The Zsitvatorok Peace

It was a peace treaty signed between emperor Rudolf II., the king of Hungary and Ahmed I. the Turkish sultan in the mouth of the river Zsitva which was meant to bring the approximately fifteen year war (1591-1606) to an end. The treaty which was to be in force for a twenty year period guaranteed the state of peace (attacking fortresses and forays were prohibited) and declared the mutual liberation of captured hostages. Emperor Rudolf however, was obliged to send 200,000 forints as a one-off gift to the sultan. From the 17th century onwards the paying of this amount ended the obligation to pay the Turks 30,000 forints annually, which was stated in a peace treaty dating from the previous century.

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