Editing Treaty of Belgrade (section)

==Negotiations==
[[File:Tamis_banat1718_1739.png|thumb|240px|Political situation before the war 1737-1739]]
[[File:Wilhelm-reinhard-neipperg.jpg|thumb|240px|Count [[Wilhelm Reinhard von Neipperg]], the chief Habsburg negotiator at the Belgrade peace talks]]  

During the final stages of the [[Austro-Turkish War (1737–1739)]], the main Habsburg army, commanded by field marshal [[George Olivier, count of Wallis|Wallis]] suffered a strategic defeat at the [[Battle of Grocka]] (21–22 July, 1739), and retreated into the [[Belgrade Fortress]], that was soon [[Capture of Belgrade (1739)|besieged]] by the Ottoman forces.{{sfn|Wheatcroft|2008|p=240}} 

Already on 31 July, the government in [[Vienna]] decided to relieve Wallis of his previously granted powers to negotiate with the Ottomans. Those powers were transferred to count [[Wilhelm Reinhard von Neipperg|Neipperg]]. On 10 August, the imperial government composed new instructions, that were approved by the emperor [[Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles VI]] and sent to Neipperg on 11 August. Arriving in the still Habsburg-held Belgrade with imperial instructions on 16 August, Neipperg proceeded to the camp of the [[Grand Vizier]] on 18 August. There he found himself increasingly isolated, and dependent on the French mediator, marquis [[Louis Sauveur de Villeneuve]]. On 1 September, Neipperg agreed to sign a preliminary peace agreement with the Ottomans, and then dispatched the news to the Emperor on the next day. Neipperg's report arrived to Vienna on 7 September, provoking outrage, since it became obvious that he signed the agreement not knowing that already on 31 August, the Emperor sent him new instructions, an action that was followed by the governments decision to revoke Neipperg's negotiating powers (3 September). On 5 September, while still not knowing that the preliminary treaty was already signed, the Emperor sent a letter to Neipperg, informing him that his diplomatic mission has ended. Only upon return to Belgrade from the Grand Vizier's camp, Neipperg became aware of those new instructions and consequent decisions, realizing that he acted without valid negotiating powers, but it was too late for reversal, and further negotiations proceeded towards the conclusion of the final peace treaty.{{sfn|Ingrao|1994|p=147}}{{sfn|Roider|1972b|p=195–207}}