Persian war 1826 1828 results. Russian-Iranian wars. The course of hostilities

Previous events

The tense international situation in 1825 and the Decembrist uprising were perceived in Persia as the most favorable moment for speaking out against Russia. The heir to the throne and ruler of Iranian Azerbaijan, Abbas-Mirza, who created a new army with the help of European instructors and considered himself capable of returning the lands lost in 1813, decided to take advantage of such a convenient opportunity, as it seemed to him.

The commander-in-chief of the Russian troops in the Caucasus, General A.P. Yermolov, warned Emperor Nicholas I that Persia was openly preparing for war. Nicholas I, in view of the escalating conflict with Turkey, was ready to cede the southern part of the Talysh Khanate to Persia for the neutrality of Persia. However, Prince A. S. Menshikov, whom Nicholas I sent to Tehran with instructions to ensure peace at any cost, could not achieve anything and left the Iranian capital.

Start of hostilities

The main task of the Iranian command was to capture the Transcaucasus, capture Tiflis and push back the Russian troops beyond the Terek. The main forces were therefore sent from Tabriz to the Kura region, and the auxiliary forces were sent to the Mugan steppe in order to block the exits from Dagestan. The Iranians also counted on the blow of the Caucasian highlanders from the rear against the Russian troops, who were stretched out in a narrow strip along the border and did not have reserves. The help of the Iranian army was promised by the Karabakh beks and many influential people in neighboring provinces, who maintained constant contacts with the Persian government and even offered to cut out the Russians in Shusha and hold it until the Iranian troops approached.

The garrison of the Shushi fortress was 1300 people. (6 companies of the 42nd Jaeger Regiment and Cossacks from the Molchanov 2nd Regiment). Cossacks a few days before complete blockade The fortresses were driven behind its walls by the families of the entire local Muslim nobility as hostages. The Azerbaijanis were disarmed, and the khans and the most honored beks were taken into custody. The inhabitants of the Armenian villages of Karabakh and the Azerbaijanis, who remained loyal to Russia, also took refuge in the fortress. With their help, dilapidated fortifications were restored. Colonel Reut armed 1.5 thousand Armenians to strengthen the defense, who, along with Russian soldiers and Cossacks, were on the front line. A certain number of Azerbaijanis also participated in the defense, declaring their loyalty to Russia. However, the fortress did not have stocks of food and ammunition, so the grain and livestock of the Armenian peasants who had taken refuge in the fortress had to be used for the meager food of the soldiers.

Meanwhile, the local Muslim population, for the most part, joined the Iranians, and the Armenians, who did not have time to hide in Shusha, fled to mountainous places. Mekhti-Kuli-Khan - the former ruler of Karabakh - again declared himself Khan and promised to generously reward everyone who joins him. Abbas Mirza, for his part, said that he was fighting only against the Russians, and not against the locals. Foreign officers who were in the service of Abbas Mirza took part in the siege. In order to destroy the walls of the fortress, according to their instructions, mines were brought under the fortress towers. Continuous fire was fired at the fortress from two artillery batteries, but at night the defenders managed to restore the destroyed areas. To create a split among the defenders of the fortress - Russians and Armenians - Abbas-Mirza ordered several hundred local Armenian families to be driven under the walls of the fortress and threatened to execute them if the fortress was not surrendered - however, this plan was not successful either.

The defense of Shushi lasted 47 days and had great importance for the course of hostilities. Desperate to capture the fortress, Abbas-Mirza eventually separated 18 thousand people from the main forces and sent them to Elizavetpol (modern Ganja) in order to strike at Tiflis from the east.

Having received information that the main Persian forces were pinned down by the siege of Shusha, General Yermolov abandoned the original plan to withdraw all forces deep into the Caucasus. By this time, he managed to concentrate up to 8 thousand people in Tiflis. Of these, a detachment was formed under the command of Major General Prince V. G. Madatov (4.3 thousand people), who launched an attack on Elizavetpol in order to stop the advance of the Persian forces to Tiflis and lift the siege from Shushi.

Counteroffensive of Russian troops

On September 3 (15), 1826, the Battle of Shamkhor took place. The Russian detachment under the command of V. G. Madatov defeated the 18,000th vanguard of the Iranian army, heading for Tiflis.

On September 5 (17), Madatov's detachment liberated Yelizavetpol. Abbas-Mirza was forced to lift the siege from Shusha and move towards the Russian troops.

On October 1 (13), Paskevich took Erivan and entered Iranian Azerbaijan; On October 14 (26), a detachment of K. E. Eristov captured Tabriz.

Peace treaty

Military failures forced the Persians to go to peace negotiations. On February 10 (22), 1828, the Turkmanchay peace treaty was signed (in the village of Turkmanchay near Tabriz), concluded between the Russian Empire and Persia, according to which Persia confirmed all the conditions of the Gulistan peace (1813), recognized the transition to Russia of part of the Caspian coast to the river . Astra, Eastern Armenia (On the territory of Eastern Armenia, a special administrative education- Armenian region, with the resettlement of Armenians from Iran there. ). The Araks became the border between the states.

In addition, the Shah of Persia was obliged to pay Russia an indemnity (10 tuman kururs - 20 million rubles). As for Iranian Azerbaijan, Russia undertook to withdraw troops from it on payment of indemnity. The Persian Shah also undertook to grant amnesty to all residents of Iranian Azerbaijan who collaborated with the Russian troops.

see also

Notes

1. Modern Iran (handbook). M., Main edition Eastern literature Nauka publishing house, 1975, p. 136.
2. Zakharevich A.V. Don Cossacks and the Armenian population in the defense of Russian borders from Persian troops in the initial period of the campaign of 1826. Center for Pontic-Caucasian Studies. Krasnodar, 1995
3. V. A. Potto in his book "The Caucasian War" described the region in which they deployed fighting, and the disposition of Russian troops as follows:

   The Russian border from the side of the Erivan Khanate before the war, in the twenties of our century, passed only a hundred and fifty miles from Tiflis. From the northern end of Lake Gokchi (Sevan), it stretched westward in a broken line along the Bombak mountain range and then, deviating from it, through Mount Alagyoz (Aragats), rested at a right angle on the Turkish border, which ran along the Arpachay (Akhuryan) river directly to the north , to the Triolet mountains.
   In this space, for eighty miles in length and deepening inland, to Tiflis, for fifty miles, lay two border Russian provinces: Shuragel and Bombak. The country is filled with ramifications of those huge heights, located in the depths of Asiatic Turkey, which give rise to significant rivers: the Euphrates, the Araks and others. One of these branches, the Bombak ridge, descending to the southwest, towards the side of Arpachay, forms an inclined plain, broken only on the border with Persia by Mount Alagez. Here lies Shuragel with the main city of Gumry. To the northeast of it is the Bombak province, in a valley delineated by two high and steep ridges Bombaksky and Bezobdal. In the center of the country, the Bombak Range, descending ten versts to the north, meets the slopes of Bezobdal, again raising the surface of the earth to transcendental limits. The distance between the ridges does not exceed twenty miles. The valley gradually narrows to the east, as it approaches Greater Karaklis, where its width is already only two versts, and another five versts further - the gorge begins. The river Bombak flows through this valley, which, having connected with the Stone (Jalal-Oglu-chay), receives the name Borchaly and flows, at the confluence with the Temple, into the Kura. To the east of Bombak, behind the Allaverdy ridge, lies the Kazakh distance.
   To the north, behind the silvery, cloudy Bezobdal, the luxurious Lori steppe spreads, bordered in the distance by the gloomy, bare Akzabiyuk mountains. Behind those mountains lies already Iberia.
   A free, beautiful place - this Lori steppe, surrounded on all sides by forest, outlined high mountains: Bezobdal - in the south, Akzabiyuk with its branches - in the north, east and west. Those mountains that separate the steppe from Shuragel are called the Wet Mountains, and the shortest road from Gumr to Bashkechet and on to Tiflis passes through them. In the east, the Allaverdy Ridge closes it, and the steppe ends where the Stone River flows into Borchala ...
   The Lori steppe was administratively subordinate to the Bombak province; but that was already part of ancient Georgia, and one of the Tatar distances - Borchalinskaya - is located on it. When Shuragel and Bombaki belonged to Persia, the Lori steppe was a place where Georgia put up barriers to enemy invasions. Gergers and Jalal-Ogly, who defended the entrance to it, therefore became important strategic points.
   In the summer of 1826, all these border regions with Persia, open from the flank, in the west, to Turkey, were guarded by only two Russian battalions. In Gumry, the main village of Shuragel, there were two companies of the Tiflis regiment with two guns, and a company of carabinieri, which sent posts from itself to Bekant and Amamly, where they also had one gun each.
   In the Big Karaklis, the most important point of the Bombak province, there were three companies of the Tiflis regiment, with three guns. From here, two strong posts advanced to the Lori steppe: one, with a gun, to cover the crossing over the Kamennaya River near Jalal-Ogly, the other to the Bezobdal Pass, and the third was already in Bombaki itself, on the Gamzachevanka River, about eighteen versts from Karaklis, where the regimental herd of the Tiflis regiment grazed. A married company guarded the Gergers behind Bezobdal. The Don Cossacks of Andreev were still scattered in small units throughout Bombak and Shuragel.
   Finally, advanced detachments were advanced to the very border: to Mirak, which lay on the eastern slopes of Alagez, two companies of Tiflis and a company of carabinieri with two guns; in Balyk-chai, covering the only pack road to Erivan from the Kazakh distance, along the Delizhan Gorge along the Akstafa River - a company of Tiflis, with a force of three hundred bayonets and also with two guns. Both Mirak and Balyk-chai were engaged in Russian troops only in the summer, in order to prevent Persian gangs from entering Russian borders and to keep the Kazakh and Shamshadil Tatars roaming near these places in obedience.
   In the autumn, when the Tatars returned from wanderings, the posts were removed, because in winter, due to deep snow, the paths became insurmountable there. Thus, the total number of troops guarding the entire region consisted of a Cossack regiment, with a strength of about five hundred horses, two battalions of the Tiflis regiment (its third battalion was on the Caucasian line) and two companies of carabinieri temporarily moved here from Manglis - a total of about three thousand bayonets, with twelve guns of a light company of the Caucasian Grenadier Artillery Brigade (V. A. Potto, “Caucasian War”, vol. 3. Persian War of 1826-1828).

4. Kersnovsky A. A. Chapter 8. The Conquest of the Caucasus // History of the Russian Army // in 4 volumes / ed. Kuptsova V. - Moscow: Voice, 1993. - T. 2. - S. 99. - 336 p. - 100,000 copies. - ISBN 5-7055-0864-6
5. Shishkevich M.I. Chapter 7 - The Persian War of 1826. Yermolov and Paskevich (Essay on the General Staff of Major General Shishkevich M.I.) // History of the Russian Army and Navy / ed. Grishinsky A.S. and Nikolsky V.P. - Moscow: Education, 1911. - V. 6 - Conquest of the Caucasus. Persian and Caucasian wars. - S. 66-67. - 197 p.
6. Grigoryan Z. T. Chapter 3 // Accession of Eastern Armenia to Russia in the beginning. XIX century / ed. Lazarevich L .. - Moscow: Sotsekgiz, 1959. - S. 111-112. - 187 p. - 8000 copies.
7. Nersisyan M. G.

Russo-Persian War 1804-1813 ended with the complete victory of Russia and the signing of the Gulistan Peace Treaty in 1813. The Persian state was forced to recognize the accession to the Russian Empire of Dagestan, the Georgian regions - Kartli, Kakheti, Megrelia, Imeretia, Guria, Abkhazia. Russia received a part of modern Azerbaijan, Baku, Karabakh, Ganja, Shirvan, Sheki, Derbent and Quba khanates. Part of the Talysh Khanate also went to Russian Transcaucasia. Petersburg received the exclusive right to have its own navy on the Caspian Sea.

However, the Persian state did not accept defeat. In addition, it was supported by the powerful British Empire, which did not want to allow Russia to break through to the shores of the Persian Gulf and the Russians to enter India. In 1814, Persia signed an agreement with England, according to which the Persians pledged not to let the Russians and troops of any state pass to India. The British, for their part, promised to help revise the Gulistan Treaty in favor of Persia, and provide financial, military and material assistance to the Persians in the event of a war with Russia. British diplomats put pressure on Turkey and Persia, who went to war with each other in 1821, wanting them to go to war with Russia.

The Persian government considered the international situation in 1825 and the uprising of the "Decembrists" in Russia as favorable circumstances for starting a war with the Russians. In addition, the heir to the throne and ruler of Iranian Azerbaijan, Abbas Mirza, who led the Persian troops during the Russo-Persian war of 1804-1813, continued the reorganization of the army with the help of English and French instructors and believed that the armed forces of Persia were now ready to return the lost lands .

Persia in every possible way delayed the issue of delimitation of border lands in the area of ​​Lake Sevan (Gokcha), not wanting to cede even a small part of the Armenian lands to the Russians. The commander-in-chief of the Russian troops in the Caucasus, General Alexei Yermolov, warned Emperor Nicholas I that the Persians were almost openly preparing for war. The Russian government, due to the escalating conflict with Ottoman Empire for the neutrality of Persia, it was ready to cede to it the southern part of the Talysh Khanate. Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich, in order to prevent a conflict, sent a diplomatic mission to Shah Feth Ali, headed by Prince Alexander Menshikov. Russia needed peace in the South Caucasus and was ready to make significant concessions.

But the arrival of the Russian mission was perceived by the Persian elite as a sign of Russia's weakness. The embassy of Prince A. S. Menshikov in Tehran could not succeed. Moreover, the Persians intercepted all the letters of the Russian ambassador to the Caucasian commander Yermolov. At this time, the Persian commander-in-chief Abbas-Mirza was gathering troops to the borders of Karabakh. The reserve Persian army was concentrated in Agar. Sardar Erivan received an order to start hostilities. Sardars in Iran, Afghanistan and Turkey were called large dignitaries, heads of tribes or military leaders.

Transcaucasian region at the time of the start of the war (the borders are indicated according to the Gulistan Treaty and the Bucharest Peace).

Start of hostilities

By the beginning of hostilities, the Persian state was able to form a large army trained by English instructors. The number of regular infantry was increased to 38.5 thousand people, the irregular numbered 5 thousand soldiers. The cavalry was still the most numerous part of the Persian army - up to 95 thousand horsemen, plus a separate security detachment of the heir to the throne himself. The artillery park of the army consisted of 42 field guns with 900 gunners. Feth Ali Shah was able to create an army that far outnumbered the Russian troops in Transcaucasia. At the same time, the Persian infantry was trained by Western instructors and equipped in a European way. England generously financed Russia's eastern adversary, although after the start of the war she refused to go to war with Russia, as she promised Tehran, explaining that the Persians were the first to start the war.

Persian commander-in-chief Abbas Mirza, with 60 thousand. army and numerous irregular cavalry, planned to quickly invade Transcaucasia, capture Karabakh, Tiflis, oust the Russians from Georgia and Armenia, and push them back beyond the Terek. The main Persian forces were moved from Tabriz to the Kura region, and auxiliary forces were moved to the Mugan steppe in order to block the exits from Dagestan. In addition, the Persian command counted on the attack of the Caucasian highlanders from the rear against the Russian troops, who were stretched in a narrow strip along the border with Persia and Turkey and had no reserves. The Persians also hoped for the help of the separatists, the Karabakh beks and many influential people in neighboring provinces, who were annoyed by the loss of most of their power over the local population, maintained contacts with Tehran and promised to raise an uprising. The plans of the Persian command could be called a gamble, if not for the extreme small number of Russian troops in such a vast theater of operations.

It should be noted that a huge mass of regular and irregular enemy troops opposed only 10,000. A separate Caucasian Corps, whose forces were scattered over a vast territory to the borders with the Persian state and the Ottoman Empire. On the day of the attack by the Persian army, there were about 3 thousand people directly on the border area with 12 guns scattered over outposts and on fortifications at a great distance from each other. The Persians were opposed by two battalions of the Tiflis infantry regiment and two companies of carabinieri, the Don Cossack regiment of Lieutenant Colonel Andreev (about 500 Cossacks). The head of the border line was the commander of the Tiflis regiment, Colonel Prince L. Ya. Sevarsemidze. In Karabakh, the Russian forces were commanded by Major General Prince V. G. Madatov, and in his absence, Colonel I. A. Reut, commander of the 42nd Jaeger Regiment, located in the Chinakhchi and Shushi region. One battalion of the 42nd regiment was scattered across the Shirvan and Nukhin provinces. Long before the start of the war, Yermolov asked for reinforcements, but they had not yet been sent by the start of the war.

On July 16, 1826, a 16,000-strong group of a relative of the Persian ruling family, the Erivan Serdar Hussein Khan Qajar, reinforced by 12 thousand Kurdish cavalry, without declaring war, crossed the Russian border in the Mirak region. Persian troops invaded the territory of Karabakh and the Talysh Khanate. The border "zemstvo guards", which consisted of local Muslims, with rare exceptions, did not offer resistance, retreating or going over to the side of the enemy.

Yermolov ordered Reut to hold Shusha with all his might and transfer the families of noble beks to the fortress, thereby ensuring the safety of those who supported the Russians, and those who were hostile to Russia, to use as hostages, and deprived them of the opportunity to go over to the side of the enemy, organize an uprising in the Russian rear. Yermolov also ordered to leave Bombak and Shuragel.

The beginning of the war was difficult for the few Russian troops. The Russians were forced to retreat to Karaklis. Gumry and Karaklis were soon blocked by Persian troops. The Persians were moving towards Balyk-chai, knocking down Russian posts. Brother of the Erivan Sardar, Gassan-aga from 5 thousand. detachment of irregular cavalry invaded Russian territory between Mount Alagyoz (Aragats) and the border with Turkey. Kurds and Karapapahis (“black hats”, a Turkic ethnic group) plundered and burned Armenian villages on the way to Gumry, capturing herds of cattle and herds of horses. They destroyed the Armenian village of Lesser Karaklis and began to attack the defenders in Greater Karaklis.

Heroic defense of Shushi

July 18-19, 1826 40 thousand. The Persian army under the command of Abbas-Mirza crossed the Araks at the Khudoperinsky bridge, invading Russia from the Erivan Khanate. Colonel Iosif Antonovich Reut, having received news of the invasion of the Persian army, withdrew the forces in the Karabakh region to the Shusha fortress. The garrison of the fortress consisted of 1300 people - 6 companies of the 42nd Jaeger regiment and Cossacks from the Molchanov 2nd regiment with 4 guns. Three companies of the 42nd regiment and a hundred Cossacks under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Nazimka could not break through to Shusha from Geryus, where they were located. First, they were attacked by cavalry units of local Muslims (they were called Tatars), then the Persian troops arrived. The rangers and Cossacks fought furiously, desperately trying to break through to the crossing over the Ah-Kara-chai, but it was already in the hands of the enemy. Almost the entire detachment fell in battle, only 8 soldiers managed to escape. The Persians and local Muslims inflated this success to such an extent that rumors about it reached Tiflis.

It must be said that although Shusha had natural protection - it was located on a high rock, being the stronghold of Karabakh for a long time, the fortress was not initially prepared for defense. It was possible to attack the fortress only from the northeast, and even here the terrain was very conducive to the defenders. With the help of local residents, they tried to put the fortifications of the fortress in order. Before the siege of Shusha, they did not manage to collect militia formations from the local population. The way to Elisavetpol was cut off. Colonel Reut armed 1.5 thousand Armenian volunteers to strengthen the garrison, who, together with Russian soldiers and Cossacks, took Active participation in the defense of the fortress. A certain number of Muslims who remained faithful to Russia also took part in the defense. There were no pre-prepared food supplies in the fortress, as it was proposed to defend Chinchi. For the minimum security of the soldiers, they had to use the grain and livestock of the Armenian peasants who had taken refuge in the fortress. But main problem there was a shortage of water. The Russian garrison and the population of Shushi, together with the inhabitants of the surrounding area, found themselves in a difficult situation, but they did not even think of giving up.

On July 24, Reut received news of the defeat of Nazimka's detachment. On July 25, the advanced units of the Persian army appeared. On July 27, Abbas Mirza offered to surrender, but the Russians refused. The Persians installed batteries and began bombarding the fortress. The Muslim population of the region, for the most part, joined the Persians. The Armenians, who did not have time to hide in the fortress, fled to the mountains, their villages were destroyed. The former ruler of Karabakh, Mehdi Kuli Khan, again declared himself a khan and promised a generous reward to those who would go over to his side. Prince Abbas Mirza said that he was only fighting against the Russians, not the locals, trying to win them over to his side.

Foreign officers who were in the service of the Persian prince took part in the siege of Shusha. At their suggestion, they tried to bring mines to the walls. Two artillery batteries fired at the fortress. But at night the garrison diligently closed the gaps. Trying to put psychological pressure on the garrison and the townspeople, to push the Russians against the Armenians, Abbas-Mirza ordered to drive several hundred Christians to the fortress, promising to execute them if Shusha was not surrendered. However, this plan was not successful either.

The defense of the Shushi fortress lasted 47 days. The garrison of the fortress defended itself with great courage. Persian troops made several assaults, but they were all repulsed. After the failure of the attacking actions, Abbas-Mirza agreed to a 9-day truce. The Persians sent two noble hostages to the fortress. Major Chelyayaev arrived in the Persian camp, he remained in enemy captivity until the end of the war. Franz von Klugenau (Klugenau), a Bohemian in the Russian service, was sent to Yermolov. It is not known how long the Shushi garrison would have held out if the Russian troops had not defeated the army of the son of Abbas-Mirza, Mamed-Mirza and the Erivan sardar on September 3 in the Battle of Shamkhor. Abbas Mirza lifted the siege from Shushi and led the army to Elisavetpol.

The brave garrison of Shushi lost only 32 people killed, wounded and missing during the 47-day siege. The 42nd Jaeger Regiment was granted by Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich St. George's banner with the inscription: "For the defense of Shushi against the Persians in 1826." Colonel Iosif Antonovich Reut (Reutt) was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd degree. The leaders of the Armenian population, who participated in the defense of the fortress and supplied the garrison with food, were promoted to warrant officers by Rostom Tarkhanov and granted a life pension, and the family of his brother Safar, who died shortly after the lifting of the siege of Shushi, was granted a pension from the state treasury.

The long-term defense of Shushi had significant strategic implications. Abbas Mirza, not thinking that the siege would drag on, delayed the main forces of his army near the fortress, although initially he wanted to make a quick rush to Tiflis. Only having despaired of capturing the fortress, the Persian prince eventually separated 18,000 soldiers from the main army forces. corps and sent them to Elizavetpol (Ganja) to strike at Tiflis from the east. Commander-in-Chief Yermolov, having received information that the main forces of the Persian army were stuck near Shusha, abandoned the original plan to withdraw all available forces deep into the Caucasus. Russian troops managed to take a breath, regroup. 8 thousand grouping was concentrated in Tiflis. From its composition was formed 4 thousand. a detachment under the command of Major General Prince V. G. Madatov, who launched an offensive against Elizavetpol to stop the movement of Persian troops to Tiflis and lift the siege from Shusha. Persian and Kurdish detachments during July-August brought a lot of grief to the Transcaucasian villages, destroying the villages, massacring the Christian population and stealing cattle. In particular, on August 14, the settlement of German colonists - Ekaterinfeld, 60 km from Tiflis, was cut out. But the strategic initiative had already been lost by the Persian command, the situation had changed in favor of the Russian troops, who at the beginning of September launched a counteroffensive.

was caused by the desire of Persia (with the active support of Great Britain) to return the lands lost under the Gulistan Peace Treaty of 1813 and restore its influence in the Transcaucasus. In 1826, the Persian army of the commander-in-chief Abbas-Mirza invaded Karabakh and tried to break through to Tiflis in order to put an end to Russian rule in Transcaucasia with one blow. However, Russian troops under the command of General I.F. Paskevich not only stopped the Persian offensive, but also in 1827 captured the fortress of Erivan (Yerevan), Yuzh. Azerbaijan and Tabriz (possessions of Persia). The war ended with the signing of the Turkmenchay Peace Treaty of 1828.

Great Definition

Incomplete definition ↓

Russo-Iranian War 1826-1828

Iran was an important object of rivalry between the powers in the East. British diplomacy, seeking to expand its sphere of influence and weaken the position of Russia, immediately after the unsuccessful end of the Russian-Iranian war of 1804-1813 for Iran. began to push Shah Fath-Ali to a new action against Russia. In 1814, an Anglo-Iranian treaty was concluded to provide financial assistance Iran in case of war "with one of the European states." British officers were invited to train Iranian troops and supervise the construction of military fortifications. Having high hopes for English help, Iranian ruling circles decided to be the first to open hostilities against Russia.

In July 1828, Iranian troops under the command of the heir to the throne Abbas Mirza suddenly invaded Karabakh and laid siege to Shusha. At the same time, some former Azerbaijani khans revolted against Russia in Shamakhi, Ganja and other places. During July-August, Iranian troops occupied a significant part of Eastern Transcaucasia and approached Baku.

The population of Karabakh, Shirak and other areas that were invaded put up active resistance. Russian troops were soon brought up. In the battles near Shamkhor and near Ganja, the main forces of Abbas Mirza suffered heavy defeats. In 1827, Russian troops under the command of Paskevich occupied the Yerevan and Nakhchevan khanates. Together with the Russians military units the Armenian militia took part in the campaign. After the capture of Tabriz by Russian troops, the Shah's government entered into negotiations, on which the British now began to insist, fearing that the continuation of the war would lead to an even greater strengthening of Russia in the East.

On February 10, 1828, a peace treaty was signed in the village of Turkmanchay (near Tabriz). It marked the strengthening of Russia's influence and the strengthening of its positions in Iran and neighboring federal countries. Shah recognized the accession of the Yerevan and Nakhchevan khanates to Russia. Under the terms of the treaty, only Russia could have a navy in the Caspian Sea. Iran paid Russia an indemnity of 20 million rubles in silver. According to the treatise on trade, Russia received benefits in Iran corresponding to the capitulation regime, with the help of which she tried to seize the markets of Northern Iran.

Accession to Russia saved Eastern Armenia from final ruin. IN early XIX V. Armenian lands were in a state of complete decline. Agriculture with primitive tools of production and the utter arbitrariness of the Iranian feudal lords, it degraded. Labor productivity was extremely low. There was no large industry. Trade developed very slowly.

The Turkmanchay treaty completed the annexation of almost the entire territory of Georgia, Northern Azerbaijan, and Eastern Armenia to Russia.

Accession to Russia was a turning point in the historical destinies of the Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples. Despite the colonial policy pursued by tsarism after the annexation of Transcaucasia, the inclusion of Transcaucasia into the Russian state was a historically progressive phenomenon. It freed the Transcaucasian peoples from the threat of enslavement by backward Eastern despots - Turkey and Iran, eliminated the feudal fragmentation of Transcaucasia, put an end to feudal civil strife, and ensured personal and property security for its population. The strengthening of ties with the Russian people contributed to the growth of progressive forces among the peoples of Transcaucasia and, over time, paved the way for a joint struggle against the tsarist autocracy. Advanced Russian culture had a huge beneficial effect on the further development of ancient culture Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples.

Great Definition

Incomplete definition ↓

The situation in the East on the eve of the war

In the 16th century, Georgia broke up into several small feudal states that were constantly at war with Muslim empires: Turkey and Iran. In 1558, the first diplomatic relations between Moscow and Kakheti began, and in 1589 the Russian Tsar Fyodor I Ioannovich offered his protection to the kingdom. Russia was far away, and it was not possible to provide effective assistance. In the 18th century, Russia regained interest in the Transcaucasus. During Persian campaign made an alliance with King Vakhtang VI, but there were no successful hostilities. Russian troops retreated to the north, Vakhtang was forced to flee to Russia, where he died.

Ekaterina II rendered all possible assistance to the king of Kartli-Kakheti, Heraclius II, who sent minor military forces. In 1783, Heraclius signed the Treaty of Georgievsk with Russia, which established a Russian protectorate in exchange for military protection.

In 1801, Paul I signed a decree on joining Russia Eastern Caucasus, and in the same year, his son Alexander I created the Georgian province on the territory of the Kartli-Kakheti Khanate. With the annexation of Megrelia to Russia in 1803, the borders reached the territory of modern Azerbaijan, and there the interests of the Persian Empire already began.

On January 3, 1804, the Russian army launched an assault on the Ganja fortress, which greatly violated the plans of Persia. The capture of Ganja ensured the security of the eastern borders of Georgia, which were constantly attacked by the Ganja Khanate. Persia began to look for allies for the war with Russia. England became such an ally, which was by no means interested in strengthening Russia's position in this region. London gave guarantees of support, and on June 10, 1804, the Sheikh of Persia declared war on Russia. The war lasted nine years. Another ally of Persia was Türkiye, which constantly waged wars against Russia.

Causes of the war

Historians are inclined to believe that the main causes of the war should be considered:

Expansion of the territory of Russia at the expense of Georgian lands, strengthening the influence of Russians in this region;

Persia's desire to gain a foothold in Transcaucasia;

The unwillingness of the UK to allow a new player into the region, and even more so Russia;

Assistance to Persia from Turkey, which tried to take revenge on Russia for the lost wars in late XVIII century.

An alliance was formed against Russia between Persia, the Ottoman Empire and the Ganja Khanate, with Great Britain helping them. Russia had no allies in this war.

The course of hostilities

The results of the war

With the signing of the Treaty of Gulistan on October 12 (24), 1813, Persia recognized the entry of Eastern Georgia and the northern part of modern Azerbaijan, as well as Imeretia, Guria, Megrelia and Abkhazia into the Russian Empire. Russia also received the exclusive right to maintain a navy in the Caspian Sea. Russia's victory in this war intensified the confrontation between the British and Russian empires in Asia.

Russian-Iranian war of 1826-1828

Situation before the war

Unfortunately, the hostilities did not end there. In Persia, they constantly thought about revenge and revision of the peace treaty concluded in Gulistan. The Persian Shah Feth Ali declared that the Gulistan treaty was invalid, and began to prepare for a new war. Once again, Great Britain became the main instigator of Persia. She provided financial and military support to the Shah of Iran. The reason for the start of hostilities were rumors about the St. Petersburg uprising (Decembrists) and the interregnum. The Persian troops were led by Crown Prince Abbas Mirza.

The course of hostilities

The results of the war

The end of the war and the conclusion of the Turkmanchay peace treaty confirmed all the conditions of the Gulistan peace treaty of 1813. Under the agreement, the transition to Russia of part of the Caspian coast to the Astara River was recognized. The Araks became the border between the two states.

At the same time, the Shah of Persia had to pay an indemnity of 20 million rubles. After the Shah pays an indemnity, Russia undertakes to withdraw its troops from the territories controlled by Iran. The Persian Shah promised to grant an amnesty to all residents who collaborated with the Russian troops.

Iran, weakened as a result of internal strife between the Qajar Shah dynasty and local tribes, was defeated in the war with Russia, which cost him Derbent, Baku and the right to maintain a fleet in the Caspian Sea, and was eager to take revenge from Russia.

Iran was also an important object of rivalry in the East between Russia and Great Britain. British diplomacy, seeking to expand its sphere of influence and weaken the position of a new colonial predator - Russia, which had come to the fore in the 18th century, after the unsuccessful end of the Russian-Iranian war of 1804-1813 for Iran, began to indulge the desire of Shah Fath-Ali, humiliated by the Russians, to launch a new attack against Russia, in order to regain lost territories.

Already in 1814, an Anglo-Iranian alliance agreement was concluded on the provision of material assistance to Iran in the event of a war with "one of the states." Great Britain undertook to pay Iran an annual subsidy, supply the Iranian army with British cannons and cloth for uniforms, invite British officers to train Iranian troops, and hire military engineers to supervise the construction of military fortifications. Britain also pledged to help Iran achieve a revision of the Gulistan peace, promising not to interfere in the Iranian-Afghan conflicts in the dispute over Herat and in the internal affairs of Iran itself.

In 1816, Persia raised the issue of concluding a new agreement with Russia in order to return the Azerbaijani khanates to the Shah. This requirement was supported by Great Britain. In 1817 General A. P. Yermolov, Commander-in-Chief of the Caucasus, was sent to Persia to settle disputes as an ambassador. He was told that the Persian side would start negotiations only on the basis of Russia's consent to restore the pre-war borders.

However, before starting new war in Transcaucasia, Iran had to take steps to normalize relations with Turkey, on various parts of the border with which tensions remained. In the autumn of 1821, taking advantage of the break in diplomatic relations between Turkey and Russia, Abbas Mirza invaded Turkish possessions. However, in the summer of 1822 Turkish troops began to push the Iranian army, which forced Iran to withdraw its troops and sign the Erzurum Treaty on the preservation of the old borders.

Russia has also actively expanded its expansion in the region. In 1819-1821, she captured several Caucasian khanates - Quba, Kazikulus, Karakaity and Mehtadin. In subsequent years, Russian troops brutally cracked down on the Circassians who opposed the Russian colonial order, began to evict the Caucasian peoples from the valleys, waged local wars with partisan detachments Bey-Bulat. In the mid-1920s, Russia, as well as Great Britain, expanded its expansionist plans; having already appeared in the Balkans, these two powers were drawn into the conflict between the Greeks and the Turks.

In those same years, the Turkish government not only refused to recognize the Russian acquisitions in Transcaucasia, received by it as a result of the Gulistan peace, but also did not comply with the terms of the Bucharest peace treaty. It made an attempt to prove to the Russian envoy in Constantinople G. A. Stroganov that Turkey belonged to the Caucasian coast of the Black Sea, as well as its suzerain rights over Georgia, Imeretia, Guria, and others. The Port insisted on the withdrawal of Russian troops from these areas. At the same time, political pressure on Russia was backed up by military demonstrations.

With accession to the throne http://www.krugosvet.ru/articles/35/1003593/1003593a1.htm Nicholas I in 1825 Russian politics changed in the Caucasus: in the context of the escalating conflict with Turkey, St. Petersburg was ready to cede the southern part of the Talysh Khanate to Persia for the neutrality of Persia. In an effort to prevent hostilities and positively resolve all pressing issues even at the cost of territorial concessions, St. Petersburg sent Prince A.S. Menshikov. But under pressure from Abbas-Mirza, Feth-Ali rejected the Russian proposals.

Thus, Russia's relations with Persia and Turkey continued to be tense. This was facilitated by the difficult for Russia military-political situation in the North Caucasus, the separatist aspirations of the former Transcaucasian rulers, anti-Russian speeches in the regions bordering Persia and Turkey. All this indicated that the latter, relying on Great Britain, were preparing for war with Russia. War with them was not part of the plans of the Russian government, and its desire for a peaceful settlement of disputed issues was regarded in the political circles of Persia, Turkey and England as a sign of weakness. At its core, this was an adventurist policy, since Persia and Turkey were much weaker than Russia militarily and economically.

Great Britain, also striving to establish its influence in the region, could not openly start a war with Russia, since it was connected with it by an agreement of April 4, 1826. Therefore, the British government, not wanting to strengthen Russia in the Balkans, tried in every possible way to divert the attention of the government Russian emperor Nicholas I from liberation struggle Greeks against Turkish rule and wanted to draw Russian troops into another conflict. On the other hand, Russia's military conflict with Iran could weaken the latter in its quest to dominate the Persian Gulf region.

The reason for the second Russian-Iranian war was also information about the uprising of the Decembrists in Petersburg, which in Persia was understood as an internecine struggle between two pretenders to the throne. The energetic crown prince, the governor of Azerbaijan, Abbas-Mirza, who created a new army with the help of European instructors and then considered himself able to return the lands lost in 1813, decided to take advantage of what he thought was an opportunity.

The British advised Abbas Mirza to start a war with Russia, given the small number Russian troops in Transcaucasia, its unpreparedness for war and internal political complications. Along with diplomatic representatives, military instructors were also present in the country, who trained Iranian troops and helped strengthen their fortresses. On June 23, 1826, the Shia ulema issued a fatwa allowing the war and calling for jihad against Russia.

On July 16, Iranian troops invaded Karabakh and the Talysh Khanate across the border in the Gumra region without declaring war (see Appendix 2). Separate Iranian detachments moved to Baku, Lankaran, Nukha and Quba, counting on the uprising of the Azerbaijani population, but it did not support its khans, who were on the side of Iran. The Orthodox Armenian population of Karabakh, Shirak and other regions that were invaded by the Iranians resisted them.

Iranian troops managed to occupy Ganja (Yelizavetpol) and besiege Shusha, a small garrison that staunchly defended until September 5. This allowed the Russian detachment of General V. G. Madatov to defeat the Iranian troops on the river. Shamkhor and liberate Ganja on September 5. Abbas-Mirza lifted the siege of Shusha and moved towards Madatov's troops. General I.F. Paskevich was appointed commander of the army operating against Iran, who joined up with Madatov's detachment. On September 13, near Elizavetpol, Russian troops (8 thousand people) defeated 35 thousand. army of Abbas-Mirza and threw back its remnants beyond the river. Araks.

Nicholas I placed responsibility for the unsuccessful start of hostilities on A.P. Yermolov, although he had previously warned St. Petersburg about the possibility of a war in the Caucasus and the lack of Russian forces there. Also suspected of sympathizing with the Decembrists, Yermolov was removed from his post as commander-in-chief in the Caucasus and replaced by the tsar's favorite, General I.F. Paskevich.

Paskevich stepped up military operations against Iran. On April 25, a detachment of General A X. Benkendorf took Echmiadzin and on May 5 laid siege to Erivan. Paskevich, on July 8, occupied Nakhichevan with the main forces. Together with the Russian military units, the Armenian militia took part in the campaign. On July 17, Abbas-Mirza's cavalry was defeated at Jevan-Bulak, and two days later, the Iranian fortress of Abbas-Abad capitulated.

In the second half of August, Abbas-Mirza tried to capture Etchmiadzin in order to deprive the enemy of a base for further operations. But he was defeated by General Krasovsky in the battle near the village of Ashtarak. After that, Paskevich laid siege to Erivan and on October 22 took the fortress. Four days later, a detachment of General Eristov occupied Tabriz without a fight, where the Grand Vizier of Persia Allayar Khan surrendered to him, there were arsenals, artillery of the Iranian army and the families of many high dignitaries (in Tabriz there was a residence of the heir to the Shah's throne).

The Shah's government started talking about negotiations, which the British now began to insist on, fearing that the continuation of the war would lead to an even greater strengthening of Russia in the East. British Prime Minister George Canning offered his mediation, but the Russian tsar did not want to make any concessions, answering through his ambassador in London, Prince X. A. Lieven, "that Persian affairs concern exclusively the interests of Russia."

However, after the three powers - Russia, France and Great Britain - defeated the Turkish-Egyptian fleet in Navarin Bay on October 20, 1827, Russia had new aggressive plans against Turkey. It was necessary to urgently end the war with Iran.

After the capture of Tabriz, peace negotiations began, interrupted in January 1828 by order of the Shah. Then the Russian troops resumed the offensive and on January 27 occupied Urmia, and on February 6 - Ardabil. The whole of Azerbaijan was under their control, and the Shah had no choice but to conclude the Turkmenchay peace treaty on February 22, 1828 (Fig. 3).

Rice. 3

According to official data, the loss of the Russian army killed in 1826-1828 amounted to 1530 people. There is no reliable data on Iranian losses, but, according to estimates of that time, they were several times higher than the Russians. As in the war of 1804-1813, the number of deaths from disease on both sides was several times greater than the number of those killed in battle.

Russia's victory in the war was achieved thanks to a much higher combat capability and better organization of the supply of Russian troops.

Negotiations on peace, friendship and harmony were held in the village of Turkmanchay near Tabriz by I. Paskevich and A. Obreskov with the active participation of the Russian writer A. Griboyedov, who served as a diplomatic official at the office of the Caucasian governor, from the Russian side and Prince Abbas-Mirza from the Iranian side, in during which an agreement was signed that replaced the terms of the Gulistan Treaty.

The Persian Shah ceded to the Russian Empire the Erivan khanate on both sides of the Araks and the Nakhichevan khanate. The border between Russia and Persia was established along the rivers Kara, Arak, the watershed of the Talysh mountains and along the course of the Astara river before its confluence with the Caspian Sea (st. 3-4).

The Turkmenchay treaty completed the Russian occupation of almost the entire territory of Georgia, as well as Eastern Armenia and Northern Iran (Azerbaijan).

One of the important articles of the treaty was the article on the return to the territories occupied by Russia of the Armenian captives who were earlier driven to Iran, which marked the beginning of the consolidation of the Armenian people. After the signing of the Turkmanchay peace treaty, more than 140,000 Armenians moved from Turkey and Persia to the Transcaucasus.

The annexation of Transcaucasia to Russia was a turning point in the historical destinies of the Georgian, Armenian and, with some stretch, the Azerbaijani peoples. In fact, one colonial policy was replaced by another, but in this case, the peoples of Transcaucasia were offered the lesser of two evils. At that time, Türkiye and Iran were backward Eastern despotisms. Being under the protection of one state strengthened the security against invasion by another. In addition, the Christian peoples of Georgia and Armenia were able to get rid of religious oppression.

In addition, the shah was obliged to pay Russia an indemnity (10 tumans - 20 million rubles), after which Russia had to withdraw its troops from Azerbaijan. The Shah also undertook to grant amnesty to all the inhabitants of Azerbaijan who collaborated with the Russian troops and the occupying authorities, which was fixed in separate articles to the peace treaty. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A0%D1%83%D1%81%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE-%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80% D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B4%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B9%D0%BD%D0%B0_1826%E2% 80%941828 - cite_note-6.

During the conclusion of the Turkmenchay Treaty, the English resident in Tehran, John MacDonald, by providing Iran with a large sum (200 thousand pounds) and with the consent of London, achieved an exception articles III and IV of the Iranian-English Treaty of 1814. They concerned military assistance to Iran. The Shah needed this amount, since he did not have enough funds to pay military indemnity to Russia under the terms of the Turkmenchay Treaty. The British, on the other hand, sought its timely payment, fearing that Russia might launch new military operations against Iran.

In Art. 8, the exclusive right of Russia to have a navy in the Caspian Sea was confirmed. Merchant ships of both powers retained the right to move freely and moor on its shores. The Russian government recognized Abbas-Mirza as the heir to the Persian throne (Article 7). According to Art. 9 of the treaty, the countries were obliged to receive ambassadors, ministers and chargé d'affaires in accordance with a special protocol, which meant the restoration of diplomatic relations.

An additional act - the Treatise on Trade - defined economic and trade relations between the two states, according to which Russian merchants received the right to free trade throughout Iran. The amount of Iranian duties was set at 5% of the value of the goods. Citizens of the Russian Empire received the right to buy real estate in Iran.

The treaty strengthened Russia's position in the Transcaucasus, contributed to the strengthening of Russia's influence in the Middle East and undermined Britain's position in Persia.

Although the Treaty of Turkmenchay ended the Iranian-Russian wars, relations between Iran and Russia continued to be tense. In April 1828, A.S. Griboyedov was appointed Russian resident minister in Iran. The Russian envoy had to demand strict observance of all articles of the treaty. The most acute were questions about the payment of indemnities, the attitude towards the Christian population of Iran and the return of prisoners of war.

The firm position of the Russian envoy caused discontent of the Iranian government. Across the country, not without British approval, there was fierce anti-Russian propaganda. On January 30, 1829, a fanatical mob attacked the Russian embassy. Almost all members of the mission died, including Griboedov.

The events in Tehran forced Iran and Russia to reconsider the foundations of their policies. The conflict could become a pretext for a new Russian-Iranian war, which was not in the interests of both states, therefore, at the initiative of Russia, it was settled diplomatically. An Iranian embassy was sent to Petersburg with apologies. A new stage has begun in Iranian-Russian relations. The Russian government postponed the payment of regular indemnity payments, border settlement began, and Iranian-Russian trade relations began to develop successfully.

Thus, revanchist sentiments in Iran and incitement from European diplomacy led to the beginning of the second Russian-Iranian war, in which Persia was defeated and, in addition to recognizing the dominion Russian state in the Caspian Sea, was forced to make new territorial concessions and confirm the exclusive influence of the Russian Empire in the Caucasus.