Russo-Turkish wars

Quick Facts: Who was Russo-Turkish wars?

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Russo-Turkish wars

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A long series of intermittent wars between the Russian and Ottoman Empires.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Russo-Turkish wars or the Russo-Ottoman wars began in 1568 and continued intermittently until 1918. They consisted of twelve conflicts in total, making them one of the longest series of wars in the history of Europe. All but four of these wars ended in losses for the Ottoman Empire, which was undergoing a period of stagnation and decline. Conversely, they showcased the ascendancy of the Russian Empire as a significant European power after Peter the Great oversaw extensive modernization efforts in the early 18th century. Ultimately, however, the end of the Russo-Turkish wars came about with the dissolution of the two belligerents' respective states as a consequence of World War I: the Russian Empire collapsed in 1917 and was ultimately succeeded by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1922; while the Ottoman Empire was partitioned between 1918 and 1922 and succeeded by the Republic of Turkey in 1923.

Career & Major Achievements

The first Russo-Turkish War (1568–1570) occurred after the conquest of Kazan and Astrakhan by the Russian tsar Ivan the Terrible. The Ottoman Sultan Selim II tried to squeeze the Russians out of the lower Volga by sending a military expedition to Astrakhan in 1569. The Turkish expedition ended in disaster for the Ottoman army, which could not take Astrakhan and almost completely perished in the steppes, while the Ottoman fleet was wrecked by a storm in the Sea of Azov. The peace treaty between the two sides cemented Russia's rule on the Volga, but allowed the Ottoman Empire to obtain a number of commercial benefits. The Crimean Khanate, an Ottoman vassal, continued its expansion against the Tsardom of Russia, burning down Moscow in 1571, but was defeated at the Battle of Molodi in 1572.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The next conflict between Russia and Turkey began 100 years later as part of the struggle for the territory of Ukraine. While Russia conquered Left-bank Ukraine after the Russo-Polish War (1654–1667), the Ottoman Empire, in the course of the Polish–Ottoman War (1672–1676), spread its rule over all of right-bank Ukraine with the support of its vassal, Petro Doroshenko (1665–1672). The latter's pro-Ottoman policy caused disapproval among many Ukrainian Cossacks, who would elect Ivan Samoilovich as sole Hetman of all Ukraine in 1674. In 1676, Russian troops captured Chigirin and overthrew Doroshenko, who was exiled to Russia. In 1677, the Ottoman army tried to retake Chigirin, but was defeated.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1568: 1568 Milestone — The Russo-Turkish wars or the Russo-Ottoman wars began in 1568 and continued intermittently until 1918.
2. 1569: 1569 Milestone — The Ottoman Sultan Selim II tried to squeeze the Russians out of the lower Volga by sending a military expedition to Astrakhan in 1569.
3. 1571: 1571 Milestone — The Crimean Khanate, an Ottoman vassal, continued its expansion against the Tsardom of Russia, burning down Moscow in 1571, but was defeated at the Battle of Molodi in 1572.
4. 1654: 1654 Milestone — While Russia conquered Left-bank Ukraine after the Russo-Polish War (1654–1667), the Ottoman Empire, in the course of the Polish–Ottoman War (1672–1676), spread its rule over all of right-bank Ukraine with the support of its vassal, Petro Doroshenko (1665–1672).
5. 1674: 1674 Milestone — The latter's pro-Ottoman policy caused disapproval among many Ukrainian Cossacks, who would elect Ivan Samoilovich as sole Hetman of all Ukraine in 1674.
6. 1676: 1676 Milestone — In 1676, Russian troops captured Chigirin and overthrew Doroshenko, who was exiled to Russia.
7. 1677: 1677 Milestone — In 1677, the Ottoman army tried to retake Chigirin, but was defeated.
8. 1917: 1917 Milestone — Ultimately, however, the end of the Russo-Turkish wars came about with the dissolution of the two belligerents' respective states as a consequence of World War I: the Russian Empire collapsed in 1917 and was ultimately succeeded by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1922; while the Ottoman Empire was partitioned between 1918 and 1922 and succeeded by the Republic of Turkey in 1923.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Russo-Turkish wars

True or False: “The Russo-Turkish Wars were a continuous conflict spanning from 1568 until the final collapse of both empires in 1923.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While the wars began in 1568 and continued intermittently, they officially concluded with the dissolution of the belligerents' states following World War I.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abd al-Rahman al-Majdoub — Historical peer (Died in 1568) (1568): Influential Moroccan poet, Sufi mystic, and source of wisdom literature.
• Albert, Duke of Prussia — Historical peer (Died in 1568) (1568): First secular ruler of the Duchy of Prussia and key figure in early Lutheranism.
• Abdul Hamid II — Historical peer (Died in 1918) (1918): Last effective Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, navigating decline and constitutional upheaval.
• Abraham Pais — Historical peer (Born in 1918) (1918): Pioneering physicist and acclaimed science historian of modern physics.
• Abdullah al-Sallal — Historical peer (Born in 1917) (1917): Yemeni military officer and revolutionary who led the North Yemeni Revolution of 1962.
• Adolf von Baeyer — Historical peer (Died in 1917) (1917): Pioneering German chemist known for indigo synthesis and IUPAC nomenclature.
• Aage Bohr — Historical peer (Born in 1922) (1922): Pioneering Danish nuclear physicist, Nobel laureate for atomic structure theory.
• Agnes Nixon — Historical peer (Born in 1922) (1922): Pioneering soap opera writer and producer, creator of 'One Life to Live' and 'All My Children'.
• Aaron Spelling — Historical peer (Born in 1923) (1923): Pioneering American producer of hit TV series like Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.
• Ahmet Ertegun — Historical peer (Born in 1923) (1923): Pioneering Turkish-American music executive, co-founder of Atlantic Records.

Frequently Asked Questions about Russo-Turkish wars