Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774)

The Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774 was a decisive conflict that brought Southern Ukraine, Northern Caucasus, and Crimea within the orbit of the Russian Empire.

The war followed the internal tensions within Poland where there was the strife between the nobility and the king Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski, former favorite of the Russian Empress Catherine II. The king was dependent on Russian military backing.

A detachment of Cossacks in Russian service entered Balta (on Ottoman territory) during the pursuit of a Polish Bar Confederation force. The Ottoman Empire accused the troops of having conducted the slaughter of its subjects in the town of Balta, a charge denied by the Russian authorities. Following this border incident at Balta, Sultan Mustafa III declared war on Russia on September 25 1768. The Turks formed the alliance with the Polish oppositionary forces of Bar Confederation, while Russia was supported by the Great Britain, which offered naval advisers to the Imperial Russian Navy.

The Polish opposition was defeated by Aleksandr Suvorov. After that, he was transferred to the Turkish theatre of operations, where in 1773 and 1774 he won several minor and major battles for Russia following the previous successes of the Russian Field-Marshal Count Peter Rumiantsev at Larga and Kagul.

The naval operations of the Russian Baltic Fleet in the Mediterranean yielded even more spectacular victories under the command of Aleksey Grigoryevich Orlov. In 1771, Egypt and Syria rebelled against the Ottoman rule while the Russian fleet totally destroyed the Turkish Navy in the Battle of Chesma.

On July 21, 1774, the Ottoman Empire signed the Treaty of Kuçuk Kainarji. According to the treaty, the Crimean Khanate formally gained its independence (but in reality became dependent on Russia), Russia received the war reparations of 4.5 million rubles and two key seaports allowing the direct access to the Black Sea.

This war was but a small part of the continuous process of expansion of the Russian Empire southwards and eastwards during the 18th and 19th centuries.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) — Plevna Monument near the walls of Kitai gorod …   Wikipedia

  • Russo-Turkish War — may refer to one of the following conflicts between Imperial Russia and the Ottoman Empire:* Russo Turkish War (1568–1570) * Russo Crimean Wars * Russo Crimean War (1571) * Russo Turkish War (1676–1681) * Russo Turkish War (1686–1700) * Russo… …   Wikipedia

  • Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792) — The Russo–Turkish War of 1787–1792 involved a futile attempt by the Ottoman Empire to regain lands lost to Russia in the course of the previous Russo–Turkish War, 1768–1774. It took place concomitantly with the Austro Turkish War of 1787 1791.In… …   Wikipedia

  • Russo-Turkish War (1676–1681) — The Russo–Turkish War of 1676–1681, a war between the Russian and Ottoman Empires, caused by Turkish expansionism in the second half of the 17th century. After having captured and devastated the region of Podolia in the course of the… …   Wikipedia

  • Russo–Polish War (1654–67) — For other Russo Polish conflicts see Russo Polish War. For other wars termed Thirteen Years War, see Thirteen Years War. For other wars termed First Northern War, see First Northern War. Russo Polish War (1654–1667) …   Wikipedia

  • Russo-Turkish Wars — Series of wars fought between Russia and the Ottoman Empire from the 17th to the 19th century. Russia waged the early wars (1676–81, 1686, 1689) in a fruitless attempt to establish a warm water port on the Black Sea. In the war of 1695–96,… …   Universalium

  • Russo-Crimean Wars — The Russo Crimean Wars were fought between the forces of the Muscovy and the invading Tatars of the Crimean Khanate. Contents 1 History 2 1570 3 1571 4 1572 …   Wikipedia

  • 1774 — Year 1774 (MDCCLXXIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 11 day slower Julian calendar). Events of 1774 January June * January 21… …   Wikipedia

  • Crimean War — For other uses, see Crimean War (disambiguation). Crimean War Part of Ottoman wars in Europe Detail of …   Wikipedia

  • Seven Years' War — This article is about the European mid 18th century war. For other wars of the same name, see Seven Years War (disambiguation). Seven Years War …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”