Ichko, Treaty of

an agreement between the leaders of the First Serbian Uprising (1804–) and the Turkish government of Selim III, concluded in December 1806. It is named for the representative of the rebels, Petar Ichko. According to the terms of the treaty, the numerous taxes levied on the Serbs were henceforth to be paid as a single tribute, collected by the Serbian authorities and turned over to a Turkish finance official; Turks would be permitted to live only in the cities of Serbia; the janissaries were to be removed from the country; and the Serbs were to take over the defense of their own borders. The agreement established the basis for the de facto autonomy of Serbia. In December 1806, with the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War of 1806–, it was repudiated by the Serbs, who renewed the struggle against the Turks in alliance with Russia.