Russian-Turkish wars - briefly. Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774)

France pushed Turkey to war against Russia. The Ottoman Empire demanded that Russia stop patronizing dissidents and withdraw its troops from Poland. Having received a refusal, the Porte declared war on Russia at the end of 1768. (Application IN)

Compared to the first half of the 18th century. The balance of forces has changed not in favor of Turkey. The Ottoman Empire gradually fell into decline, its state structure and army were completely archaic. Meanwhile, the size and combat experience of the Russian army increased significantly. But still, Russia was not ready for war. Preparations have begun. General Prince Alexander Mikhailovich Golitsyn and General Count Pyotr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev were appointed commanders-in-chief of the two armies.

Due to the aggravation of Russian-Turkish relations, since 1769, the Empress concentrated all power in the country in the Council she created at the Supreme Court - the highest advisory body, in which she certainly presided. The Council, consisting of 8 people, consisted of the most prominent statesmen - A.A. Vyazemsky, A.A. Bezborobko, P.A. Rumyantsev, G.A. Potemkin and others (after the war, the Council continued to act both on issues of military and foreign policy , and domestic policy).

On April 15, 1769, the Russian army crossed the Dniester in order to prevent the Turks from entering Poland. A.M. Golitsyn did not besiege the Khotin fortress: there was not enough artillery and food. Moldavia was plundered by the Turks, and the Russian army returned to left side Dniester

In June, a 200,000-strong Turkish army crossed the Dniester, but Major General Prozorovsky pushed him back. Golitsyn again approached Khotin and surrounded him. The Turks sent forty thousand Tatars to help the fortress. On June 22, the Crimean Khan attacked Russian troops, but retreated with heavy losses. The Turks joined the Tatars, and now the number of enemy troops amounted to more than 100 thousand people, however, it was decided to move to the left bank of the Dniester again. On September 6, Russian troops dealt a crushing blow to the Turks, who left Khotyn and moved to Iasi. A.M. Golitsyn was recalled to St. Petersburg. His place was taken by P.A. Rumyantsev, who had previously commanded the Second Army, operating between the Don and the Dnieper.

The fighting was conducted passively. In 1770 P.A. Rumyantsev, at the head of the first army, launched an offensive towards the Danube. In a stubborn 8-hour battle on the Larga River (a tributary of the Prut), the Russian army put the Turkish troops to flight, inflicting especially heavy damage on the cavalry of the Crimean Khan. In the next battle on the Cahul River, Rumyantsev, having only 27 thousand soldiers with 118 guns, attacked and defeated the Turkish army, numbering 150 thousand and 180 guns. The victory was achieved thanks to the skillful maneuver of the Russian troops, skillful artillery actions and the courage of the soldiers in bayonet combat. After this victory, Rumyantsev captured the important Turkish fortresses of Izmail, Kiliya and Brailov. The second army of P.I. Panin occupied Bendery.

From the very beginning of the war, Catherine wanted to tear Crimea away from the Turks and make it independent. The order to deal a crushing blow to the Crimean Khanate and force it to abandon Turkish patronage was given to the commander of the Second Army, Count Pyotr Ivanovich Panin. A squadron was sent to the Mediterranean, which left Kronstadt under the command of Admiral G.A. Spiridova. It was tasked with assisting the Greek rebel movement against Turkish rule and blocking the sea routes to and from Istanbul.

A brilliant victory was also won at sea. Baltic Fleet under the command of Admiral G.A. Spiridov, having circumnavigated Europe, arrived in the Mediterranean Sea and inflicted a severe defeat on the superior forces of the Turks in Chesme Bay. Taking advantage of the crowding of Turkish ships, Spiridov used fire ships - torch ships - against them. The fire spread from side to side, and the entire Turkish squadron was destroyed. .

In 1770 and 1771 further successes were achieved. Rumyantsev's troops crossed the Danube several times. The Russian army occupied Crimea in 1771. The Turks were forced to negotiate. However, relying on the support of France and Austria, they refused to grant independence to Crimea, which Russia insisted on. In 1773, fighting resumed. Russian troops launched an offensive deep into the Balkans, but failed at Varna and Shumla. Meanwhile, the peasant war that had begun in Russia demanded an early conclusion of peace. In 1774, Russian troops numbering about 24 thousand people under the command of A.V. Suvorov defeated the forty-thousand-strong Turkish corps at Kozludzha. Türkiye was forced to resume negotiations. The negotiations on the Russian side were led by Prince Nikolai Vasilyevich Repnin. In St. Petersburg they were satisfied with the concluded peace.

On July 10, 1774, peace was signed in the Bulgarian village of Kuchuk-Kainardzhi. Russia received a strip of the Black Sea coast between the mouths of the Dnieper and the Southern Bug with the fortress of Kinburg, Kerch and Yenikale in the Crimea, Kuban and Kabarda. Crimea was recognized as independent Ottoman Empire. Moldova and Wallachia actually came under Russian protection. Türkiye also paid an indemnity of four million rubles.

Thus, the results of the intense war had enormous consequences for Russia: the fertile lands of the northern Black Sea region became the object of economic development; Crimea, from where the khans carried out predatory raids for many centuries, ceased to be a vassal of the Ottoman Empire, which strengthened the security of Russia’s southern borders.

Annexation of Crimea and the Kuban region.

The annexation of Crimea to Russia promised several benefits: it provided freedom of navigation on the Black Sea, and freed Russia from maintaining many fortresses on the peninsula remote from the mainland. But there was no reason to convince the empress of the advisability of annexing Crimea, because she perfectly understood how much her fame would increase as a result of such an event. Catherine herself reminded Potemkin several times of his plan.

On May 30, 1783, she wrote to the prince: “God grant that the Tatar or, better said, the Crimean affair will end soon”; June 9: “Don’t delay with the occupation of Crimea”; June 13: “It is desirable that you occupy Crimea as soon as possible, so that the opponents do not somehow cause unnecessary obstacles.”

But Potemkin had strong motives not to rush - he considered it more beneficial for Russia that the “wart on the nose,” as he called Crimea, be eliminated non-operatively, that is, without the use of weapons. He informed the Empress: “I am in favor of them asking for citizenship themselves, I think that it will be more pleasing to you.” This time Potemkin turned out to be more perspicacious than Catherine, probably because he had the opportunity to observe the events in Crimea from close range.

Khan Shagin-Girey, placed on the throne by Suvorov, was soon forced to flee from the persecution of his next rival to the Petrovsky Fortress under the protection of Russian troops. Here Potemkin and Suvorov convinced Shagin-Girey to voluntarily accept Russian citizenship. The former khan rightly reasoned that it was much preferable to live on full board for the empress than to while away his time in distant Siberia as an exile. Moreover, Catherine, having received the news of the Khan’s abdication, gave Potemkin the following instructions: “The Khan renounced the Khanate. And there is nothing to regret about that, just order him to be treated kindly and with respect befitting an owner, and to give out what was assigned to him.”

The annexation of Crimea to Russia was to be formalized after Shagin-Girey left the peninsula. But the former khan delayed leaving, counting on the fact that he would have defenders abroad. However, there were no such people.

Finally, on July 10, the Empress received the long-awaited dispatch from Potemkin: “In three days, I congratulate you on the Crimea. All the nobles have already sworn allegiance, now everyone will follow them.”

At the same time as the Crimean Tatars, the Nogais swore allegiance to Russia. The ceremony took place in a small fortress at the mouth of the Yeya River - the Yeisk fortification, which was Suvorov's headquarters. About six thousand Crimean and Nogai Tatars gathered there, Shagin-Girey was also present, announcing to them that he was voluntarily relinquishing his khan's dignity, giving him the right to choose a successor, and he himself decided to lead a private life.

A celebration began that lasted three days. One hundred bulls and eight hundred sheep were eaten, and five hundred buckets of plain vodka were drunk.

This is how Crimea was annexed. Suvorov received the Order of St. Vladimir, first degree, as a reward, and Potemkin received the title of Field Marshal and Tauride Governor-General. Shagin-Girey was not left without awards - the size of his pension was 200 thousand rubles a year; the empress promised to keep the faith of her new subjects intact. All income (customs, salt, and land) was allowed to be spent on the needs of the region.

Russian-Turkish War of 1768-174
1. Reasons:

Russia sought to access the Black Sea, and Turkey’s desire to expand its possessions in the Northern Black Sea region at the expense of Russia

Russia's goal is to gain access to the Black Sea
-Turkey’s desire to expand territories in the Black Sea region; in the Caucasus, capture Astrakhan

2. Allies of Russia: supported by Great Britain.

3. Turkey's allies: supported by France, as well as Polish rebels with whom Turkey entered into an alliance

4. Reason: the Baltic incident (named after the town of Baltu, where the Turks carried out a pogrom of the Orthodox population, who turned to Russian troops for help)

5. Progress of military operations on land + 6. Progress of military operations at sea:
With great difficulty, in September 1769, the Russian army took Khotyn, and thereby averted the threat of a union of Turkish troops with Polish rebels from the Bar Confederation.

The decisive events that determined the outcome of the war occurred in 1770, when the army of P.A. Rumyantseva defeated superior enemy forces first at the river. Larga, and then on the banks of the river. Cahul. Ottoman troops left a number of fortresses on the Danube. Victories on land were reinforced by the destruction of the Turkish fleet in Chesme Bay by the squadron of Admiral G.A. Spiridov. In 1771, Russian troops broke into Crimea. Turkey, supported by European states, still resisted, but in the end was forced to sign a peace treaty. Russia also needed peace, because Pugachev's uprising broke out within the country.

7.Results:
In 1774, in the Bulgarian town of Kuchuk-Kainardzhi, two parties signed an agreement according to which:

Russia received the right to own a navy in the Black Sea and to have its merchant fleet pass through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits.

The lands between the Dnieper and the Southern Bug with the Kinburn fortress, the fortresses of Kerch and Yenikale in the Crimea and Kabarda in the Caucasus passed to Russia.

The Crimean Khanate turned from a vassal of Turkey into an independent state.

Türkiye paid a large indemnity.

Russian-Turkish War 1787-1791

1. Reasons: In the 80s. Relations between Russia and Turkey have worsened

As a result of the actions of Russia, which in 1783 captured Crimea and signed the Treaty of Georgievsk with Eastern Georgia on establishing its protectorate there and

Under the influence of revanchist sentiments of the Turkish ruling circles, fueled by Western diplomacy

2. Allies of Russia: 3. Allies of Turkey:

war between Russia and Austria, on the one hand, and the Ottoman Empire, on the other.

Turkey was pushed to war by England, France and Prussia.

Austria, which at the very beginning of the war took the side of Russia, left the war in 1790.

4. Reason: the events in Crimea where a coup took place in favor of the open rival of Turkey and the enemy of Russia. In response, Catherine 2 issued a manifesto on the termination of the existence of the Crimean Khanate and the annexation of its lands to Russia.

5. Progress of military operations on land + 6. Progress of military operations at sea:

In 1787, a Turkish landing force tried to take Kinburn, but was destroyed by a garrison under the command of A.V. Suvorov. The situation for Russia became more complicated in 1788 due to the attack on it by Sweden and the need to fight a war on two fronts. However, in 1789 Russia achieved decisive victories - A.V. Suvorov defeated the Turkish troops at Foksani and on the river. Rymnik.

After the capture of the strategically important fortress of Izmail in 1790 and the successful operations of the Russian Black Sea Fleet under the command of F.F. Ushakov, who defeated the Turkish fleet at Cape Kaliakria in 1791, the outcome of the war became obvious. The signing of peace was also accelerated by Russia's successes in the war with Sweden. In addition, Turkey could not count on serious support from European countries that were drawn into the fight against revolutionary France.

7. Results: In 1791, the Treaty of Jassy was signed, which included the following provisions:

The lands between the Southern Bug and the Dniester passed to Russia.

Turkey confirmed Russia’s rights under the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Treaty, and also recognized the annexation of Crimea and the establishment of a protectorate over Eastern Georgia.

Russia pledged to return Bessarabia, Wallachia and Moldavia, captured by Russian troops during the war, to Turkey.

Russia's successes in the war, its costs and losses significantly exceeded the final gains, which was caused by the opposition of Western countries that did not want its strengthening, as well as the tsarist government's fears of being isolated in conditions when European monarchs, under the influence of events in France, expected internal upheavals in their states and hurried to unite to fight the revolutionary infection.

Initiative of the war 1768-1774 came from the Ottoman Empire. Remembering past victories, the Turks dreamed of throwing Russia away from Zaporozhye, Azov and the North Caucasus and restoring the situation of the 17th century, when the Black and Azov Seas were the “internal lakes” of the Ottoman Empire. Russia’s strategic task, on the contrary, was to master the coast of the Black and Azov Seas, which was dictated by the needs of the country’s development. The lack of access to the southern seas deprived the country of the opportunity to conduct extensive foreign trade.

In addition, being an agricultural country, Russia was forced to be content with land poorly suited for arable farming. central regions, while fertile black soils in the south of the country were not used due to military danger from the vassal of the Turkish Empire - the Crimean Khanate. In the 18th century As its military and international prestige grew, Russia sought to change this state of affairs.

Crimean Tatars. Engraving by V. Melnikov based on a drawing by E. Korneev. 1809

The foreign policy situation in Europe favored Turkey's plans. The strengthening of Russia's position in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth worried England, France, Austria and Prussia. The latter two sought to divide the Polish-Lithuanian lands between themselves and Russia. Petersburg hoped to keep the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which was weakening day by day, under its influence.

In 1764, thanks to the support of Russia, the Polish magnate Stanislav Poniatowski, who was once the chosen one of the heart of Empress Catherine II, was elevated to the throne of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. At the request of Russia, he granted equal rights to Catholics and “dissidents” (Orthodox Ukrainians and Belarusians, as well as Protestant Germans). This law caused sharp discontent among the Polish nobility (gentry). In 1768, the indignant gentry created a confederation in Bar and rose up against the king, at the same time persecuting and exterminating the Orthodox.

Russian troops were sent to pacify the rebellion. As they succeeded in the fight against the Confederates, Turkey's claims against Russia intensified. At first, the Russian ambassador in Istanbul, A. M. Obrezkov, demanded that Russian troops in Poland not approach the Turkish possessions bordering the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and leave Podolia. The ambassador delayed answering, and in the meantime Russian troops inflicted serious blows on the Poles and approached the Turkish border. The victims of the fighting were the Sultan's subjects: Turks, Moldovans and Tatars. The magnates turned to the Ottoman Empire for help, and soon the Turks demanded that Obrezkov withdraw Russian troops from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and restore the exclusive rights of Catholics. Following this, the Russian ambassador was arrested, which meant the beginning of the war.

In the upcoming campaign, Türkiye hoped to create a huge numerical advantage in its favor. The Turks assumed that Russia would field 100-150 thousand soldiers and officers, while they themselves were ready to mobilize 400 thousand people. This powerful army from the territory of the Danube principalities (Turkish possessions in Wallachia, Moldavia and Bessarabia) was supposed to invade the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, defeat the Russians there, and then begin an offensive deep into Russia. The Crimean Khan Crimea-Girey promised active support to the Sultan.

Russia's lack of a fleet in the Black and Mediterranean seas allowed Turkey, in the opinion of its strategists, not to worry about the security of the rear.

For Russia, a war with Turkey at the height of the Polish crisis was undesirable. However, the Russian commanders also had their own plan in case of a clash with the Ottomans. Russian troops had to conduct an offensive on three directions. The first army of General Prince A.M. Golitsyn (90 thousand people) moved from Kyiv to the Danube principalities. The second army of General P. A. Rumyantsev (35 thousand) from Ekaterinoslav attacked the Crimea. A separate corps launched military operations in the Caucasus. It was planned that a strong detachment of ships of the Baltic Fleet under the command of Chief General Count Alexei Grigorievich Orlov, brother of Catherine’s favorite Grigory Orlov, would enter the Mediterranean Sea and head to the shores of Turkey in order to pull back part of the Turkish forces from the main front on the Danube.

Although both powers (especially Turkey) were determined by 1768, their readiness for war was far from ideal. The Turkish army was quite backward compared to the Russian one. In addition, the Turks could not immediately gather their hypothetical 400 thousand on the Danube. Most of their forces were scattered across the vast expanses of Asia Minor, and it took months to transfer them to Europe. The Russians were also not prepared for a long war. The regiments in Poland did not have a full complement of soldiers and weapons, and most of the military supplies turned out to be unusable. The funds allocated for the maintenance of the troops were spent on other needs, and some of them were simply stolen.

The New Year of 1769 began for Russia with misfortune. In January, hordes of Crimeans descended on its southern outskirts. This invasion of the Tatars was the last in the history of Russia. Russian government had information about the impending raid, so most of the border provinces managed to repel the invasion. However, one, located in the upper reaches of the Ingul River and its tributary Ingulets, the so-called New Serbia, where Serbian and Russian settlers lived, was terribly devastated. The Tatars took several thousand people captive, seized livestock and other property. The campaign was led by Crimea-Girey himself, who died on this expedition. His successor was Devlet-Girey IV, who was no less aggressive towards Russia. The raid of 1769 once again showed the danger of the Crimean threat. The solution to this problem could only be the liquidation of the Khanate and the annexation of Crimea to Russia.

G. X. Kilian. Prince Alexander Mikhailovich Golitsyn. 80s XVIII century

The main events of the war took place on the Danube. In the spring of 1769, the army of Prince A.M. Golitsyn began an offensive towards the Turkish border across rough roads and in terrible bad weather. Having besieged the Khotyn fortress, Golitsyn lost many soldiers from disease and therefore was forced to lift the siege and retreat back across the Dnieper. However, things were not going well for the Turks either. Food ran out in Khotin, and the Ottomans abandoned the fortress. In September 1769, Golitsyn entered Khotyn, and the corps of Lieutenant General Count I.K. Elmpt occupied the city of Iasi. The inhabitants of Moldova, most of them Orthodox, swore allegiance to Catherine II at the call of their clergy. And in November 1769. Russian troops entered Bucharest. However, this did not save Golitsyn. For poor successes, he was recalled and replaced by Pyotr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev (1725 - 1796), who showed brilliant military leadership during the Seven Years' War.

As mentioned above, Rumyantsev was the first to begin to move away from linear tactics, replacing it with a more advanced formation - an attack in columns and rifle chains. Rumyantsev was characterized by caring for soldiers and their needs not only in battle, but also in peacetime. He encouraged the initiative of officers, trusting commanders to make their own decisions. His views were shared by most prominent Russian military men, in particular the Orlov brothers, G. A. Potemkin and, of course, A. V. Suvorov.

In the meantime, it was decided to attack Turkey where it did not expect it, namely in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Greece conquered by the Ottomans. The preparation of the expeditionary naval corps was given Special attention. By 1769, five squadrons were created from 50 Baltic ships of various classes. General command was entrusted to A.G. Orlov. The government of Catherine II counted on an uprising of the Greeks, dissatisfied with Turkish rule. Therefore, Orlov had to call on the peoples conquered by the Turks to rise up against their oppressors. It turned out to be a great success that England, while at odds with France (an ally of Turkey), did not interfere with Russia’s military operations.

In July 1769, the first squadron left Kronstadt. It was headed by Admiral G. A. Spiridov. He had to complete a very difficult task: to pave the way for the remaining ships from the Baltic to the Mediterranean Sea in conditions when one of the great maritime powers, France, was hostile to Russia, and the Russian fleet itself did not have naval bases along the route.

The weather was also against the Russians: frequent storms and hurricane-force winds damaged sails and rigging. However, the crews coped with the difficulties, and the long journey rallied the squadron into an excellent, skillful and daring formation. Following Spiridov was the second squadron of Rear Admiral D. Elphinstone.

The French cabinet proposed to attack the Russian fleet immediately after it passed the Strait of Gibraltar, connecting the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. But Louis XV considered this operation dangerous, and the Russian squadrons safely passed Gibraltar.

In February - May 1770, Russian ships approached the Morea (the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, also called the Peloponnese). An uprising broke out in Morea, but it was not supported in other parts of Greece. Several Russian troops landed to help the Greeks, but this operation brought little benefit. The Turks drowned the Greek uprising in blood. By order of Orlov, the Russian squadrons retreated to the islands of the Aegean Sea (Archipelago) to engage in battle with the Turkish fleet.

On June 23 (July 4), 1770, Russian intelligence discovered that Ottoman ships were anchored in the strait off the island of Chios. Soon there was a series naval battles in the Chios Strait, the most important of which was the Battle of Chesme.

The Ottoman fleet under the command of Kapudan Pasha Hasan Bey stood at Chesme Bay, which had powerful coastal artillery. Turkish squadron consisted of 16 battleships, 6 frigates and about 50 auxiliary ships, possessing 1,400 guns. The ships were anchored, lined up in two crescent-shaped lines. The formation was so dense that only the first line facing the sea could fire guns.

The direct leadership of the battle was carried out by admirals G. A. Spiridov and S. K. Greig. The Russian fleet was inferior in number to the Ottoman one (9 battleships, 3 frigates, 1 bombardment ship and 17 auxiliary ships; a total of 740 guns). But the Russians had an advantage in maneuver: they could operate all their ships and guns, directing their fire against the first line of the Turkish fleet, while the second line of the Ottomans remained inactive.

On the morning of June 24 (July 5), Russian ships formed a wake column and began to quickly advance on the Turkish fleet downwind. Having approached 0.5 cables, the Russians, against the then naval techniques, without stopping, turned around and fired a powerful cannon salvo at the enemy. Then a fierce battle ensued.

The Russian battleship Eustathius (the flagship of the first squadron), on board which were Admiral Spiridov and the commander-in-chief's brother Fyodor Orlov, boarded the Ottoman flagship Rial Mustafa. A fire started on the upper deck of the Turk, which spread to the powder magazines. A colossal explosion shook the surrounding area, and the Turkish flagship disappeared from the water surface in a matter of seconds. The explosion of the "Rial-Mustafa" resulted in the death of the "Eustathia", but thanks to the coordinated actions of the crew, most of its members were saved - eight sailors went missing.

Commander-in-Chief Alexei Orlov, seeing the explosion, considered the entire crew, including his brother, dead and, as he later recalled, “felt that he was a man and fainted, but soon came to his senses, ordered all sails to be raised and rushed his ship at the enemy.” . Having lost their flagship, the Turks were in confusion. The captains ordered to cut off the anchor ropes and go to the inner roadstead of the bay under the protection of coastal batteries. The latter turned out to be a trap: the Russians locked the Ottomans in the bay, and the Turkish cannons could not fire at the Russian ships, since their own ships interfered with them.

On June 25 (July 6), the Russians did not launch new attacks, and the Turks were counting on a short respite. But contrary to custom (then ships did not fight in the dark), the night of June 25-26 did not bring them peace. At Spiridov's suggestion, it was decided to attack in the dark with the help of fireships (arson ships). The outcome of the battle was decided by the skillful actions of the crew of one of the fire ships under the command of Lieutenant D.S. Ilyin. Despite the firing of the Turkish guns, he brought the burning ship to the side of the 84-gun Ottoman ship. Soon the Ottoman caught fire and exploded. Its burning wreckage scattered throughout the bay and set fire to the remaining Turkish ships. By the morning of June 26 (July 7), the Ottoman fleet was destroyed.

The Russian fleet demonstrated extraordinary courage, professionalism and innovation of its commanders. They decisively broke the “classical” rules of their time. Participants in the Battle of Chesme were generously awarded by Catherine II, and Alexei Orlov received the title of Count of Chesme. But one naval battle, even a large one, could not immediately lead to a favorable outcome of the war for Russia. Moreover, the Turks, with the help of the French, partially restored the navy.

Now the army had to have its say on the main front in the Danube principalities. Here, Rumyantsev’s troops twice defeated the Turks at the Ryabaya Mogila on June 16 (27) and on the Larga River on July 7 (18), 1770. In the battle at the confluence of the Larga and the Prut, the combined forces of the Turks and Crimean Tatars. Russia's opponents left about 1,000 people killed on the battlefield, while Russian losses amounted to 29 people. The most major battle The Danube Campaign of 1770 took place on June 21 (July 2), 1770 near the Cahul River. Here Rumyantsev, having 27 thousand soldiers and officers and 118 guns, defeated a Turkish army of 150 thousand people with 150 guns.

The success of the Russian army was explained by the fact that Rumyantsev ignored the rules of linear formation that the Ottomans adhered to. He applied new method approaching the enemy - advanced the main forces to the battlefield in several columns under the cover of advanced detachments. This made it possible to deliver a sudden blow to the enemy of such force that the Turks did not expect. To repel a possible attack by the Turkish cavalry, the Russians formed a special battle formation - a divisional square (a rectangular formation of infantry, artillery was installed in its corners, and cavalry was located inside).

With the start of the battle, Russian infantry and cannons repelled the Ottoman attack with fire, inflicting significant losses on them. After this, cavalry suddenly appeared from behind the ranks of the infantry and overthrew the enemy, putting him to flight. For these victories, General Rumyantsev was awarded the Order of St. George, 1st degree, and promoted to field marshal. Subsequently, for his actions beyond the Danube, he was awarded the title of Count of Transdanubia. In July - October 1770, the Russians captured the fortresses of Kiliya, Akkerman and Izmail. Ishmael was of particular strategic importance, blocking the exit of the Danube to the Black Sea. But soon, in addition to the Turks, a new threat to the Russian army arose. Rumyantsev noted that his army was melting from epidemics, bad water and food, and proposed to start negotiations. However, Türkiye, supported by Austria, did not want to make any agreements. In 1772 the situation changed. This year, Russia, Prussia and Austria found a compromise on the Polish question and carried out the first partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

In Istanbul, the news of the division of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth made a painful impression. The Turks did not rule out that the Europeans were able to agree on the division of the Porte, and therefore agreed to negotiations, which began in the summer of 1772 in Focsani. However, it was not possible to reach an agreement. The Russians demanded the independence of the Crimean Khanate, which threatened the loss of the sovereignty of Crimea and its transfer to Russia. The Ottomans did not agree with this, and the war continued.

In 1773, the Rumyantsev army began crossing the Danube. In order to divert the enemy's attention from the crossing of the main group of troops, individual Russian detachments crossed the Danube at various points. In the “false crossings” campaign, the detachment of A. V. Suvorov, which carried out reconnaissance in force near the Turkish fortress of Turtukai, especially distinguished itself.

Suvorov's detachment included 700 infantrymen and 200 mounted Don Cossacks. The foot part of his detachment crossed the Danube on the night of May 10 (21), 1773 on 20 rowing ships.

To achieve complete surprise, the ships set sail from the coast quite far from Turtukai on the Argesh River, a tributary of the Danube, and then went out into the Danube. Meanwhile, the Cossacks quietly crossed the Danube on horseback and met with infantrymen near Turtukai. The 4,000-strong Turtukai garrison, suddenly attacked, opened indiscriminate gun fire, which did little to hinder the Russians. With a thunderous “Hurray!” the soldiers rushed to attack. Unaware of the small number of their attackers, the Ottomans fled, leaving 1,500 dead. Having destroyed the fortifications, the Russians left Turtukai, to which the Turks soon returned. But on June 16 (27), Suvorov again attacked the fortress and again defeated its 5,000-strong garrison.

Meanwhile, Rumyantsev gave the order to cross the Danube with the main part of the First Army. The vanguard of the main forces attacked a 6,000-strong detachment of Turks on June 7 (18) and immediately captured a pontoon bridge 30 km from Silistria. From June 9 (20) to June 10 (21), 1773, the main forces of the Danube Army crossed the Danube, and G. A. Potemkin’s corps began the siege of Silistria. Large convoys of the Russian army were left under guard on the left bank of the Danube. This measure turned out to be reasonable, since Rumyantsev did not have the strength to completely defeat the Ottoman army, and in November 1773 he took the army to the left bank for the winter.

In the spring of 1774, Russian troops resumed active operations on the right bank of the Danube. The main forces of the Danube Army fought for the powerful Turkish fortresses of Rushchuk and Silistria. In order to distract the Ottoman troops from Silistria and Rushchuk, detachments of A.V. Suvorov and M.F. Kamensky were detached from the Danube Army, which independently attacked Shumla and Bazarzhik. On June 2 (13), 1774, Kamensky took Bazarzhik.

On June 9 (20), Suvorov's 18,000-strong detachment moved in the direction of Kozludzha. The road went through dense forest. Unexpectedly, the Russian vanguard was attacked by superior Ottoman forces. In a difficult battle, the Turks managed to overthrow the Cossack cavalry, and Suvorov and a small group of soldiers found themselves cut off from their own and almost died. The Suzdal and Sevsky infantry regiments rushed to the commander's rescue. They made their way to Suvorov, and soon the remaining Russian forces gathered around them. Suvorov decided to move forward, despite the attacks of the Turks. Finally, the Russians emerged from the forest into an open field... straight into the 40,000-strong Ottoman army, which the Russians did not even know was approaching Kozludzhi. The Ottomans opened gunfire, but Suvorov made an unprecedented decision - to attack! With the despair of the doomed, the Russian infantrymen and Cossacks rushed towards the enemy. The fire mowed down their ranks, but Suvorov’s detachment inexorably continued to approach the Ottomans, hoping to break the enemy with the famous Russian bayonet attack. The Russians' determination was successful. Panic began in the Turkish regiments; the soldiers, not listening to the officers, ran. On the battlefield, the Russians captured 29 guns and 107 banners.

Admiral S. K. Greig. Engraving by D. Walker from the original by D. G. Levitsky. 1788

The actions of the Russian army on other fronts were also successful. In 1771, the Second Army was formed for military operations in the Crimea, led by General-in-Chief Prince V. M. Dolgorukov. The actions of the ground forces were supported by the newly created Azov military flotilla, composed of ships of a new class, called “newly invented”. They looked like small frigates or gunboats, had a shallow draft of 2.5 m, but had strong artillery. Each ship was equipped with 12-16 cannons with a caliber of up to 12 pounds and several two- or three-pound mortars. A total of 10 “newly invented” ships and 65 smaller auxiliary vessels were built. In 1771, Dolgorukov's army captured Crimea. For this success, Dolgorukov was awarded the Order of St. George, 1st degree, a golden sword with diamonds and the title of Crimean.

After the capture of Crimea, the base of the Russian squadron was moved from Taganrog to Kerch. Now the Azov flotilla had to protect the Crimean coast from Ottoman landings. The Russian fleet was inferior to the Turkish in number and class of ships, but was not afraid of battles. So, on June 23 (July 4), 1773, two “newly invented” ships under the command of captain 2nd rank J. G. van Kinsbergen, not far from Balaklava, fought a 6-hour battle with three battleships and one small Turkish ship. The Turkish ships, having received serious holes, were forced to leave. This happened everywhere. Therefore, the Ottomans, having a powerful fleet in the Black Sea, were never able to land troops in the Crimea.

G. A. Potemkin at the head of a cavalry regiment. M. M. Ivanov.

Results of the war

The Battle of Kozludzhi put an end to the war. The resources of the Porte Splendid were exhausted, and the Turks agreed to negotiate. Peace was also beneficial for Russia. In the Urals and Volga, the Pugachev uprising was raging in September 1773, and Catherine II sought to end the war as quickly as possible. Peace was concluded on July 10 (21), 1774 in the Bulgarian village of Kuchuk-Kainardzhi.

The Black Sea cities of Kerch, Yenikali, Kinburn, as well as Kabarda in the North Caucasus, went to Russia. Russia received the right to have a military and merchant fleet in the Black Sea. Merchant ships could freely enter the Mediterranean Sea through the Turkish Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. The Danube principalities remained with Turkey, but Russia could now defend the rights of the Orthodox in them.

Türkiye was obliged to pay an indemnity of 4 million rubles. But the most significant loss of the Sublime Porte was the recognition of the independence of the Crimean Khanate, which subsequently led to its annexation to Russia.

Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774

Russia continued the struggle for access to the Black Sea and the acquisition of new lands in the south during the reign of Catherine II.

In the war with Turkey in 1768-1774. The Russian government decided to act offensively, while the Danube principalities - Moldavia and Wallachia - were chosen as the main direction of military action.

At the beginning of the war, the Crimean Khan Crimea-Girey struck Ukraine. In mid-January 1769, at the head of 100,000 Crimean cavalry, he invaded the Novorossiysk province and Zaporozhye. Two Tatar detachments, having met decisive resistance and suffered heavy losses, retreated to the Crimea. However, a 50,000-strong detachment led by Krym-Girey managed to penetrate far enough into the interior of Ukraine; bypassing large fortified cities, they were able to capture and burn a large number of villages. But as soon as the khan found out that troops were sent against him. he immediately retreated to the steppe. This was the last raid of the Crimean Tatars on Ukrainian lands.

The Russian government gives the order to create the Azov flotilla. Ships for it were built at the old Peter the Great shipyards of the Don and its tributaries, and later in Azov and Taganrog. The construction was supervised by the talented naval commander Vice Admiral A. Senyavin, who later became the first commander of the young fleet.

The year 1770 brought great success to the Russian troops. Led by the talented commander Rumyantsev, the army defeated the Turkish-Tatar army in a number of battles. Particularly large were the victories on the Larga rivers on July 7 (18) and Cahul on July 21 (August 1). Successes on land were supported by naval victories, which created favorable preconditions for decisive action against Turkey's vassal and ally, the Crimean Khanate. The developed plan for conducting military operations in 1771 provided for the capture of Crimea by the forces of the 2nd Russian Army as the main task.

They prepared for the offensive quite thoroughly. In the second half of 1770 - early 1771, a new line of fortifications was built on the lands of Zaporozhye - the Dnieper. It ran from the Dnieper along the Konka and Berda rivers to Sea of ​​Azov. Here a bridgehead was created, from which the 2nd Army began offensive operations to capture Crimea.

At this time, the Nogai Tatars turned to the new commander of the 2nd Army, P. Panin, with a request for permission to return to their native lands - the Azov and Black Sea regions (in 1769 they were driven out of there by Russian troops pursuing the Crimean-Girey cavalry).

The Russian government gave an affirmative answer with the condition that the Nogais would accept Russian citizenship. The Nogai Tatars of the Belgorod, Budzhak, Edisan, and later the Edigkul and Dzhambuluk hordes agreed to these conditions.

Occupation of Crimea by Russian troops

The main forces of the 2nd Army, numbering 24 thousand people, led by the new commander V. Dolgorukov, headed for Perekop at the end of April 1771.

The Crimean leadership understood that Russian troops, coming close to the peninsula, would soon begin their offensive. Attempts were made to concentrate the available forces as much as possible in Crimea itself; for this purpose, Khan Selim-Girey, who was with his troops in the Turkish camp on the Danube, broke through the lines of Russian troops in September 1770 and returned to the region.

Turkish Sultan was extremely interested in maintaining Crimea under his rule. Despite the fact that Turkey itself was in an extremely difficult situation, Turkish troops, military specialists, and instructors headed by Ibrahim Pasha and one of the best commanders, Abazeh Mohammed Pasha, headed to Crimea. Under their leadership, fortifications were erected and Crimean troops were trained.

At this time, the main forces of the Russian army, led by General V. Dolgorukov, were approaching Perekop, at the same time, a detachment under the command of General Shcherbatov, using the ships of the Azov military flotilla, landed 50 kilometers from Perekop.

When on June 9, 1771, the main forces of the 2nd Army began an attack on the Perekop fortifications, a detachment of General Prozorovsky struck the enemy’s flank, crossing the Sivash. Selim-Girey was forced to withdraw some of the troops from the main direction and throw them against the detachments of Shcherbatov and Prozorovsky. General Dolgorukov did not fail to take advantage of this and, having pushed back the Crimean Tatar troops from Perekop, developed an offensive into the depths of Crimea. The army under his command headed towards Bakhchisarai, Brown’s detachment rushed in the direction of Gezlev, and Shcherbatov’s detachment moved towards Kaffa. General Shcherbatov defeats the 100,000-strong army of the Crimean Khan on June 29 on the approach to Caffa and after that takes possession of the Kerch and Taman peninsulas. Brown takes Gezlev without any problems. The main forces under the command of Dolgorukov did not encounter much resistance either. Approaching Ak-Mosque, the commander of the 2nd Army set up his camp near the river. Salgir (in the place where the commander’s tent was located, now in the center of Simferopol there is an obelisk - the Dolgorukovsky spire).

By the end of June, the Russian army captured virtually the entire territory of the peninsula. The Turkish fleet, located off the Crimean coast, was afraid to land troops to support the Khan's troops; it did not even dare to fight the ships of the Azov flotilla. Soon the Sultan's squadron received the remnants of the Turkish troops who fought in the Crimea, Khan Selim-Girey with his harem, part of the beys and murzas and departed for Constantinople.

At the same time, the highest Tatar nobility (beys and murzas) and the Muslim clergy turned to V. Dolgorukov with a request for the union and friendship of Crimea with Russia. General V. Dolgorukov received on July 27, 1771 the Shirin Murza Ismail, who gave him a sworn letter of eternal friendship and inextricable alliance with Russia, signed by 110 representatives of the highest Crimean Tatar nobility. The day before, on the initiative of Jahan-Girey, Begadyr-Girey and the influential Shirinsky beys, a council of the highest Crimean nobility was convened, which approved the specified jury sheet. After this, the council elected a new khan - Bey of Orsk Sahib-Girey (who was considered a supporter of rapprochement with Russia), and his brother, Shagin-Girey, as Kalga-Sultan. V. Dolgorukov accepted the oath and approved the election of Sahib-Girey as Crimean Khan. This meant that the Crimean Khanate became an independent state under Russian protectorate.

In November 1771, a similar council of the Crimean nobility who fled to Turkey was held in Istanbul, which elected Maksud-Girey khan. The Turkish Sultan, having approved this election, made every effort to return Crimea to its dependence.

Leaving small garrisons in the main cities of Crimea and in the ports of Kerch, Yenikale and Kinburn, Russian troops left the peninsula.

Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Treaty (1774)

Events developed successfully for the Russian army, which fought with Turkey, in other directions. The troops under the command of A. Suvorov achieved particular success. In particular, at the beginning of June 1774, the Russian army crossed the Danube, and on June 9, its vanguard under the command of Suvorov, numbering only 8 thousand soldiers, defeated the 40 thousand-strong Turkish army at Kozludzhi. At the end of June, Russian troops, having crossed the Balkans, began to threaten Constantinople. Türkiye invited Russia to conclude a peace treaty. A number of European states, concerned about the extraordinary successes, began to put pressure on the Russian government and forced it to concede.

After short negotiations in the small Bulgarian village of Kuchuk-Kainardzhi, on July 10, 1774, representatives of Russia and Turkey signed a peace treaty. P. Rumyantsev and the Turkish Grand Vizier Mussun-zade Mehmet Pasha put their signatures under it. Turkey recognized the independence of the Crimean Khanate, but pledged not to interfere in its internal affairs. Only in accordance with tradition was the subordination of the khan to the Turkish Sultan in religious matters, as the supreme caliph, maintained. Russia included Greater and Lesser Kabarda, the eastern part of the Kerch Peninsula with Kerch and Yenikale, Azov with the adjacent region, the Kinburn fortress at the mouth of the Dnieper, the territory between the Dnieper and the Southern Bug in their lower reaches to the Black Sea coast. Special meaning for Russia there were articles of the treaty, according to which it achieved the right of free trade navigation in the Black Sea through the Bosporus and Dardanelles and the entry of Russian merchant ships into Turkish ports. In addition, Turkey had to pay Russia an indemnity in the amount of 4.5 million rubles for three years.

For the Crimean Khanate, the most important was the third article of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Treaty, which defined its status: “All Tatar peoples are recognized as free and completely independent from outside power, but under the autocratic power of their own khan of the Chinggis generation, elected and elevated by the entire Tatar society, who governs according to their ancient laws and customs, without giving an account of anything to any outside power, and for this purpose neither the Russian court nor the Ottoman Porte has any say in the election and installation of the said khan, or in their household affairs under any circumstances view..."

The Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Treaty had a number of significant contradictory points that could at any moment destabilize the situation in Crimea. The policies of both Turkey and Russia contributed to the split of Crimean society into two parts - pro-Russian and pro-Ottoman, which further inflamed the situation on the peninsula.

Board of Shagin-Girey

In 1775, the Turkish Sultan decided to remove Sahib-Girey from the throne, whose reign did not bring much satisfaction to Turkey. Devlet-Girey is appointed the new Crimean Khan. This did not suit the Russian government at all. Taking advantage of the fact that Turkey did not comply with a number of provisions of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Treaty (in particular, its troops continued to remain in Caffa), putting forward a number of claims, Catherine II gave the order to enter Russian troops to Crimea. In November 1776, the corps under the command of A. Prozorovsky occupied Perekop without resistance.

In the spring of 1777, troops under the command of A. Suvorov occupied the steppe part of the peninsula. Supported by the Russian Empress, Shagin-Girey lands in Yenikale. The absolute majority of the Crimean Tatar nobility goes over to his side. March 29, 1777 The Divan decides to remove Devlet-Girey and proclaim Shagin-Girey the Crimean Khan. After Russian troops captured Kaffa on May 20, Devlet-Girey was forced to go to Turkey.

Shagin-Girey, seeing the complexity of the situation in his state, turned to Catherine II with a request to leave part of the Russian troops stationed near the Ak-Mosque in Crimea. The reign of Shagin-Girey cannot be considered successful: in an effort to accelerate the development and transformation of his state, he is trying to implement numerous reforms, while completely disregarding the complex internal and external situation of the Khanate. Many transformations seriously violated established traditions and required huge amounts of money (especially the attempt to build new capital in Kaffa), increased taxes on the population. The introduction of “European innovations” caused an extremely negative reaction among the people: Shagin-Girey himself did not ride on horseback, as befitted a khan, but in a carriage; a population census was carried out (which caused a significant commotion, since such events had never been carried out before, but to clarify no one really bothered to achieve its goal among the population). After the khan decided to create an army in the khanate in the European style, and even more so to introduce offensive human dignity corporal punishment in the form of flogging with spitzrutens, the whole of Crimea rebelled against him in October 1777.

Türkiye immediately took advantage of this. Having appointed a new khan, Selim-Girey III, in Istanbul, the Sultan helped him land in Crimea in December 1777. Not only the Crimean, but also the Nogai Tatars opposed Shagin-Girey. And only the intervention of Russian troops led by A. Prozorovsky helped Shagin-Girey suppress this uprising. Turkey was forced to agree with the establishment of Shagin-Girey on the khan's throne (Selim-Girey III was killed during the uprising).

However, Shagin-Girey did not draw the necessary conclusions and continued to introduce innovations, which predetermined his future fate.

Having assessed the complexity of the situation in Crimea, Catherine II undertakes necessary measures. Instead of A. Prozorovsky, she appoints A. Suvorov, who was not only a brilliant commander, but also a wise diplomat, as commander of the Russian troops.

On the one hand, Suvorov carried out a number of measures to strengthen the defense of the peninsula, especially the coast, in particular, he built fortifications at the entrance to Akhtiarskaya Bay, banned Turkish ships take fresh water from the river Belbek and strengthened the protection of the coast. At the same time, he is making every effort to ensure that the “Russian presence” does not cause anger among the Crimean Tatars; for this purpose, he issued a special order for his army: “To maintain complete friendship and establish mutual agreement between Russians and different levels of ordinary people.” Knowing that European diplomacy had already repeatedly drawn Russia's attention to the illegality of the presence of its troops in Crimea, at the suggestion of G. Potemkin, it was decided to entrust these troops, led by A. Suvorov, with ensuring the resettlement of the Christian population from Crimea (mainly Greek) . Such actions were carried out by the Russian government with the aim of undermining the already struggling economy of Crimea. (Europe was presented with other motives for this resettlement - the oppression of Christians on the peninsula). A. Suvorov carried out the operation with his usual lightning speed (he did not even inform Shagin-Girey), from May to September 1778, 31 thousand Christians were resettled in the Azov region and the Northern Black Sea region.

The Turkish Sultan several times sent large squadrons of his ships to the shores, but, knowing how decisively and successfully the Russian troops under the command of A. Suvorov could act, the Turks never dared to land their troops.

In turn, Catherine II did not dare to annex Crimea to Russia, knowing the attitude of a number of European states to this issue. Moreover, under their pressure, Russia agreed to sign the Aynali-Kavak Convention with Turkey on March 10, 1779. In response to the Turkish Sultan's obligations not to interfere in the internal affairs of the Crimean Khanate, Russia withdrew its troops from Crimea, agreeing to the Khanate's subordination to the Sultan in religious matters, including his blessing of the Khan upon enthronement. Turkey also pledged to freely allow Russian merchant ships to pass through the Bosporus and Dardanelles and recognize Shagin-Girey as the Crimean Khan.

Fulfilling the decision of the convention, the Russian government withdraws its troops from Crimea, leaving only a 6,000-strong garrison in Kerch and Yenikal.

Shagin-Girey, who had learned nothing, unsuccessfully continued to “Europeanize” his khanate, and, as a result, a new uprising broke out in the fall of 1781, led by the khan’s own brother Batyr-Girey, together with the Crimean mufti. This time, Shagin-Girey managed to cope with the performance of his subjects himself. However, the executions carried out by the khan caused a new uprising in 1782, and Shagin-Girey had to flee under the protection of the Russian garrison to Kerch. Türkiye proclaimed Mahmut Giray khan. The Russian government is sending its troops to Crimea to restore Shagin-Girey to power. Mahmut-Girey's supporters were defeated, and Shagin-Girey took the khan's throne.

The situation in the Crimean Khanate was constantly deteriorating, and the Russian government understood that the further “rule” of Shagin-Girey would only aggravate the situation and cause sharp discontent among the Crimean Tatars. At the same time, it was obvious that Crimea would not be able to maintain its independence in such a situation. Catherine II, of course, could not agree that the Crimean Khanate would again become a vassal of Turkey. After long meetings with G. Potemkin, she decides to annex Crimea to Russia.

This was facilitated by the current international situation in the 80s of the 18th century. The attention of leading European states, and primarily England and France, was focused on North America, where the War of Independence unfolded in the English colonies. Therefore, Europe could not interfere in the “showdown” between Russia and Turkey.

General Samoilov was sent to Shagin-Girey, who conveyed to the khan Catherine II’s proposal to voluntarily abdicate the throne and transfer Crimea to Russia. At the same time, Shagin-Girey was guaranteed further patronage and the allocation of 200 thousand rubles to him annually. Realizing that he had no support from his subjects for a long time, in February 1783 Shagin-Girey abdicated the throne.

April 8, 1783 Catherine II signs the manifesto (rescript) “On the acceptance of the Crimean peninsula, the island of Taman and the entire Kuban side under the Russian state.” Understanding the extreme complexity of the events that took place and possible consequences, in the manifesto the empress argues for the correctness decision taken: “During the Ottoman war with the Porte, when the strength and victories of Our arms gave us the full right to leave Crimea, which was formerly in our hands, in Our favor. We then sacrificed this and other extensive conquests to the renewal of good agreement and friendship with the Ottoman Porte, transforming the Tatar peoples into a free and independent region, in order to remove forever the cases and methods of strife and rifts that often occurred between Russia and the Porte in the former state of the Tatars But now, out of duty to care for the good and greatness of the Fatherland, trying to establish it in favor and safety, as well as considering it a means that will forever delay the unpleasant causes that disturb the eternal peace concluded between the Russian and Ottoman empires, which we sincerely wish to preserve forever, we do not less, and in replacement and satisfaction of Our losses, We decided to take the Crimean Peninsula, Taman Island and the Kuban side under Our power.” Right there in the manifesto, the Empress assures the Crimean Tatars that she undertakes: “to support them on an equal basis with Our natural subjects, to protect and defend their persons, property, temples and natural faith.”

Fulfilling the will of Catherine II, G. Potemkin gives an order to the Russian army, according to which troops under the command of A. Suvorov and G. Potemkin himself occupy Taman and the Kerch Peninsula, troops under the command of de Bolmen entered directly into Crimea. Sea support was provided by the Azov squadron of Vice Admiral Klokachev.

In June 1783, in the camp of Russian troops located on sheer cliff Ak-Kaya (not far from Karasubazar (Belogorsk)), the governor of New Russia, Grigory Aleksandrovich Potemkin, took the oath of allegiance to Russia from the beys, the murzas, and the entire Tatar nobility. In December 1783, Turkey, according to the signed agreement, recognized the inclusion of Crimea into Russia.

The fate of the last Crimean Khan Shagin-Girey is sad. After abdicating the throne, he lived for some time in Voronezh and Kaluga. Then he unexpectedly turned to Catherine II with a request to let him go to Turkey. After much persuasion not to do this, the Russian government finally agrees. In January 1787 he left Russia. The Turkish Sultan initially greeted the former Crimean Khan quite favorably, but soon Shagin-Girey was accused of new political intrigues and executed on the island. Rhodes.

Russian-Turkish War 1787-1791 Victories of the Russian army and navy. Treaty of Jassy

Türkiye, having never agreed with the results of the previous war of 1769-1774. and, above all, with the loss of Crimea, she decided that a new war would be more successful for her. On July 15, 1787, she presented Russia with a number of demands, including renouncing the protectorate over Georgia and recognizing its vassal dependence on Turkey, agreeing to the inspection of Russian merchant ships by Turkish authorities, reducing duties on imported Turkish goods to 3%, and transferring salt lakes to Turkey. in the Kinburn area. On August 5, Turkey decided to present a new, tougher ultimatum, demanding the immediate return of Crimea to it and the annulment of all Russian-Turkish agreements, starting with the Kuchuk-Kaynajir Peace Treaty. However, without even waiting for a response from the Russian government, the Sultan declared war on Russia on August 13. His haste, obviously, is explained by the fact that states not interested in the increased power of Russia were actively “stirring up passions.” Indicative are the words of the Austrian Emperor Joseph II (who in this war was, albeit passive, but still an ally), with which he responded to Catherine II’s proposal to conclude an alliance against Turkey: “A la Vienna, it is safer to have neighbors in turbans than in hats.” .

Russian-Turkish War 1787-1791 began with attempts by the Turkish fleet to attack the Russian fleet off the western coast of Crimea on August 21, 1787. This war showed significant superiority Russian army and navy in many respects, but above all in a completely new, energetic, proactive command. The most active and non-standard actions were distinguished by the outstanding commander A.V. Suvorov (1730-1800) and naval commander F.F. Ushakov (1744-1817). The Turks' attempt to land their troops on the Kinburn Spit ended in complete disaster for the latter. Troops under the command of P. Rumyantsev and G. Potemkin captured the most important fortresses, Ochakov and Khotin. With lightning strikes, A. Suvorov achieved brilliant victories near Focsani and Rymnik. The apogee of A. Suvorov’s leadership talent in this war was the capture of the first-class Turkish fortress of Izmail on the Danube, which had previously been considered impregnable. During the capture of this fortress, the star of another brilliant Russian commander, a student of the “Suvorov school”, M.I., rose. Kutuzova. Russian troops took the most important Turkish fortresses of Akkerman, Hadzhibey, and Bendery.

The young Black Sea Fleet under the command of Admiral F. Ushakov also achieved its first successes. He abandoned the outdated linear tactics of naval battles and began to use a decisive attack on the flagship, maximum proximity to the enemy squadron, in order to force the enemy to capitulate in a short and decisive battle. The Black Sea Fleet won its first high-profile victories near Fr. Tender in the Kerch Strait, destroying the Turkish fleet at its own base, as well as on the Bulgarian coast at Cape Kaliakria.

Having suffered a series of crushing defeats, having lost most of its troops and navy, Turkey was on the verge of disaster, and all of Europe was alarmed. Under this pressure (primarily from England and France), Russia was forced to enter into peace negotiations with Turkey. On December 29, 1791 (January 1792 according to the new style), the Treaty of Jassy was signed. The territory between the Southern Bug and Dniester rivers, including Ochakov, went to Russia. Türkiye has finally recognized the annexation of Crimea to Russia. Türkiye also renounced its claims to Georgia. The establishment of Russia in the Northern Black Sea region, in the Azov and Black Seas and the possibility of free foreign trade by sea through the straits became one of the factors that contributed to the acceleration of the settlement and development of the Northern Black Sea region and Crimea.

G.A. Babenko, V.P. Dyulichev

Photos of the mountainous Crimea

1768-74 became the fifth military conflict between Russia and the Ottoman Empire.

The main contradiction remained the same - having free access to the Black Sea. And the formal reasons for the Russian-Turkish war can be called the following: Russian authorities, led by Catherine II, began to actively interfere in the political affairs of Poland, where at that time there was a war between oppositionists from the Bar Confederation and the ruling king Stanislaw Poniatowski. Russian troops fought on the side of the king.

Pursuing opposition troops, a Russian detachment of Cossacks invaded Turkish lands and occupied the small town of Balta. The Turkish authorities, having concluded an alliance with the Polish confederates and enlisting the support of Austria and France, declared war on Russia on September 25, 1768. Thus officially began the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-74.

In this war, Turkey aimed to expand its possessions by capturing Kyiv, Astrakhan and the Azov region; France and Austria hoped to weaken the influence of Russia and restore the former borders of Poland, and the Polish confederates hoped to finally seize power in the country.

Until the end of 1768, the parties did not conduct active military operations, but only gathered their forces and prepared for war. The army led by General Golitsyn slowly advanced, occupying the territory around the Dniester, towards And the second Russian army, commanded by General Rumyantsev, was supposed to protect the territory of Ukraine from Crimean-Turkish raids.

The fighting began in the winter of 1769, when a cavalry army invaded Ukrainian lands. As expected, this attack was repelled by Rumyantsev's army. At the same time, Russian troops captured Taganrog, cleared access to the Sea of ​​Azov and began creating the Azov flotilla.

The Russian-Turkish War of 1768-74 was significant in that during it the troops of the Ottoman Empire failed to win a single significant victory. At the same time, she suffered her most crushing defeats in the Battle of Chesme and in the Battle of Cahul.

The Battle of Chesma took place at the end of June 1770, when the Russian squadron, commanded by admirals Spiridov and Greig, as a result of a brilliant operation, was able to lock enemy ships in the bay near Chesma and completely destroy the Turkish fleet. As a result of this battle, the Turks lost 10 thousand, while the Russians lost only 11 people.

And in the land battle of July 21, 1770 at Cahul, the future Field Marshal Rumyantsev distinguished himself. His 17,000-strong army was able to defeat the 100,000-strong army of Halil Pasha. This happened thanks to the brilliant offensive tactics used by Rumyantsev. At some point, when the Turkish troops were especially violently pushing back the Russian troops, Rumyantsev himself rushed into battle and turned his soldiers, who began to retreat, to attack. After the first offensive, the Janissaries gave up, began to give up positions and scatter.

As a result of the battle, one and a half thousand people were lost on the Russian side, and more than 20 thousand on the Turks. After the greatest Kagul victory, the Turkish fortresses of Izmail and Kiliya surrendered.

From 1770 to 1774 The crisis intensified in the Ottoman Empire. Active military operations were carried out in the Caucasus and the Black Sea region, in which Russian troops won victories over and over again. The Turks practically did not receive the promised help from Poland, Austria and France. Therefore, in 1772, the Turkish authorities decided to begin negotiations on a truce. The main point on which the parties did not agree was the fate of Crimea. The Russian side insisted on the independence of Crimea, but the Turks refused this in every possible way. Therefore, without reaching a common opinion, the parties resumed hostilities.

In 1773-74, Russian troops were able to occupy the army under the command of Suvorov, which won brilliant victories near Girsov, Kozludzha and Turtukai.

In Georgia at this time there were also fighting with the Turks, although not as successfully as in Moldova and the Crimean steppes. In 1771, Catherine II ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia, since she considered their stay there to be further useless. However, events in the Caucasus distracted the Turkish forces from the central theater of military operations, which also had its own positive influence on the course of the war.

Finally, the Turkish authorities were forced to sign and fulfill all the conditions put forward by Russia. Thus ended the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-74. This happened in the small Bulgarian town of Kuchuk-Kainardzhi in July 1774.

The results of the Russian-Turkish war can be called the following: The Russian Empire received the territory between the Dnieper and the Bug, including the sea coast and Crimean fortresses. was declared an independent state, and the Russian merchant fleet received the right of unhindered passage through the straits. Thus, Russia was able to fulfill its maximum plan set in the Russian-Turkish war.