Holy League of 1684 Sacra Ligua (Latin) | |
---|---|
1684–1699 | |
Status | Military alliance |
Historical era | Great Turkish War |
• Treaty of Warsaw | 31 March 1683 |
• Established | 5 March 1684 |
26 April 1686 | |
26 January 1699 |
The Holy League (Latin: Sacra Ligua) was a coalition of Christian European nations formed during the Great Turkish War. Born out of the Treaty of Warsaw, it was founded as a means to prevent further expansion of the Ottoman Empire into Europe. This consolidation of a large portion of Europe's military might led to unprecedented military successes, with large areas of previously ceded land recovered in Morea, Dalmatia and Danubia in what has been dubbed a "14th crusade".
The formation of the League has been recognised as a turning point in the history of the Ottoman Empire. By forcing military defeats and territorial losses onto the Empire, the League shifted the balance of power away from the Ottomans, leading to a diminished Ottoman presence in Europe. The League was dissolved after the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699.