Peace of Vasvár facts for kids

The Peace of Vasvár was an important agreement signed in 1664. It was a treaty between the Habsburg monarchy (a powerful European family and empire) and the Ottoman Empire (another large empire). This peace treaty came after a big battle called the Battle of Saint Gotthard. The treaty helped stop a war between the two empires, known as the Austro-Turkish War (1663–64). This peace lasted for about 20 years.

The Peace of Vasvár (Turkish version)

What Was the Peace of Vasvár?

The Peace of Vasvár was signed on August 1, 1664. It officially ended the war between the Habsburgs and the Ottomans. Even though the Habsburgs had won the recent battle, they decided to make peace.

Why Did They Make Peace?

The Habsburg ruler, Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, wanted peace. He needed to focus on other problems, especially with France. France was a powerful country and a threat to the Habsburgs in Western Europe. Making peace with the Ottomans allowed Leopold to prepare for possible conflicts with France.

Who Was Unhappy with the Treaty?

Not everyone was happy about the peace treaty. People in Croatia and Hungary were especially upset. Much of their land was controlled by the Ottomans. They had hoped to get more of their land back after the recent victory.

• Two important Croatian noble families, the Zrinski and the Frankopan, felt betrayed.
• They had just helped free some areas from Ottoman control.
• But the treaty forced them to give these lands back to the Ottomans.
• This caused a lot of anger and problems within the Habsburg lands. It even led to a rebellion later on.

What Were the Main Points of the Treaty?

The treaty recognized that the Ottoman Empire controlled Transylvania and a city called Uyvar. Both empires also agreed to pay each other a "gift" of money every year. This was a way of showing respect and keeping the peace.

• The Habsburgs also gained some economic rights in Ottoman lands.
• They agreed to pay 200,000 florins (a type of money) to the Ottoman Empire each year.
• Interestingly, this was one of the few times the French king fought against the Ottomans. France was usually an ally of the Ottomans.

The Peace of Vasvár helped the Habsburgs focus on their western borders. It gave them time to deal with issues in the Holy Roman Empire and Italy, which were threatened by France.

See also

• Zrinski-Frankopan conspiracy
• Capture of Uyvar