Chapter 2 - Diplomacy and Military Encounters

Summary

The rule of Peter Aron (r. 1451–1452; 1454–1457, with interruptions) marked the beginning of Moldavia's allegiance to the Ottoman Empire. It was during his reign that Moldavia agreed to pay tribute to Sultan Mehmed II “the Conqueror” (r. 1444–1446; 1451–1481), for the first time. Contemporary sources—chronicles, imperial charters, letters, petitions, reports, etc.—are not particularly straightforward on the nature of the initial interactions between Moldavia and the Ottomans. It appears that Moldavia was forced to recognize Ottoman suzerainty and pay an annual tribute to the Porte sometime soon after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The exact date at which Moldavia became a tributary state (Ottoman-Turkish: kharâj-güzar; Latin: tributarius) is difficult to establish. But it is known that a peace agreement or treaty (‘ahdnâme) with the Porte was ratified sometime after 1455, during the second reign of Peter Aron. Sultan Mehmed II issued a document to Peter Aron on October 5 in which he outlined the conditions of a peace settlement between Moldavia and the Porte, requesting a punctual annual payment of two thousand Hungarian gold forints (ducats) in return for peace. The agreement reads:

From the great sovereign and great Emir Sultan Mehmed Bey to the noble, wise, and estimable Peter, voivode and prince of Moldavia [Morovlahia]. Receive friendly greetings, Your Excellency. You have sent your messenger, the boyar and chancellor Mihail. And My Highness has taken note of all the words he has said. If you send My Highness harac [tribute] in the amount of 2,000 gold ducats each year, let there be perfect peace [between us]. And I grant you a delay of three months. If [the tribute] arrives within this time, let there be complete peace with My Highness. But if it does not arrive, you know [what will happen]. And let God rejoice you! On the fifth day of October, in Sarukhanbeyli [Saranovo or Saranbei, near Tatar Pazardzhik]!

On June 9, 1456, the Sultan sent another letter to the Moldavian prince in which he recognized Peter's acceptance of the peace conditions—an action that is said to have “eliminated the hostility” between these two leaders and their domains.