Russian-Turkish wars (2 photos). All Russian-Turkish wars

Wars of the Russian and Ottoman Empires for hegemony in the Black Sea basin and the Balkans.

The first large-scale clash between Russian and Turkish troops took place in 1677-1678 in Ukraine. In August 1677, the Turkish army under the command of Ibrahim Pasha approached the hetman's capital Chigirin, a year earlier occupied by Russian troops after the hetman of Right Bank Ukraine Petro Doroshenko, who had previously adhered to a pro-Turkish orientation, defected to the Russian side. In early September, in a battle near the Buzhinskaya pier, the Turkish vanguard was defeated by the army of the governor, Prince Grigory Romodanovsky, reinforced by the Cossacks of the hetman of Left Bank Ukraine Ivan Doroshenko. After this, Ibrahim Pasha considered it best to retreat from Chigirin.

In the summer of the following year, the Turkish army, led by the Grand Vizier Kara-Mustafa himself, approached Chigirin. The Turks dug tunnels and undermined the walls of the city. Fires broke out in Chigirin. Part of the garrison tried to escape across the bridge to Romodanovsky’s camp, but the Turks set the bridge on fire, and almost all the fugitives died in the waters of Tyasmin. The remnants of the garrison settled in the upper castle and fought off two attacks. On the night of September 1, 1678, they went to Romodanovsky, setting the castle on fire. The Turks burned what was left of Chigirin.

The Russian-Ukrainian army left the right bank of the Dnieper. There were no more active hostilities. According to the Peace of Bakhchisarai, concluded in January 1681, Russia recognized the Right Bank of Ukraine as the Ottoman Empire, and the latter, in turn, agreed to the annexation of the Left Bank to Russia. Turkey at that moment was fighting the Holy Roman (Austrian) Empire and was not interested in continuing the fight with Russia for Ukraine. After the defeat at Vienna in 1683, Turkey lost control over Right Bank Ukraine, which returned to Poland at the end of the 17th century.

In 1686, Russia joined the coalition of Austria, Poland and Venice, which fought the Ottoman Empire, and in 1687 and 1689, the Russian army under the command of Prince Vasily Golitsyn made two unsuccessful campaigns in the Crimea, which failed due to the inability to supply a large army in the deserted and waterless steppe.

More successful were the campaigns of Tsar Peter I near Azov in 1695-1696. As a result of the second campaign, with the help of a fleet specially built for this purpose, it was possible to take this strongest Turkish fortress, capturing its garrison. According to the Peace of Constantinople, concluded in July 1700, Azov and the adjacent lands, on which the Taganrog fortress was built by order of Peter, passed to Russia.

The next military clash between Russia and Turkey took place already in

In 1710, when, under the influence of the Swedish king Charles XII, who ended up in Turkish Bendery after the defeat at Poltava, the Sultan began a war with Russia. Peter I overestimated his strength and, having concluded an alliance with the Moldavian ruler Dmitry Cantemir in April 1711, headed to the Prut at the head of an army of 40,000. The Russian Tsar counted on the uprising of all Christian subjects of the Ottoman Empire and the help of the ruler of Moldavia, Cantemir, and the ruler of Wallachia, Brancovean. However, when July 5

In 1711, the Russian army reached the Prut, here it was met by Cantemir, who had been expelled from his principality, with a small army. The Wallachian ruler did not provide any help to the Russians at all.

On July 20, near the village of Stanilesti, Russian troops were surrounded by the 100,000-strong Turkish army of the Grand Vizier Batalji Pasha. They managed to repel the first attacks of the Janissaries, but the position of the army, which lost 4 thousand killed in the battle, remained difficult. However, the condition of the Turkish army was far from brilliant. The Janissaries who attacked the Russians suffered heavy losses and demanded a cessation of hostilities. Turkey did not have the strength to march deep into Ukraine and long-term occupation of this country. The Grand Vizier, who received rich gifts from Menshikov and other close associates of the Tsar, agreed to conclude a truce on the terms of the return of Azov to Turkey and the transfer of the new fortress of Taganrog to it. The truce was signed on July 23, 1711. Hostilities never resumed. The terms of the truce were confirmed by the peace treaty concluded in Adrianople on June 24, 1713.

The successors of Peter the Great continued the struggle for access to the shores of the Black and Azov Seas. In the autumn of 1735, under Empress Anna Ioannovna, Russian troops, using the incessant raids of the Crimean Tatars in Ukraine as a pretext, set out on a new campaign against the Crimea. However, due to the onset of winter cold, General Leontyev’s detachment was forced to return before reaching the peninsula. In the deserted Black Sea steppes there was no way to supply a large army in winter. Only on June 1, 1736, the army of Field Marshal Minich broke through Perekop and on June 28 captured the capital of the Khanate, Bakhchisarai. However, Russian troops could not stay in the waterless steppe part of Crimea for long, and Minich had to leave the peninsula.

The army of another field marshal, Lassi, was more successful, and on June 20, 1736, he took Azov by storm. The following year, on July 13, Minikh took the strongest Turkish fortress of Ochakov, the walls of which could not withstand Russian artillery fire. If the assault failed, the besiegers would have to retreat, since there was only 8 days of food left in the camp.

The Turks, who at the same time had to wage war with Austria, remained passive in the Russian theater of operations, limiting themselves to the defense of fortresses. Russian troops suffered major losses from hunger and epidemics. In June - July 1738, Minikh undertook an unsuccessful campaign to the Dniester, when, due to the extraordinary heat, half of the army died from lack of water and food. Lassi’s campaign in Crimea was just as disastrous. To top all the troubles, due to the plague epidemic, Ochakov had to be abandoned. Realizing the impossibility of holding on to what they had conquered, the Russian government began to lean toward peace. In August 1739, Minikh defeated the Turkish army at Khotin and took this fortress, which forced the Turks to agree to peace. The peace treaty was signed on September 29, 1939 in Khotyn. Azov was transferred to Russia, but only as an unfortified city.

In October 1768, a new Russian-Turkish war began. Turkey took advantage of the fact that Russia was at war with the Polish Confederates and attacked first, hoping to divert Russian forces to Poland. However, the Turkish army was poorly prepared for war. In 1769, Russian troops took Khotyn and Iasi in Moldova. In 1770, the Turks were defeated in the battles of Larga and Kagul. The Russian expeditionary force in Georgia captured Kutaisi and besieged Poti. The advance of the Russian armies was slowed down not by Turkish resistance, but by supply difficulties. On October 3, the commander of the 1st Army, General Pyotr Rumyantsev, reported to Empress Catherine II that crossing the Dniester was hampered by the lack of anchors and ropes necessary to build a pontoon bridge, since it was “impossible to get them from anywhere other than Moscow itself.” The situation with food and fodder was equally deplorable.

In 1770, Russian troops began the summer campaign by crossing the Prut River. On June 28, Rumyantsev's 35,000-strong army defeated a Turkish detachment of 22,000 men, reinforced by several thousand irregular Tatar cavalry. But the losses of the Turks in this battle were relatively small - only 400 killed and wounded, since the heavy Russian cavalry - cuirassiers and carabineers - found it difficult to pursue the enemy on rough terrain. At this time, the 2nd Army of General Pyotr Panin was advancing on Bendery. On July 18, Rumyantsev defeated the army of the Crimean Khan, reinforced by a Turkish detachment, at Larga. The enemy lost up to a thousand killed and wounded and 30 cannons, but the Tatar cavalry again escaped pursuit.

The main Turkish forces were on the northern bank of the Danube. The Crimean Khan acted against the communications of the 1st Army with Khotin, which is why Rumyantsev’s troops experienced difficulties with food. Grand Vizier Khalil Bey went on the offensive, hoping to defeat the 1st Russian Army. Turkish troops camped on the Cahul River. According to Rumyantsev's Reports, the Grand Vizier had 150 thousand men and 180 guns. There were 37 thousand people in the Russian army, of which 10 thousand were forced to protect the rear from the attacks of the Crimean Tatars from the Fulce (Fel-chku) region. Rumyantsev had 118 guns. That the Turks were unlikely to actually have a numerical advantage is proven by the fact that they occupied a narrow defile no more than 1 km wide between Cahul and a large ravine. Rumyantsev, in accordance with the terrain, attacked the party in columns. Russian troops crossed the Trojan Wall, repelling a counterattack by the Turkish cavalry, which could not do anything with the infantry squares. The Turkish detachments, trying to enter the rear of the Russian position along the ravine, were repulsed by artillery fire.

When the main forces of the Russians were at a distance of 200-300 steps from the enemy, several thousand Janissaries jumped out of the ravine, crushing Plemyannikov’s divisions and trying to upset the square of grenadier Olitsa. They were repelled only by grapeshot from a short distance and a bayonet counterattack. The defeat of the Janissaries was completed by a counterattack of the Russian heavy cavalry. After this, all the guns concentrated fire on the Turkish camp, where the divisions of Olitsa and Plemyannikov later burst into on the shoulders of the Janissaries.

At the same time, the corps of Bour and Bruce attacked the enemy from the flanks, and parts of Repnin’s corps entered the Turks’ rear. The army of the Grand Vizier fled in disarray, and the Russian cavalry pursued it for 5 km. The camp with 140 cannons and other trophies went to the winners.

The next day, one of the Russian detachments overtook the Turks while crossing the Danube and captured a thousand prisoners and 30 guns. Such a small number of prisoners proves that the 150,000-strong Turkish army at Cahul is most likely a myth of subsequent victorious reports. After Cahul, Repnin’s corps took Izmail on August 6. On August 30, the Turkish fortress of Kiliya fell, and on November 21, Brailov. The 2nd Russian Army captured Bendery on September 27 and moved to Crimea

In Transcaucasia, Georgian troops allied with Russia under the command of Tsar Heraclius II defeated the Turkish army that crossed the Kura River in the Battle of Aspin.

On June 24-26, 1770, a decisive battle took place at sea in the Chesme Bay area on the island of Chios. Russian squadron under the command of the Favorite of Empress Catherine, Chief General Count A.G. Orlova supplied 9 battleships, 1 bombardment ship and 17 auxiliary ships with 740 guns. The Turkish fleet of Ibrahim Hasan Pasha had 16 battleships, 6 frigates and 50 auxiliary ships with 1,400 guns. Russian artillery was superior to the Turkish in rate of fire and firing range, and the Russian crews had much better training than the Turkish ones. In addition, the battle formation of the Turkish fleet was unsuccessful. The ships were built in two arc-shaped lines. In the first there were 10 battleships, in the second - 6 battleships and 6 frigates, and all auxiliary ships were behind the second line. As a result, the fleet was crowded in a small space and could use less than half of its artillery in battle.

Vanguard commander Admiral G.A. Sviridov proposed attacking the enemy by building the Russian fleet in a wake column and destroying the center of the first line of the Turkish fleet. On the morning of June 24, the Russian squadron entered the Chios Strait. At half past twelve, the lead ship "Europe" found itself at a distance of 3.5 cables from the enemy. The Turks opened fire, which did not cause any harm to the Russian squadron due to the poor training of the artillerymen and the low ballistic qualities of the guns. At noon, the Russian fleet fired a powerful salvo from a distance of 0.5 cables. Several Turkish ships were seriously damaged. But the Russian flagship “Three Hierarchs” and the battleships “Eustathius”, where Sviridov held his flag, and “Europe” had their spars knocked down. "Eustathius" boarded the Turkish flagship "Real Mustafa". A fire broke out on the Real Mustafa and spread to the Eustathia. Both ships exploded, but Sviridov managed to move to another ship.

The death of the flagship disorganized the Turks. At one o'clock in the afternoon they began to retreat to Chesme Bay, cutting the anchor ropes. The Russian fleet blocked the enemy. At the military council on June 25, it was decided to destroy the Turkish ships with a combined strike of artillery and fire ships. A special detachment was allocated for the attack under the command of junior flagship S.K. Greig. It consisted of 4 battleships, 2 frigates, the bombardment ship "Grom" and 4 fire ships. On the night of the 26th, Russian ships came within 2 cables of the Turkish fleet and opened fire with incendiary shells. At the beginning of the second night, the first Turkish ship caught fire, then the fire spread to other ships. Then four Russian fire ships went on the attack.

Only one, under the command of Lieutenant Ilyin, managed to reach the enemy ships. The Turkish 84-gun ship went up in the air, and its burning wreckage set fire to several other ships. Soon the entire Ottoman fleet was burning like one grandiose torch. At 4 o'clock in the morning, the Russian ships ceased fire, since almost the entire enemy fleet had already been destroyed. Only one battleship "Rhodes" and 5 galleys were captured as trophies. All other Turkish ships burned down. The Russian fleet lost only one battleship, the Eustathius.

For the victory in the Battle of Chesme, Alexey Orlov received the title of Prince of Chesme and the Order of St. George, 1st degree, Spiridov was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, Greig - the rank of rear admiral and the Order of St. George, 2nd degree.

After the victory at Chesma, the Russian fleet blocked the Dardanelles and disrupted Turkish communications in the Archipelago. But the main events continued to unfold on land.

In 1771, Russian troops were supposed to occupy Crimea, limiting themselves to active defense on the Danube. This plan was successfully implemented. Panin's 2nd Army occupied the Kuban region and Crimea, and the 1st Army captured the Danube fortresses of Giurgiu, Machin and Girsovo. In 1772, it was already difficult for the Turks to continue the war, both because of earlier defeats and because of the outbreak of an anti-Turkish uprising in Syria and Egypt. Peace negotiations began in Focsani and then in Bucharest. However, in March 1773 they were interrupted and the war resumed.

The peasant uprising led by Emelyan Pugachev, which began in Russia in 1773, made it difficult to continue the war with Turkey. In 1773 there were no active hostilities on the Danube. Separate detachments from both sides crossed the river, but could not achieve significant success. Rumyantsev’s attempt to take control of Silistria failed. The raids of the detachments of generals Dolgorukov and Ungern to Shumla and Varna also did not bring results.

The Balkans remained the main theater of war. The Russian army under the command of Field Marshal P.A. Rumyantseva in the spring of 1774 moved to the Shumla (Shumen) fortress in Bulgaria, where the Grand Vizier’s headquarters was located. The division of General Mikhail Kamensky, numbering 11 thousand people with 23 guns, crossed to the right bank of the Danube near Izmail in April. On June 2, Kamensky occupied Bazardzhik, throwing back a 5,000-strong detachment of Turkish cavalry to Kozludzhi. In turn, General Suvorov’s corps, numbering 14 thousand people and 14 guns, coming from Girsov, on June 8 united with Kamensky’s division near the village of Yushenly, 7 km from Bazardzhik. The Turkish army led by Reisefendi Abdul-Rezak came out from Shumla to meet them. The Grand Vizier gave Abdul-Rezak most of his army.

On June 9, 1774, Russian cavalry met Turkish patrols at the entrance to the Deliorman Forest on the way to Kozludzha, a strategically important town where several roads converged. Pursuing the Turks, the Don Cossacks were drawn into the forest, through which only one narrow path led. At the exit from the forest they were attacked by superior enemy forces. The Cossacks retreated back into the forest and blocked the path of the rest of the Russian cavalry. Kamensky sent two squadrons of hussars and a squadron of pikemen to help them. He led the rest of the cavalry out of the forest and positioned them at the entrance to the defile. Soon three infantry battalions arrived, forming a square at the edge of the forest.

Meanwhile, the Turks, on the shoulders of the retreating Cossacks, entered the forest and crushed the squadrons behind them. The left-flank square came under attack, but Kamensky rescued him by sending a battalion of rangers. Gradually introducing the infantry of his corps into the battle, he managed to hold back the Turks’ attempts to bypass the Russian troops on both flanks. Meanwhile, Suvorov's corps approached. The Turks retreated. Russian troops went through a defile and lined up in battle formation in a ravine in front of the heights near Kozludzha, where the main forces of Abdul-Rezak were located. Now Suvorov led the offensive, and under his command was part of Kamensky’s division, most of whose regiments never managed to approach the battlefield. After artillery preparation, the Russian infantry captured the heights and captured 2 cannons. Then the Russian artillery fire was transferred to the enemy camp. The Turks fled to Shumla. The troops of Suvorov and Kamensky captured 29 cannons and 107 banners. The Turks lost 500 people killed and wounded and 100 people captured. Russian losses in killed and wounded amounted to 200 people.

Despite the relatively small number of troops participating in the battle, the strategic significance of the Battle of Kozludzha turned out to be great. The defeat of Abdul-Rezak's army opened the way for Russian troops to Shumla - the last fortress on the way to Constantinople. The Turks requested a truce. On July 21, the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace Treaty was concluded. According to this world, Crimea was declared independent and actually came under Russian control. Russia also acquired a significant part of the northern Black Sea coast. The new border passed along the Bug and Kuban. In Crimea, Russia received the city of Kerch and the Yenikale fortress, and on the Black Sea coast of Northern Tavria - the Kinburn fortress. The Russian fleet now had the right to free passage through the Bosporus and Dardanelles.

In 1787, Turkey demanded that Russia agree to inspect Russian merchant ships passing through the straits and renounce Russian patronage of Georgia. Having received no answer, the Turkish Sultan declared war on Russia on August 12. The war this time was unsuccessful for the Ottoman Empire. True, at the very beginning of the war, almost the entire Russian Black Sea Fleet sank during a storm. But the Turks were unable to properly use their unexpectedly gained superiority at sea. In October 1787, the Russian army under the command of General Alexander Suvorov almost completely destroyed the Turkish landing force on the Kinburn Spit at the mouth of the Dnieper. In 1788, Russian troops led by Catherine’s favorite, Field Marshal Prince G.A. Potemkin-Tavrichesky took the Ochakov fortress, and Suvorov’s army in 1789 defeated the Turks at Focshan and on the Rymnik River. By the beginning of the 1789 campaign, the Russian army on the Dniester numbered 70 thousand people. The 18,000-strong Austrian detachment of the Duke of Coburg interacted with her. The Turks sent a 30,000-strong detachment against Coburg, based in Focsani. The 10,000-strong corps of General Alexander Suvorov went to help the Austrians. Leaving 3 thousand soldiers for rear cover, the Russian commander with a 7 thousand-strong detachment on July 28, having covered almost 60 km in a day, united with the Duke of Coburg. Suvorov managed to convince the allies to attack the Turkish positions at Focsani in three columns, having previously crossed the Putna River. On July 29, the Allies overthrew the 3,000-strong Turkish vanguard and established crossings across Putna. The artillery of the Turks, who did not expect an attack, was suppressed, and the Russian and Austrian cavalry broke into the Turkish camp. The Turks could not stand it and retreated from the camp with heavy losses.

Potemkin believed that the main enemy group was located at Izmail, and did not allow Suvorov and Coburg to pursue the Turkish corps defeated at Focsani. In mid-September, the Izmail group of Turks launched an offensive. The main forces of the Russian army relatively easily pushed the enemy back into the fortress. Potemkin belatedly realized that the enemy had only relatively small forces here, and that the main blow, therefore, had to be awaited elsewhere. Indeed, the main Turkish group was concentrated near Brailov and was preparing to destroy the corps of Suvorov and Coburg. The allied forces, on the initiative of Suvorov, themselves went to meet superior forces in order to forestall their attack.

At dawn on September 22, Russian and Austrian troops crossed the Rymna River. Turkish troops were dispersed across three camps. The vanguard stood near the village of Tyrgokukoli, an infantry detachment - in the Kryngu-Meilor tract, and the main cavalry forces - near the village of Martinesti. Russian troops attacked Tyrgokukoli, and Austrian troops attacked the Kryngu-Meilor tract. The Turkish vanguard immediately began to withdraw its convoy under the cover of half the troops to Rymnik and offered only weak resistance. Half an hour later, the battle here ended, and Suvorov, without pursuing the enemy, moved to Kryng-Meilor, where the Austrians were subjected to flank attacks from the Turkish cavalry. Russian cavalry helped repel this attack.

Soon the Austrian artillery was able to suppress the Turkish batteries located in the fortified camp, and then the Russian and Austrian infantry launched an assault, preceded by cavalry. The first to rush into the camp were the Starodubsky Cavalry Carabinery Regiment and the Hungarian hussars. Soon, with the approach of allied infantry, organized resistance ceased. The risky attack on the enemy camp on horseback was completely justified, since the Turkish artillery had already been suppressed by that time, and rifle fire could not cause large losses to the horsemen, since they quickly covered the dangerous space.

The Turks fled to Rymnik in disarray. The winners captured 80 cannons, 100 banners and other booty. According to Suvorov's report, 15 thousand Turks fell on the battlefield. For this victory, Suvorov was awarded the Order of St. George, 1st degree and the title of Count of Rymniksky. The Austrians elevated the Russian commander to the count of the Holy Roman Empire.

The following year, Austria, due to the threat of war with Prussia, stopped hostilities against Turkey and made peace based on the pre-war status quo. The main Austrian army of Field Marshal Laudon had to be moved to the Prussian border, and Coburg's corps was defeated during the siege of the Turkish fortress of Giurgiu. Under the terms of the peace treaty, the Austrians pledged not to allow the Russians into Wallachia, occupied by Austrian troops. This complicated the situation of the Russian army. Another victory was needed to force the Turks to end the war. In the fall of 1790, Russian troops besieged the Turkish fortress of Izmail on the Danube. Detachments of generals I.V. Gudovich and P.S. Potemkin, numbering 25 thousand people, and the flotilla of General de Ribas failed to capture the fortress. On November 26, they proposed lifting the siege in view of the approaching winter and the inevitable large losses of the besieged from disease. Potemkin refused to lift the siege and entrusted command to Chief General Suvorov.

On December 2, the new commander blocked Izmail from land and from the Danube. On December 7, Suvorov sent an ultimatum to the commandant of Izmail demanding the surrender of the fortress. After the ultimatum was rejected, the troops launched an assault on December 11. Suvorov had 31 thousand soldiers and Cossacks and 600 guns. Artillery preparation began on December 10 and lasted almost a day.

At 3 a.m. on December 11, the troops moved towards the fortress. By dawn the walls of the fortress were taken, and the battle continued on the streets of Izmail. By noon, the huntsman of General B.P. Lassi, the first to climb the walls, were the first to reach the city center. Here he withstood a fierce battle with a detachment of Crimean Tatars led by Maksud-Girey. Most of the Tatars were killed, and 300 people, including the leader, were taken prisoner. Suvorov placed 20 light cannons on the streets, with the help of which they managed to knock the Turks out of their houses and streets. By one o'clock in the afternoon, resistance was broken almost everywhere. The last pockets of resistance were suppressed at four o'clock in the afternoon. 7 thousand Turks were captured.

The number of deaths of the defenders of Ishmael is unknown. Suvorov reported about 26 thousand Turks killed and another 2 thousand prisoners who died from wounds, but these figures look greatly exaggerated and are given in order to justify their own large losses. During the battle on December 11, the Russian army lost 1,880 people killed and 2,703 people wounded. Together with losses for December 10, this amounts to about 5 thousand dead and wounded. There are also higher figures for Russian losses - about 10 thousand, including 4 thousand killed. According to legend, it was after the capture of Izmail that Suvorov, when asked by his subordinates what figure to indicate the Turkish losses in the report, answered: “Write more, why feel sorry for them, the adversaries!” Unfortunately, this principle was used to determine Turkish (and not only Turkish) losses in the reports of almost all of our commanders.

After the fall of Ishmael, Türkiye agreed to peace negotiations. Meanwhile, General Prince Nikolai Repnin, who replaced Potemkin as commander-in-chief, defeated the Turkish army at Machin on July 9, losing 141 killed and 300 wounded and capturing 34 guns. The Russians estimated Turkish losses at 4 thousand killed. On January 9, 1792, peace was concluded in Iasi, according to which Crimea was recognized as part of the Russian Empire, and the Russian-Turkish border was established along the Dniester.

On December 30, 1806, a new Russian-Turkish war began. Türkiye declared war on Russia after Russian troops invaded Moldova. The Ottoman Empire sought to regain its previously lost possessions in the Northern Black Sea region, taking advantage of the diversion of Russian forces to the war against France. Russia hoped to move the border from the Dniester to the Prut, and if lucky, to establish control over the Romanian principalities.

The Turks were opposed by the 35,000-strong army of General Michelson. She crossed the Dniester and captured Iasi, Bendery, Akkerman, Galati, Chilia and Bucharest and reached the Danube. In the Caucasus, the detachment of Rear Admiral Pustoshkin, having landed from the ships of the Black Sea squadron, captured the Turkish fortress of Anapa on May 11. On June 24, a detachment of General Mikhail Miloradovich defeated the Turks who were trying to capture Bucharest.

At sea, success was also on the Russian side. With the beginning of the war, a squadron of Admiral D.N. was sent from Kronstadt to the island of Corfu. Senyavin. Leaving part of the forces for the defense of the Ionian Islands, Senyavin with 10 battleships and 1 frigate with 754 guns went to the Dardanelles. He decided to block the straits from the Mediterranean Sea and thereby challenge the Turkish fleet to a general battle. Having occupied the island of Tenedos on March 5, 1807, the Russian squadron began the blockade of the Dardanelles.

The Turkish fleet attacked Senyavin's ships twice. The first clash at the entrance to the strait occurred on May 10 and did not lead to decisive results. In the second battle on June 19 near Cape Athos, the Turks were defeated. The Turkish fleet, commanded by Admiral Seyit Ali, consisted of 10 battleships, 5 frigates and 5 auxiliary ships with 1,196 guns. On the Russian side there was a significant superiority in the quality of artillery and the level of combat training of personnel.

Senyavin divided his squadron into five groups of 2 battleships. Three groups attacked 3 Turkish flagship ships, and two, led by Senyavin himself and the junior flagship Admiral A.S. Greig, at this time the rest of the Turkish ships were supposed to be pinned down.

On June 10, the Turks landed troops on Tenedos. Senyavin stood in the way of the enemy fleet's retreat to the Dardanelles and on June 19 gave it a battle between the island of Lemnos and Cape Athos. At the beginning of 6 o'clock in the morning, the Russian squadron began to approach the enemy in two columns of 6 and 4 ships. At 7 o'clock, the Russian ships split into pairs, and the Turks opened fire from the maximum distance, which did not cause harm to the Russian ships. Only at 9 a.m., when the ships approached within the range of a grape shot, Senyavin’s squadron fired the first salvo at the enemy flagships. They were attacked by 5 ships instead of 6, since the Russian ship "Raphael" received damage to its sails and was unable to take its intended position. Instead, he cut through the enemy formation, firing salvos from both sides. Having repaired the damage, "Raphael" entered into battle with the Turkish vanguard.

Senyavin, at the head of 4 battleships, engaged the Turkish rearguard in battle. Then, on the flagship "Solid", he fired at the already damaged Turkish flagship "Sedts-ul-Bahr". Then all 10 Russian battleships concentrated fire on 6 ships, which made up the bulk of the Turkish fleet. At noon, the Turks left the battle and began to retreat to Mount Athos.

At one o'clock in the afternoon there was a calm, and both fleets began to repair the damage to their ships. At 2 o'clock a north-west wind blew, and the Turkish squadron left for the Dardanelles. During the pursuit, the Russians captured the heavily damaged Sedts-ul-Bahr. Two more Turkish battleships, 4 frigates and 1 corvette sank or were burned by the Turks so that they would not fall to the enemy. The Turks lost about 1 thousand people in killed and wounded. The Russian fleet had no losses in ships, but up to 250 people were killed and wounded among the crews.

Senyavin's squadron continued the blockade of the Dardanelles. This, as well as the successes of the Russian army in the Balkans, forced Turkey on August 12, 1807 to accept a truce proposed through the mediation of Emperor Napoleon (such a truce was one of the conditions of the Russian-French Treaty of Tilsit). But hostilities soon resumed.

Since 1807, the Russian army was led by Field Marshal Alexey Prozorovsky instead of the deceased Mikhelson; after his death in 1809, he was replaced by General Pyotr Bagration, and Bagration by General Nikolai Kamensky, but none of them managed to develop success in Romania. In 1808, Prozorovsky launched an extremely unsuccessful assault on Brailov, when out of 8 thousand attackers, 5 thousand were put out of action. In 1810, the Russians reached Shumla, but were unable to take it and returned to Romania.

After the death of Kamensky in March 1811, the Moldavian army was led by General Mikhail Kutuzov. Only he managed to inflict a decisive defeat on the Turkish troops and force them to make peace. On July 4, near Ruschuk, Kutuzov defeated the army of the Grand Vizier Ahmet Pasha. The Turks retreated to a fortified camp, losing 4 thousand people. Kutuzov, whose losses did not exceed 500 people, deliberately left Rushchuk and went to the left bank of the Danube, hoping that the Turks would rush after him and fall into a trap. Akhmet Pasha occupied Rushchuk, but delayed the crossing for two months. Only on the night of September 9 did the Turks begin to invade Romania. “Let them cross, if only more of them would cross to our shore,” Kutuzov said to the officers of his headquarters. The Turkish army, which crossed to the left bank, was surrounded on all sides by redoubts, behind which Russian soldiers were hiding. On October 13, Kutuzov secretly transported the 7.5 thousand-strong corps of General Markov to the right bank of the Danube, which the next day at dawn captured Rushchuk with a surprise attack. This did not present much difficulty, since during the retreat the Russians blew up all the fortifications. The Turkish garrison lost up to 1.5 thousand killed, 400 prisoners and 8 guns, while Russian losses amounted to 9 people killed and 40 wounded. After this, the 40,000-strong army of the Grand Vizier was surrounded. A few weeks later, on December 4, when two-thirds of the army died of starvation, 12 thousand survivors capitulated.

Having lost its army, Türkiye concluded a peace treaty in Bucharest on May 28, 1812. Bessarabia went to Russia.

A new Russian-Turkish war began in 1828 due to an uprising in Greece. In 1827, England, France and Russia demanded that the Sultan grant autonomy to the rebel Greek provinces. When the Turks rejected this demand, a united Anglo-Russian-French squadron entered the Archipelago. On October 8, 1827, in the Bay of Navarino, during a four-hour battle, she completely destroyed the Turkish-Egyptian fleet without losing a single ship. The Turks lost all five battleships and 15 frigates, as well as 18 of 26 corvettes. After this, the Turkish-Egyptian troops were forced to leave Greece.

The Russian government supported the Greek rebels, and when they began to suffer defeat, it sent its army and navy to their aid. On April 26, Emperor Nicholas I issued a manifesto on war against Turkey. In May, the Russian army invaded Moldavia and Wallachia, occupied Iasi and Bucharest and reached the Danube. In June, the main Turkish fortresses on the Danube fell, and Field Marshal Wittgenstein's army invaded Bulgaria. On July 13, the advanced Russian detachment of General Count Sukhtelen besieged Varna, but after several attacks by the garrison was forced to retreat. Later, Russian troops besieged Varna and Silistria. In the Caucasus, on August 28, the army under the command of General Paskevich stormed the Akhaltsikhe fortress, a third of whose garrison died in battle. On September 9, Bayazet fell.

By the end of autumn, Varna was captured in the Balkans, but the siege of Shumla and Silistria ended unsuccessfully. The Russian command decided to continue hostilities in the Balkans, which the Turks did not expect. On February 11, General Geismar's detachment occupied the Turno fortress, and on February 27, a landing force under the command of Rear Admiral Cumani took Sozopol, which the Turks unsuccessfully tried to recapture. On May 19, the siege of Silistria was resumed. On June 12, the army of Field Marshal Dibich defeated the army of the Grand Vizier near the village of Kulevchi near Varna. After this, the garrison of Silistria capitulated on June 30

In the Caucasus, Erzerum fell on July 9. In the 20th of July, Russian troops descended from the Balkan ridge and inflicted heavy defeats on the Turks at Dervish-Jevan, Kellerer and the Inzhakioy River. On July 24 they captured the port of Burgas. The next day, part of the Grand Vizier's army was defeated near the city of Aidos by a detachment of General Ridiger. The main forces of the Turks were almost completely destroyed by Diebitsch during the capture of Sliven on August 12. The path to Constantinople was open.

On August 19, Adrianople surrendered to Russian troops, and on August 21, Lyuli-Burgaz. On September 14, the Turks were forced to sign the Peace of Adrianople. Russia received the mouth of the Danube and the fortresses of Akhalkalaki and Akhaltsikhe in Transcaucasia. The Black Sea straits were opened to merchant ships of all countries, and the Sultan granted Greece broad autonomy (in fact, independence).

After the defeat in the Crimean War of 1853-1856, according to the Paris Peace Treaty, Russia lost the right to maintain a navy in the Black Sea and was forced to temporarily abandon its active policy towards Turkey. Only after the annulment of the restrictive articles of the Treaty of Paris in 1871 did the Russian government begin to seriously think about revenge and restoring the role of the Russian Empire as the protector and patroness of the Slavs of the Balkan Peninsula, who suffered from Turkish oppression. Soon an opportunity presented itself.

In 1876, an uprising against the Turks broke out in Bulgaria, which Turkish troops suppressed with incredible cruelty. This caused outrage in European countries and especially in Russia, which considered itself the patroness of Christians in the Ottoman Empire. After Turkey rejected the London Protocol, signed on March 31, 1877 by Great Britain, Russia, Austria-Hungary, France, Germany and Italy and providing for the demobilization of the Turkish army and the beginning of reforms in the Balkan provinces of the Ottoman Empire, a new Russian-Turkish war became inevitable on April 24, the Emperor Alexander II signed a manifesto on war with Turkey. On the same day, the 275,000-strong Russian army with 1,250 guns crossed the border Prut and entered Romania, which became an ally of Russia. On June 27, the main forces crossed the Danube.

In the European theater, the Turks initially could oppose the enemy with only an army of 135,000 with 450 guns. There were also several tens of thousands of irregular cavalry - bashi-bazouks, but they were only suitable for fighting Bulgarian partisans and reprisals against civilians, and not for battles with the Russian regular army. In the Caucasus, the 70,000-strong Russian army was opposed by approximately equal numbers of Turkish troops.

The Russian troops in the Balkans were commanded by Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich, and the Turkish ones by Abdul-Kerim Nadir Pasha. The plan of the Russian command was to quickly move towards Adrianople in order to force the Turks to stop resistance by threatening Istanbul (Constantinople). However, a quick victorious march through the Balkans did not work out. Both the difficulties of moving through mountainous terrain and possible countermeasures were not taken into account. On July 7, General Gurko’s detachment occupied Tarnovo and moved around the Shipka Pass. Fearing encirclement, the Turks left Shipka without a fight on July 19. On July 15, Russian troops took Nikopol. However, a large Turkish army under the command of Osman Pasha, previously stationed in Vidin, entered Plevna, threatening the right flank and communications of the Russian army. On July 20, an attempt by General Schilder-Schuldner’s detachment to drive the Turks out of Plevna was unsuccessful. Without capturing this fortress, the Russians could not continue their offensive beyond the Balkan ridge. Plevna became the central point where the outcome of the campaign was decided.

On July 31, General Kridner's detachment attacked the troops of Osman Pasha, but was defeated. Meanwhile, another Turkish army, under the command of Suleyman Pasha, transferred from Montenegro, defeated detachments of Bulgarian militias and on August 21 began the assault on Shipka. Fierce fighting continued for four days when it came to bayonet fighting and hand-to-hand combat. Reinforcements approached the Russian detachment defending at the pass, and the Turks were forced to retreat.

On September 11, Russian troops again stormed Plevna, but, having lost 13 thousand people, rolled back to their original position. Suleiman Pasha repeated Shipka's attack, trying to distract Russian troops from Plevna, but was repulsed.

On September 27, General Totle-ben was appointed commander-in-chief of the army, who began a systematic siege of Plevna. Suleiman Pasha's army unsuccessfully tried to break through the Balkans and relieve Plevna in November and early December. On December 10, Osman Pasha launched a final attack to escape the besieged fortress. The Turks passed through two lines of Russian trenches, but were stopped on the third and surrendered. Because of this defeat, changes occurred in the Turkish command. Nadir Pasha was replaced by Mehmet Ali Pasha, but he could not improve the situation.

After the capture of Plevna, Russian troops, despite the harsh winter, immediately moved through the Balkan Mountains. On December 25, Gurko’s detachment passed the Churyak pass and on January 4, 1878 entered Sofia, and in early January the main forces crossed the Balkan ridge at Shipka. On January 10, the division M.D. Skobelev and Prince N.I. Svyatopolk-Mirsky defeated the Turks at Sheinovo and surrounded their detachment, which had previously besieged Shipka. 22 thousand Turkish soldiers and officers were captured.

Suleiman Pasha's army retreated to Philippopolis (Plovdiv), since the road to Constantinople was already cut by Russian troops. Here, in the battle of January 15-17, 1878, the Turks were defeated by General Gurko’s detachment and lost more than 20 thousand people and 180 guns. The remnants of Suleiman Pasha's troops fled to the coast of the Aegean Sea and from there crossed to Istanbul.

On January 20, Skobelev occupied Adrianople without a fight. The Turkish command no longer had any significant forces in the Balkan theater. On January 30, Russian troops reached the Silivri-Chataldzhi-Karaburun line, coming close to the last defensive positions in front of Istanbul. On January 31, 1878, a truce was signed in Adrianople.

In the Caucasus, Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich was considered the nominal commander, but his chief of staff, General Mikhail Loris-Melikov, was actually in charge of operations. On October 15, Russian troops defeated the army of Ahmed Mukhtar Pasha at Aladzhi. After this, the strongest Turkish fortress of Kare was left almost without a garrison and surrendered on November 18.

On March 3, 1878, the Peace of San Stefano was signed. According to this peace, Kare, occupied during the war, as well as Ardahan, Batum and Bayazet went to Russia in Transcaucasia. Russian troops remained in Bulgaria for two years. In addition, Southern Bessarabia returned to the Russian Empire. Bulgaria, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, received autonomy. Serbia, Montenegro and Romania were declared independent. Türkiye had to pay Russia an indemnity of 310 million rubles.

However, at the Berlin Congress of the Great Powers in June - July 1878, Russia's achievements were significantly curtailed. Bayazet and Southern Bulgaria were returned to Turkey. Bosnia and Herzegovina was occupied by Austria-Hungary, and Cyprus by England.

Russia's victory was achieved thanks to the numerical superiority and higher combat effectiveness of Russian troops. As a result of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, the Ottoman Empire was ousted from most of the Balkan Peninsula and finally became a minor European power - the object of the claims of stronger neighbors

Russian losses in this war amounted to 16 thousand killed and 7 thousand died from wounds (there are other estimates - up to 36.5 thousand killed and 81 thousand died from wounds and diseases). The Turks lost, according to some estimates, about 17 thousand people, the Romanians allied with the Russians - 1.5 thousand. There are no reliable estimates of the number of deaths from wounds and diseases in the Turkish army, but given the very poor organization of the sanitary service in Turkey, there were probably significantly more of them than in the Russian army. Turkish losses in prisoners exceeded 100 thousand people, and the number of Russian prisoners was insignificant.

The Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 was the last successful war waged by the Russian Empire. But the fact that victory over such a relatively weak enemy as the Turkish army was achieved by Russian troops at a high price, and only thanks to the full effort of all forces, testified to the crisis of Russian military power. A quarter of a century later, during the Russo-Japanese War, this crisis manifested itself in full, followed by the defeat of the Russian army in the battles of the First World War and its collapse in 1917. The war of 1877-1878 and its consequences confirmed that the Russian army was never revived after the Crimean War to the level of the first-class army that it was during the war with Napoleon. Russia dealt a mortal blow to the Ottoman Empire, after which Turkish influence on the Balkan Peninsula could never be restored, and the secession of all South Slavic countries from Turkey became a matter of the very near future. However, the desired goal of hegemony in the Balkans and control over Constantinople and the Black Sea straits was not achieved. For influence on the newly independent Balkan states, a struggle unfolded between all the great powers, which continued until the First World War.

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The Russian-Turkish wars are a whole chapter in Russian history. In total, there are 12 military conflicts in the more than 400-year history of relations between our countries. Let's consider them.

The first Russian-Turkish wars

The first wars include military conflicts that occurred between countries before the onset of Catherine's golden age.

The first war broke out in 1568-1570. After the fall of the Astrakhan Khanate, Russia strengthened in the foothills of the Caucasus. This did not suit the Sublime Porte, and in the summer of 1569, 15 thousand Janissaries, with the support of irregular units, headed to Astrakhan to restore the Khanate. However, the army of the Cherkasy headman M.A. Vishnevetsky defeated the Turkish forces.

In 1672-1681, a second war broke out, aimed at establishing control over Right Bank Ukraine.

This war became known thanks to the Chigirin campaigns, during which the Turks’ plans to capture the Left Bank Ukraine, which was under Russian control, were thwarted.

In 1678, after a series of military failures, the Turks still managed to capture Chigirin, they were defeated at Buzhin and retreated. The result was the Bakhchisaray Peace Treaty, which maintained the status quo.

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The next war was 1686-1700, during which Queen Sophia first tried to subjugate the Crimean Khanate, organizing campaigns in 1687 and 1689. Due to poor supplies they ended in failure. Her brother, Peter I, led two Azov campaigns in 1695 and 1696, the latter was successful. According to the Treaty of Constantinople, Azov remained with Russia.

An unfortunate event in the biography of Peter I was the Prut campaign of 1710-1713. After the defeat of the Swedes near Poltava, Charles XII hid in the Ottoman Empire, and the Turks declared war on Russia. During the campaign, Peter's army found itself surrounded by three times superior enemy forces. As a result, Peter had to admit his defeat and conclude first the Prut (1711) and then the Adrianople (1713) peace treaty, according to which Azov returned to the Ottoman Empire.

Rice. 1. Prut campaign of Peter.

The war of 1735-1739 took place in the alliance of Russia and Austria. Russian troops took Perekop, Bakhchisarai, Ochakov, and then Khotin and Yassy. According to the Belgrade Peace Treaty, Russia regained Azov.

Russian-Turkish wars under Catherine II

Let us shed some light on this issue by summarizing general information in the table “Russian-Turkish Wars under Catherine the Great.”

The era of the Russian-Turkish wars under Catherine the Great became a golden page in the biography of the great Russian commander A.V. Suvorov, who did not lose a single battle in his life. For the victory at Rymnik he was awarded the title of count, and towards the end of his military career he received the rank of generalissimo.

Rice. 2. Portrait of A.V. Suvorov.

Russo-Turkish wars of the 19th century

The Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 also allowed for the independence of Serbia, Montenegro and Romania.

Rice. 3. Portrait of General Skobelev.

The conflict within the First World War and the overall outcome.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Russia, as a participant in the First World War, fought with the Turks on the Caucasian front. The Turkish troops were completely defeated and only the revolution of 1917 stopped the advance of Russian troops in Anatolia. According to the Treaty of Kars of 1921 between the RSFSR and Turkey, Kars, Ardahan and Mount Ararat were returned to the latter.

What have we learned?

Military conflicts between Russia and Turkey occurred 12 times in 350 years. 7 times the Russians celebrated victory and 5 times the Turkish troops had the upper hand.

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Key dates and events: 1768-1774 - Russian-Turkish war; 1770 - Battle of Chesme; 1774 - Kyuchuk-Kainardzhiysky peace; 1783 - annexation of Crimea to Russia; 17871791 - Russian-Turkish war; 1787 - battle of Kinburn; 1788 - capture of Ochakov; 1791 - victory of the Russian fleet at Cape Kaliakria; 1791 - Peace of Jassy.

Historical figures: G. A. Potemkin; P. A. Rumyantsev; G. A. Spiridov; A. V. Suvorov; F. F. Ushakov.

Working with the map: show the directions of campaigns of the Russian army and navy during the Russian-Turkish wars; territorial acquisitions of Russia under the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi and Yassi peace treaties; places of the largest battles: at Fokshan, Kinburn, Izmail, Ochakov, in Chesme Bay, at Cape Kaliakria, on the rivers: Larga, Kagul, Rymnik.

Response Plan: 1) the causes of the Russian-Turkish wars of the 15th century; 2) Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774, Kyuchuk-Kainardzhi peace; 3) Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791, Peace of Jassy; 4) Russian military art; 5) the results and significance of the Russian-Turkish wars.

Materials for the answer: Russian-Turkish wars of the second half of the 18th century. are explained not only by Russia’s desire to access the Black Sea, but also by Turkey’s desire to expand its possessions in the Northern Black Sea region.

Türkiye started the war of 1768. The Crimean Khan's cavalry moved from the south to the steppe regions of Ukraine. A huge Turkish army was concentrated on the Dniester River to attack Kyiv. In addition to well-fortified fortresses in the Balkans, Türkiye relied on its large fleet operating in the Black and Azov Seas.

At the initial stage of the war, the battles went on with varying degrees of success, due to the surprise of the Turks’ attack and their superiority.

However, as the Russian troops were replenished, the situation began to change in their favor. The chances of victory increased even more after the appointment of the famous commander, who distinguished himself during the Seven Years' War, P.A. as commander-in-chief of the Russian army. Rumyantseva. Already in September 1769, the troops he led entered Iasi and then Bucharest. The other part of the army, operating in the lower reaches of the Don and in the Azov region, occupied Azov and Taganrog. In July 1770, the Turks were defeated by Rumyantsev’s troops near the Larga River, and a few days later, near the Kagul River, a 17,000-strong Russian detachment defeated the main forces of the Turkish army, numbering 150,000 people. Meanwhile, the squadron of the Baltic Fleet under the command of A.G. Orlova and G.A. Spiridova circumnavigated Europe and on July 5, 1770, destroyed a Turkish squadron in Chesme Bay. In 1772, A.V. was sent to the Danube Army. Suvorov. In 1773, the troops he led quickly occupied Turtukai and crossed the Danube.

Having suffered complete defeat, Türkiye was forced to ask for peace. According to the agreement concluded by P. A. Rumyantsev in the town of Kuchuk-Kainardzhi in 1774, the territory between the Southern Bug and the Dnieper with the Kinburn fortress, the fortresses of Kerch and Yenikale on the Sea of ​​Azov, Kabarda in the North Caucasus were annexed to Russia. Turkey was forced to recognize the independence of the Crimean Khanate and the right of the Russian fleet to unhindered passage through the Black Sea straits into the Mediterranean Sea. However, both sides viewed this agreement as temporary. They were preparing for a new war for the Northern Black Sea region.

The next Russian-Turkish war broke out in 1787-1791. The reason for it was the events in Crimea, where a coup d’état took place that brought Turkey’s protege to power. In response to this, in 1783, Catherine II issued a manifesto on the termination of the existence of the Crimean Khanate and the annexation of its lands to Russia. As a result, the entire Crimea and part of the North Caucasus became part of the Russian state. In the summer of 1787, Catherine undertook a demonstrative trip to the Crimea (Tavrida), accompanied by the Austrian Emperor Joseph II. All this caused a storm of indignation in Turkey. In July 1787, the Sultan presented Russia with a ulilimatum, in which he demanded the return of Crimea, the restoration of Turkish power in Georgia and the inspection of Russian ships sailing through the Bosporus and Dardanelles. Russia refused. In August the Sultan declared war.

Russia's military superiority immediately became obvious. in the fall of 1787, the Turks landed a large landing force on the Kinburn Spit at the mouth of the Dnieper. The troops defending Kinburn under the command of Suvorov defeated and destroyed the landing force. In 1788, the Russian army under the command of G. A. Potemkin captured the Ochakov fortress. In the summer of 1789, decisive battles took place at Focsani and Rymnik, during which Suvorov’s troops defeated the numerically superior Turks. The main event of the final stage of the war was the siege and capture of the Izmail fortress. In the summer of 1791, Russian troops finally defeated the Turkish army in the Balkans. At the same time, the young Russian Black Sea Fleet, led by F.F. Ushakov defeated the Turkish squadrons in the Kerch Strait. Deprived of strength, Türkiye asked for peace. According to the Treaty of Iasi in 1791, the Dniester River became the border between the two countries. Türkiye recognized all of Russia's conquests in the Northern Black Sea region.

Thus, Russia not only gained access to the Black Sea, but also became a great maritime power. The development of fertile Black Sea lands and the creation of ports and cities began.

Russian-Turkish relations in the 16th – 19th centuries were quite tense. Information about the first conflicts between Russia and the Crimean Tatars dates back to the 1500s. The main reason for the Russian-Turkish wars was the desire to control the territories of the Northern Black Sea region, the Caucasus, the Northern and, later, the Southern, and the desire to gain the possibility of navigation in the straits. And also Russia’s struggle for the rights of Christians living in the Ottoman Empire.

Russian-Turkish War 1735 – 1739 became a consequence of the noticeably more frequent raids of the Crimean Tatars and the contradictions that aggravated during the Russian-Polish war of 1733 - 1735. For Russia, the possibility of access to the Black Sea was of great importance. Russian troops inflicted a number of serious defeats on the Ottoman Empire between 1735 and 37, but due to severe water shortages and a plague epidemic, they were forced to abandon their positions. Austria later entered the conflict, but also faced a shortage of fresh water. Negotiations in August 1737 did not bring any results, but there was no active hostilities over the next year. According to the Peace of Belgrade concluded in 1739, Russia returned Azov.

Russian-Turkish War 1768 – 1774. Access to the Black Sea coast was necessary for Russia to develop trade. However, the government of Catherine 2 sought to postpone the start of the armed conflict until other problems were resolved. But such a policy was regarded by the Ottoman Empire as weakness. But the Russian-Turkish war of 1768 - 1774. turned out to be a failure for Turkey. Rumyantsev successfully blocked attempts by Turkish troops to penetrate deep into the country. The turning point in the war was 1770. Rumyantsev inflicted a number of defeats on the Turkish troops. Spiridonov's squadron made the first passage in history from the Baltic to the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, to the rear of the Turkish fleet. The decisive Battle of Chesme led to the destruction of the entire Turkish fleet. And after the Dardanelles were blockaded, Turkish trade was disrupted. However, despite the excellent chances of developing success, Russia sought to conclude peace as quickly as possible. Catherine needed troops to suppress the peasant uprising. According to the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace Treaty of 1774, Crimea gained independence from Turkey. Russia received Azov, Lesser Kabarda and some other territories.

Russian-Turkish War 1787 – 1791 was unleashed by the Ottoman Empire, which imposed an ultimatum with a number of absolutely impossible demands. By that time, an alliance had been concluded between Russia and Austria. The first successful military operations of the Turkish army against the Austrian troops soon gave way to heavy defeats inflicted by Russian troops under the command of Field Marshals Potemkin and Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky. At sea, during the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1792, despite the accrued superiority, the Turkish fleet also suffered defeats from rear admirals Ushakov, Voinovich, Mordvinov. The result of this war was the Peace of Yassy concluded in 1791, according to which Ochakov and Crimea were ceded to Russia.

67. New Russia (Novorossiya).

Novorossiya, Novorossiysk region, New Russia, New Rus'- synonymous with the official name of the Novorossiysk province of the Novorossiysk General Government. In a broad sense, historical territories annexed to the Russian Empire, including Kherson, Ekaterinoslav, Tauride, Bessarabian, Stavropol provinces, as well as the Kuban region and the Don Army region. The term began to be used in the second half of the 18th century and was widespread until the beginning of the 20th century.

Became part of Russia in the 18th - early 19th centuries. parts, according to four peace treaties with Turkey (1739, 1774, 1791, 1812), as a result of which the Northern Black Sea region and the Azov region finally became part of the Russian Empire, consolidating the latter’s presence on the Black Sea. Before these lands were included in Russia, there was the Crimean Khanate, in the west - Moldova, in the central part - the lands of the Zaporozhye Cossacks, who had a special status in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. After the Hetmanate annexed to the Russian Empire, the latter intensified the process of colonization of the territory. The settlement of the region by settlers began with the creation of small settlements founded by Little Russian Cossacks and Russian fugitives. In the first half of the 18th century, the border between Russia and Turkey was clearly defined here for the first time.

The high pace of settlement and development of Novorossiya is due to both the favorable natural characteristics of the region and competent management decisions of the imperial government, which considered Novorossiya as the southern trade gateway of the state. The development of Novorossiya is, first of all, associated with the names of Catherine II and Prince Grigory Potemkin, who was the main inspirer of the Novorossiysk project. A distinctive feature of New Russia was its settlement by people of many nationalities: Russians, Ukrainians, Germans, Serbs, Bulgarians, Armenians, Greeks, Jews, etc., which led to the formation of a unique ethnocultural appearance of these lands. To administer the new lands, the Novorossiysk Governorate was created, and later the Novorossiysk General Government.

In the 18th-19th centuries, Novorossiya was a prosperous region of the Russian Empire, characterized by a high level of development of shipbuilding, maritime trade, and agriculture. The cities of Novorossiya become centers of commerce and culture, often acquiring significance that goes far beyond the borders of the Empire. Thus, Odessa becomes the fourth (after Moscow, St. Petersburg and Warsaw) city of the Russian Empire.

29.11.2015 20:05

Against the backdrop of worsening Russian-Turkish relations in our society, discussions about, to put it mildly, difficult relations between Russia and Turkey throughout our history are increasingly appearing. Many remember both glorious battles and bitter defeats. Indeed, our history is literally filled with Russian-Turkish conflicts of varying degrees of tension. Just think about it, Russians and Turks met on the battlefield 12 times! However, few of the respected audience are fully aware of the glorious victories of Russian weapons. It's a shame not to know your history! Well, apparently the time has come for me to tell you about a dozen Russian-Turkish wars...

1. The war that never happened (1568-1570)

The first conflict of interests with Turkey occurred in the 16th century at the dawn of the formation of the Russian State. As we all know, Ivan the Terrible was the first to begin to destroy the fragments of the Golden Horde, which enslaved Rus' for three hundred years. After the capture of Astrakhan by the Russians and the fall of the Astrakhan Khanate, the Turkish Sultan Suleiman I, dissatisfied with the successes of the young Moscow Kingdom, launched a campaign against Ivan the Terrible. However, the war, in fact, did not take place. The Turks did not take into account the peculiarities of the theater of military operations: the army marched through waterless places, suffered from a lack of food, and eventually, after a short siege, turned back, suffering heavy losses without major clashes with the Russians.

2. Defense of one's own (1672-1681)

As we all know, in 1654, Left Bank Ukraine, by the will of the population, voluntarily (!) became part of the Muscovite Kingdom. It is clear that such a radical change in the geopolitical map of that time could not pass unhindered. The Russian reconquista scared not only the Poles, but also the Turks, who themselves were not averse to taking control of these territories. However, if we dealt with the Poles by 1667, barely reaching Warsaw, then we had to tinker with the Turks much longer. Türkiye tried to penetrate as deeply as possible into Ukrainian territory, and during this period the Ottomans advanced the furthest. Even Kamenets-Podolsky came under the control of the Turks; their army ravaged the depths of Little Russia. The Russians, for their part, provided protection to the population. The most fierce battles took place near the city of Chingirin, in which the Turkish vassal, the forefather of all Mazeppians in Little Russia, Hetman Doroshenko, settled, who was ready to serve the Islamic Sultan rather than go to the “damned Muscovites.” In September 1676, the Russian Prince Romodanovsky, together with the Left Bank Hetman Ivan Samoilovich, loyal to Moscow, achieved the surrender of Chingirin and the capitulation of Doroshenko. However, the Turks managed to recapture the city in 1678. The Russian army, after a series of desperate battles, burned Chigirin and retreated in an orderly manner. Despite the loss of the outpost, the Russians demonstrated to the Turks the futility of continuing the conflict. Already at the end of 1678, the thought of peace took possession of everyone. Russia and Türkiye reached a compromise by drawing borders along the Dnieper.

(Chingirin on the map of those times.)

3. Battle of Azov (1686–1700)

Four years later, the temporarily frozen Russian-Turkish conflict flared up with renewed vigor. This time the stumbling block was Azov, which the Russian Tsars had turned their attention to more than once before, due to the fact that this fortress was the base for constant raids of the Crimean Tatars on Russian lands. Prince Golitsyn's first attempt was unsuccessful. Along the scorched steppe, which was poor in communications, the Russian troops did not advance far, and due to supply problems they were forced to return without glory and success. A new expedition led by Peter I was prepared more thoroughly, however, this time too the Russian troops failed, despite good supplies and taking into account past mistakes, the assault failed due to the lack of a fleet. The third time, everything was taken into account down to the smallest detail. The tireless Peter prepared a river flotilla near Voronezh, and in 1696 the Russians achieved major success. Azov found itself under a tight siege, and the Turkish flotilla did not dare to engage the Russians in battle. Azov, blocked from land and water, was doomed. The Russians built a rampart outside above the fortress walls and began bombarding, and in mid-July a general assault forced the Turks to capitulate. This war fully showed the whole world the character of the Russian people, his perseverance and will to win. Everything that we so desperately lack today.

(The Russian fleet storms Azov.)

4. Prut campaigns – a step to the apocalypse. (1710-1713)

After the loss of Azov, the Turks yearned for revenge with all their hearts. After the escape of the Swedish king Charles XII from Poltava, Peter tried to recapture it from the “Turkish partners” who sheltered the fugitive king. The Russians marched to the Dnieper, counting on the help of Moldova, which promised supplies of provisions and auxiliary troops, need I say that we received neither of these? We did not receive help from the Poles, with whom Russia was in an alliance. Thus, in July, Peter encountered many times superior forces of the Turks and found himself surrounded. The situation was critical, Peter expected captivity or death every day, taking this option into account, he sent instructions to the Senate, where he demanded that in the event of captivity, he should not be considered king and not carry out his instructions. It’s scary to imagine what would have happened to Russia if Peter had been killed or captured, but fate was favorable to Russia. The Janissaries raised unrest in the Turkish camp, and the Turkish vizier, Baltaci Mehmed Pasha, heeding the admonitions of the talented diplomat Peter Shafirov, according to the old Eastern tradition, decided to make concessions for material reward (bribery was always extremely developed in the Ottoman Empire at all levels). Russia had to surrender Azov and raze the Taganrog fortress, but the Russians went home unhindered, and Azov became a burning, but only loss.

5. Invisible war. (1735-1739)

During the reign of Anna Ioannovna, the Russians again decided to eliminate the Tatar threat from Crimea and put an end to this threat once and for all. As before, the course of action was seriously influenced by the desert, unhealthy terrain. Our troops fought in barren and empty lands, where even finding clean water became an extremely difficult task. However, there were also reasons for optimism. Petrine reforms moved the army forward an era, while the Turkish armed forces were in decline. In the spring of 1736, Field Marshal Lassi quickly took Azov, suffering relatively light casualties, and Minich destroyed the fortifications of Perekop and broke into Crimea. Oh, on that glorious day, the Russians brutally repaid the Crimean Tatars for centuries of raids on Russian lands, for the burning of Moscow, for thousands of Russian people driven into slavery! Bakhchisarai, the capital of the Khanate and many other cities turned into piles of ash! In 1737, Minich's army took Ochakov, a key fortress in this war. In September 1739, the Belgrade Peace Treaty was concluded. According to the agreement, Russia retained Azov, but undertook to demolish all the fortifications located in it.

6. Nyash-myash, Crimea is ours! (1768–1774)

In 1768, the interweaving of European intrigues led Turkey to war with Russia - formally over the issue of Poland, in reality over the issue of Turkish revenge. However, everything went wrong for the Turks from the very beginning. The troops of General Golitsin drove back the advancing Turks, and by the winter of 1770 the Russian army reached the Danube. Our troops quickly took possession of all of Moldavia and almost all of Wallachia, battering the Turkish field army in a series of battles. During the general battle near the Cahul River, Vizier Moldavanchi, having 75-100 thousand people, stood up against the 7 thousandth army of Rumyantsev. It seemed that the war was over, the vizier was already celebrating the victory, but the Turks were cruelly mistaken, underestimating our people! On July 21, 1770, at dawn, the Russians attacked the Turks. After a long and intense battle, the enemy was completely defeated and fled, leaving all the artillery, camp, convoys and banners to the winners! While Rumyantsev was destroying the Turkish field army, the Russian fleet, bypassing the European continent, entered Turkish waters and burned the Ottoman Empire fleet there at Chesma. Bendery fell, Brailov fell, Izmail surrendered, Crimea surrendered. It was a glorious war, a triumph of Russian weapons; throughout all the hostilities the Turks failed to win even the slightest significant victory! In this war, Suvorov's star rose. While still commanding small contingents, he had already won several serious victories. Soon the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace Treaty was signed, as a result of which Russia received part of the Crimea, the Khanate itself left the Turkish protectorate, the Empire acquired vast lands south of Azov, and Kabarda.

(Allegory of the victory of Catherine II over the Turks and Tatars.)

7. Second act (1787-1791)

The Turks, having learned nothing during the years of the previous war, again tried to take revenge and in 1787 the Ottoman Empire declared war on Russia, demanding the return of Crimea and the removal of Russia from Transcaucasia. In this war, the brilliant Suvorov truly showed himself, with 25 thousand soldiers, with minimal losses, completely defeating the army of the hundred thousandth Vizier Yusuf! Further, Suvorov took Izmail, which was considered “impregnable,” in an unprecedented assault in 1790. At this time, Admiral Ushakov completely defeated the Turkish fleet, already threatening Istanbul, where the “brilliant” Sultan sat. It was a disaster, for the first time in the history of the Ottoman Empire the capital was under threat of attack, the Turks immediately asked for peace, which was not the greatest humiliation! The Treaty of Yassy secured all previous acquisitions for Russia, and in addition gave vast lands between the Bug and the Dniester, including Ochakov and present-day Odessa, into the hands of our state.

The wars of Catherine's era turned out to be the most brilliant page in the history of Russia's struggle on its southern borders. There is clear progress not only in comparison with the times of the Muscovite Empire, but even with the early Empire. Problems that would have plunged the military leaders of the Moscow state into a stupor and created enormous difficulties for the army of the early 18th century were solved quickly and gracefully in the era of Suvorov and Rumyantsev. However, the Russians during these years also became famous for their accelerated colonization of occupied lands. In the wild steppes, Odessa, Simferopol, Nikolaev, Sevastopol, Kherson were rebuilt by the hands of Russian settlers (!) - evidence embodied in stone of the successful development of Crimea and Novorossia by Russian people. The question is, why did these lands suddenly, for no apparent reason, become part of some kind of “Ukraine”, the hetmans of which, with some exceptions, sought service either from the Turks or from the Poles and hated the Russian people?!

8. Quick triumph (1806-1812)

Officially, the war began at the turn of 1805 and 1806, when the Ottoman Empire forced the rulers of Moldavia and Wallachia, who were its vassals, who were friendly to Russia, to resign. At this time, the Turks, in addition to the Russians, fought against the rebel Serbs. Russia could not help but listen to the Balkan Slavs, and Bagration, who led the contingent on the Danube, began to energetically correct the situation. By the end of 1810, the Russians had every reason to be optimistic: Serbia had been saved, the Turks had suffered a series of heavy defeats. Over time, the Turks lost the will to win, and the Russians made a very timely peace, winning Bessarabia for themselves and autonomy for Serbia. The results of Alexander's war do not make such a vivid impression as the successes of the times of his great grandmother. However, it should be remembered that Russia’s main efforts lay in a completely different direction, and the state with amazing skill managed to maneuver between different conflicts, resolving all the contradictions in the north and south before the main battle with Napoleon began.

9. How to bring the Ottoman Empire to the brink of collapse for a year. (1828-1829)

War was declared by Emperor Nicholas I in April 1828 due to the Porte's refusal to comply with previous bilateral agreements (the Ackerman Convention of 1826). Russian troops carried out a series of successful operations in the Balkans and Transcaucasia; in September 1829, the Peace of Adrianople was signed between the two parties, as a result of which Russia acquired the eastern coast of the Black Sea, Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki, Turkey recognized Russian rule in Transcaucasia, and the Danube principalities were granted autonomy. In 1830, the independence of the Kingdom of Greece was finally formalized. The war turned out to be short, energetic, and in general the Russians had every reason to consider themselves winners!

10. Fly in the ointment. Crimean War (1853-1856)

One of the most tragic wars in Russian history, the Crimean War started out quite acceptable. Our troops occupied Moldavia and Wallachia. Nakhimov completely destroyed the Turkish squadron in Sinop. However, it was precisely these events that became the formal reason for the British and French to enter the war. Turkey itself at that time was a pitiful sight, but behind it stood the influential powers England and France, who, by entering the war, radically changed the course of events. In Crimea, Turkish forces performed generally auxiliary functions, being completely subordinate to the British and French, whose troops primarily conducted combat operations. The Turks in Crimea are remembered not for their glorious victories, but for the cruelest violence against the civilian population! Here. what historians of that time wrote about this

Crowds of Turks and Tatars rushed through the streets screaming. Not content with simple theft, they broke into houses, breaking windows and furniture, raping women and beheading children.

The Europeans did not lag behind the Turks. Even the British military, including Lord Raglan, wrote about the days of the occupation of Kerch with shame and disgust. Ultimately, the Crimean epic ended, as is known, with the retreat of the Russians from Sevastopol, after its heroic defense, but the merits of the Turkish contingent here are doubtful. England and France won the war for them, using their steamships against Russian sailing ships. This war showed many miscalculations in domestic politics, and it was this defeat that spurred Alexander II to prepare the Manifesto on the abolition of Serfdom in 1861.

11. Revenge and Pan-Slavism (1877-1878)

The war for the liberation of the Balkan Orthodox peoples, which broke out during the reign of Alexander II, became the most selfless campaign of the Russian Empire. In the mid-1870s, a massive uprising of Balkan Slavs broke out in Bosnia and Bulgaria, joined by Serbia and Montenegro. The Turks suppressed these protests with insane cruelty. Russian society responded to these events with a massive collection of funds to help the rebels and a massive sending of volunteers. Seven thousand Russian volunteers went to Serbia with the full support of the state (a kind of “vacationers” of the 19th century). Realizing that diplomatic methods did not work on the Turks, the Russian government decided to take extreme measures. On April 12, under pressure from public opinion, Alexander II declared war on Turkey. This step was taken not without a touch of adventurism; the campaign had to be completed in exactly a year (that’s how long it took to transfer the fleet of England and France), so that again, as in the Crimean War, it would not come under attack from English and French steamships. This very difficult task was completed brilliantly! This time the Russian troops had significant forces, quite sufficient for the most decisive actions. The vanguards moved so fast that the General Staff sometimes couldn’t even keep up with them! As a result of bloody assaults, Shipka and Plevna were taken. For the first time since the time of Prince Svyatoslav, our troops came close to Constantinople/Constantinople/Istanbul, which Russia had been striving for for a thousand years, throughout its history!

However, the brilliant victories of Russian weapons were somewhat overshadowed by the diplomatic intrigues of the European powers (more on that another time), but the results were still impressive! Bulgaria appeared on the map, Turkey recognized the independence of Serbia, Montenegro and Romania, Bosnia went to Austria, Russia acquired Ardahan, Kars and Batum. It can be stated without any stretch that the Russians literally laid down their bones for the independence of the Balkan peoples. It is to the Russian soldier that the Balkan countries today owe their existence. In many Orthodox churches in the Balkans they still pray every day for the repose of the soul of Alexander II!

12. The last war (Caucasian front of the First World War).

The Caucasian theater of the First World War remained in the shadow of the titanic battle that took place in the vastness of Europe, and meanwhile a fierce struggle was going on here, where the Russians not only fought for themselves, but also accomplished the noble feat of saving many defenseless people from death. In the summer of 1915, our units, led by General Yudenich, carried out several successful operations, defeating the Turks in the Euphrates Valley. At this time, in their own rear, the Turks began the genocide of the Armenian population, blaming Christians for their failures at the front. The Armenians rebelled. The throws of the Russian army towards Van and Erzurum, at the brink of human capabilities, led not only to the defeat of the opposing Turkish forces, but also to the deliverance from inevitable death of many Anatolian Christians who were moving to the east.

However, the Russian soldiers were not destined to taste the fruits of victory. Famous events took place in Russia in 1917, and the troops already stationed deep in enemy territory had to retreat. In December 1917, the Russians concluded a truce with the Turks, soldiers left the front en masse and went to Russia. It’s hard to blame them for this: in a situation where something unprecedented was happening in the homeland, it is natural to want to return to their families, and not continue to freeze in the trenches in the depths of the Asian mountains. By the beginning of 1918, the front completely collapsed.

What can I say? As we see, Türkiye is our main geopolitical adversary in the 300 years of the existence of the Russian Empire. However, this enemy, despite the numerical advantage, in rare cases could achieve victory. Only with the help of Europe could Türkiye resist the Russian army. Based on historical experience, we can draw some conclusions. Turkey itself is not a strong player capable of defeating Russia in open battle, but we should not forget about the strength of those who stand behind the Turks. Do not forget that Türkiye has been a member of NATO for 63 years. I’m afraid that if we get involved in a confrontation, we might repeat the Crimean War of 1853-56. Although there is reason for optimism, from the time of Ivan the Terrible to Nicholas II we fought with the Turks, in most cases these conflicts ended successfully for the Russians. In Russia, there is a tradition of not only frequently fighting the Turks, but also defeating them!