultan Süleyman and in the summer and autumn of 1593 these territories were offered to certain Hungarian lords (Ferenc Nádasdy, István Báthori, Ferenc Dobó), if they accepted the overlordship of the sultan and payed tribute. One of the planned vassal state was called the principality (voivodate) of Kassa and the other was the Czech Kingdom. It did not matter for the Ottomans, which of the Hungarian lords would rule one or the other vassal state. Grand Vizir Sinan and Hasan Pasha (beylerbey of Temesvar) sent letters to these lords and with threats, promises wanted to persuade them to accept the offer, but they failed. However, the „offer of Sinan” proves that for the Ottomans both the establishment of vassal states and direct annexation were equally important.

• Details
• Contents