The Russian-Persian War of 1826-1828.

At the beginning of the XIX century, the Russian Empire and Persia were arguing for influence in Transcaucasia and on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Between these powers were countries such as Georgia, Armenia and Dagestan. In 1804, the first Russian-Persian war began. It ended after nine years. According to its results, fixed in the Gulistan peace agreements, Russia annexed Georgian and partially Armenian lands.

The defeat did not suit the Persians. Revanchist moods have become popular in the country. Shah wanted to return the lost provinces. Because of this insoluble contradiction of interests began the Russian-Persian war (1826-1828). The causes of the conflict and the tense situation in the region made it inevitable.

Diplomatic environment

Preparation for a new war began in Persia immediately after the defeat in 1813. First of all, Feth Ali Shah tried to enlist the support of European powers. Prior to that, he was betting on Napoleon Bonaparte, who made an alliance with the Persians on the eve of his attack on Russia in 1812. Its terms were stipulated in the Finkeshteinsky contract.

However, since then the situation in the world has changed a lot. The Napoleonic wars ended with the defeat of France and the ambitious emperor, who was in exile on the island of Saint Helena. Shah needed a new ally. Before the Russo-Persian War of 1826-1828 began, Persia began to show signs of Persia's attention in the United Kingdom.

This colonial power had its own interests in the Asian region. The Kingdom owned India, and the British ambassadors made the Iranians promise not to let any of London's enemies into this country. At the same time, a conflict broke out between Persia and Turkey. The British played the role of peacekeepers in negotiations with the Ottoman Empire, trying to persuade the shah to war with another neighbor - Russia.

On the eve of the war

At this time the second son of Feth Ali Shah Abbas-Mirza was made commander-in-chief of the Persian army. He was instructed to prepare the army for new tests and to carry out all the necessary reforms. Modernization of the army was supported by Britain. Soldiers received new weapons and uniforms, partly purchased in Europe. Thus, Abbas-Mirza tried to overcome the technical backwardness of his subordinates from the Russian parts. Strategically, these were steps in the right direction, but the Iranian staff was in a hurry in its reforms, trying not to waste time. This played a cruel joke. When the Russo-Persian War began, who participated in the last conflict, they could notice changes in the enemy camp. But they were not enough to overcome the gap that existed between the armies of Nicholas I and the Shah.

In 1825, the Iranian militarists gladly accepted the news that the Russian Emperor Alexander I unexpectedly died in Taganrog. His departure from life led to a short dynastic crisis and (more importantly) the Decembrist uprising. Alexander had no children, and the throne was to move to his next brother, Constantine. He refused, and eventually began to rule Nicholas, who never prepared for this. He was a military man by education. The uprising of the Decembrists led him into a rage. When the coup attempt failed, a long trial began in St. Petersburg.

It was in those days that the advisers of the new tsar began to inform the monarch that the southern neighbor was openly preparing for an armed conflict. The commander-in-chief in the Caucasus was the famous general Alexei Ermolov. The last Russian-Persian war passed before his eyes, and he, like no one else, was aware of the danger of a new conflict. It was this general who most often reminded Nicholas of the prospects in the Caucasus.

The emperor answered rather sluggishly, but nevertheless agreed to send Prince Alexander Menshikov to Tehran. The future naval minister did not find a common language with Persian diplomats. The king gave instructions to his ward that he was ready to give part of the disputed Talish khanate in exchange for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. However, in Tehran they did not accept such proposals. Menshikov was even arrested along with all ambassadors, although they were already released in 1827.

Persian intervention

Failure of preliminary negotiations led to the fact that the Russo-Persian war still began. July 16, 1826 the Iranian army crossed the border in the region of modern Azerbaijan, where the Talysh and Garabagh khanates were located. This operation was done secretly and treacherously, there was no official declaration of war.

At the border were only defensive detachments, assembled in a hurry and consisting of local Azerbaijanis. They could not seriously interfere with the prepared Persian army. Some residents who professed Islam even joined the interventionists. According to the plans of Abbas-Mirza, the Persian army was to move to the north-west along the valleys of the Kura River. The main goal was the provincial town of Tiflis. Ideally, the Russian troops were to be thrown to the other side of the Terek.

The war in the Caucasus region has always had several tactical features related to the specifics of the terrain. Go ridge overland was possible only through certain passes. Acting in the Transcaucasus, the Persians sent auxiliary troops to the north, hoping to block all routes for the main Russian army.

War in Karabakh

The main grouping under the direct leadership of Abbas Mirza numbered 40,000 soldiers. This army forced the border river Araks and headed towards the fortress of Shushi. The day before the Persian command tried to enlist the support of the local khans, who were the leaders of Azerbaijanis living in the city. Some of them really promised Abbas-Mirza support.

In Shusha, the Orthodox Armenian population also resided, which, on the contrary, was loyal to the Russian government. The garrison of the fortress consisted of a detachment of Cossacks. The besieged decided to take hostage those Muslim khans who were suspected of betrayal and cooperation with the Persians. The urgent training of the militia, consisting mainly of Armenians, began. Despite the vigorous actions of the Cossacks, Shusha did not have at least some large supply of food and weapons necessary for successful defense during an assault or siege.

At this time, the Karabakh Khan, who became a vassal of Russia after the war of 1804-1813, announced the support of the Persian invaders. Abbas-Mirza, for his part, promised patronage to all local Muslims. He also announced that he fights only with the Russians, hoping that this will help him to turn the population over to his side.

Siege of Shushi

The new Russian-Persian war began with the siege of the fortress of Shushi. The attackers and the defenders were separated by fortifications from the walls. To get rid of this obstacle, the Persians established mines obtained through European aid. In addition, Abbas-Mirza ordered several demonstration executions of Karabakh Armenians under the walls, hoping that this action of intimidation will quarrel Armenians and Russians who have settled in the fortress. This did not happen.

The Persian army besieged Shusha for seven weeks. This delay greatly changed the course of the entire military campaign. The Iranians decided to split the army and send the 18,000th detachment towards Elisavetpol (Ganja). Abbas-Mirza hoped that this maneuver would allow him to go to Tiflis from the east, which would be a complete surprise for the Cossacks.

The Battle of Shamkhor

Commander-in-Chief of the Russian forces in the Caucasus, General Ermolov was in Tiflis at the beginning of the war and collected regiments. His first plan was to quickly retreat into the depths of the region, luring the Persians away from their own territory. Already in the new positions, the Cossacks would have a notable advantage over the Shah army.

However, by the time a detachment of 8,000 soldiers was assembled in Tiflis, it became clear that the interventionists had been stuck under the walls of Shushi for a long time. So, unexpectedly for everyone, the Russian-Persian war began. 1826 was in full swing, and Ermolov decided to strike back before the cold. The army, led by Major-General Madatov, was sent to Elisavetpol to stop the enemy and lift the siege of Shushi.

This squad faced the advance guard of the enemy near the village of Shamkir. The ensuing battle in historiography was called the Battle of Shamkhor. It was she who influenced the results of the Russo-Persian war of 1826-1828. Until then, the Iranians were advancing, almost without encountering organized resistance. Now they had to face a real Russian army.

By the time Madatov was in Azerbaijan, the Persians had already laid siege to Elisavetpol. To break through to the blocked city, the Russian army needed to smash the enemy's avant-garde. On September 3, in the ensuing battle, the Persians lost 2,000 people killed, while Madatov lost 27 soldiers. Because of the defeat in the Shamkhor battle, Abbas-Mirza had to lift the siege of Shushi and move to the rescue of the regiments that stood near Elisavetpol.

Expulsion of the Persians from Russia

Valerian Madatov commanded only 6 thousand people. They were clearly not enough to drive the Persians away from Elizavetpol. Therefore, after the victory near Shamkhor, he made a small maneuver, during which he connected with the fresh reinforcements that came from Tiflis. The meeting was held on September 10. The new regiments were commanded by Ivan Paskevich. He took command of the whole army, which was going to liberate Elizavetpol.

September 13 Russian troops were close to the city. There were also Persians. The parties began to prepare for a general battle. It began with intensive artillery shelling. The first Persian attack of the infantry choked because the regiments had rested in a ravine and, trapped, fell under enemy fire.

In the offensive of the Russian units, the decisive role was played by the Kherson regiment, which was directly led by Paskevich. Iranians could not help either the artillery or the cavalry, which tried to attack the Georgian militia from the flank. The Russo-Persian war, the reasons for which consisted in the Shah's desire to strike at his neighbor, once again showed how the eastern type of the army was ineffective against Russian troops trained in the European manner. The counterattack of Paskevich's parts led to the fact that the Iranians first retreated to their original positions, and by evening they had completely surrendered them.

Losses of the parties again differed amazing disproportionality. General Paskevich counted 46 dead and about two hundred wounded. The Iranians killed two thousand people. About the same number of soldiers surrendered. In addition, the Russians received enemy artillery and banners. The victory under Elisavetpol led to a radical change. Now Russia was deciding what would be the Russo-Persian war. The results of the battle were announced throughout the country and accepted as a gift to the new emperor, who needed to publicly prove his competence as a ruler.

Campaign of 1827

Paskevich's success was appreciated. He was appointed commander-in-chief and viceroy of the tsar in the Caucasus. By October, Iranian troops had been thrown out of the border river Araks. Thus, the status quo was restored. The soldiers wintered, and a temporary lull was established at the front. However, all parties understood that the Russo-Persian war had not yet been completed (1826-1828). To put it briefly, Nicholas decided to take advantage of the army's successes and not only to expel the interventionists, but also to end the annexation of Orthodox Armenia, part of which still belonged to the Shah.

The main goal of Paskevich was the city of Erivan (Yerevan) and the Erivan Khanate, which was the vassal of Iran. The military campaign began in late spring. In summer, an important Sardar-Abad fort was surrendered to Russian troops. Until August, the army of the king did not encounter serious resistance. All this time Abbas-Mirza was at home, collecting new regiments.

The Oshakan Battle

In the first days of August, a Persian heir with a 25,000-strong army entered the Erivan Khanate. His army attacked the town of Echmiadzin, in which there was only a small Cossack garrison, as well as an ancient Christian fortified monastery. The fortress had to be rescued by the detachment commanded by Lieutenant-General Afanasy Krasovsky.

August 17, a small Russian army of 3 thousand people attacked the 30 thousandth army of Abbas Mirza. This was one of the most striking episodes that the Russian-Persian war is known for. The date of the Oshakan battle (as it is known in historiography) coincided with the steady unbearable Caucasian heat, which equally tormented all soldiers.

The purpose of the detachment Krasouski was to break through to the besieged city through the dense ranks of the enemy. The Russians were carrying a large train and provisions for the garrison. The path had to be paved with bayonets, because there was not a single road left where there were no Persians. To curb the attacks of the enemy, Krasovsky used artillery, which from the very beginning of the operation took strategically convenient for shelling heights. The firing of the guns did not allow the Persians to attack the Russians with all their might, which was reflected in the result of the battle.

As a result, Krasovsky detachment managed to break through to Echmiadzin, despite the fact that every second soldier from this army perished, repulsing Muslim attacks. The failure had an extremely strong demoralizing effect on the entire Persian leadership. Abbas-Mirza for some time still tried to besiege the city, but soon wisely retreated.

The main forces of the empire under the leadership of Paskevich at that time planned to invade Azerbaijan and go to Tabriz. But at the end of August the commander-in-chief received news of the events in Echmiadzin, because of which the Russian-Persian war (1826-1828) was transferred to another stage. The reasons for which Paskevich sent a small detachment to the west were simple-he believed that Abbas-Mirza was in a completely different region. Realizing that the main Iranian army was behind him, the commander-in-chief refused to go to Tabriz and moved towards the Erivan Khanate.

Taking Yerevan

On September 7, Paskevich and Krasovsky met in Etchmiadzin, from which the siege was lifted the day before. On the council it was decided to take the Armenian Erivan. If the army managed to capture this city, the Russian-Persian war would end. The year 1828 was approaching, so Paskevich immediately set out, hoping to finish the operation before winter.

The Russo-Persian War, whose years fell on the period of turbulence in the Russian state, nevertheless showed that, in spite of everything, the tsarist army can solve operational problems in the most difficult conditions. Nicholas I not without reason considered that he needed to establish a protectorate over the whole of Armenia. The indigenous inhabitants of this country were also Orthodox Christians and for centuries suffered from Muslim domination.

The Armenians' first attempts to establish contact with St. Petersburg took place during the reign of Peter I. It was from that time on that the Russian army liberated the province beyond the province in Transcaucasia. Paskevich, finding himself in eastern Armenia, was greeted with enthusiasm by local residents. Most men joined the general as militiamen.

The Russian-Persian 1828 became a chance for Armenians to start living again in a Christian country. There were many of them in Erivan. Realizing this, the Persian commandant of the fortress expelled members of influential Armenian families from the city who could incite the townspeople to revolt. But preventive measures did not help the Iranians. The city was taken by Russian troops on October 1, 1827 after a brief assault.

Conversation

Two weeks after this victory in the headquarters it became known that another king's group had captured Tabriz. This army was commanded by Georgy Eristov, sent by Paskevich to the southeast after the commander-in-chief had left for Erivan. This victory was the last front-line event that the Russian-Persian war (1826-1828) is known for. The peace treaty was necessary for the Shah. His army lost all strategically important battles. In addition, now the royal regiments occupied part of its territory.

Therefore, with the onset of winter, both states began to exchange diplomats and parliamentarians. They met in Turkmanchai, a small village not far from the captured Tabriz. The agreements signed in this place on February 10, 1828, summed up the Russo-Persian war (1826-1828). For Russia, all the conquests that the tsarist army made in the previous conflict were recognized. In addition, the imperial crown received new territorial acquisitions. It was eastern Armenia with its main city of Yerevan, as well as the Nakhichevan Khanate. The Iranians agreed to pay a large indemnity (20 million rubles in silver). They also guaranteed their non-interference in the process of resettlement of Orthodox Armenians to their homeland.

End of conflict

It is interesting that the diplomat and writer Alexander Griboyedov was a member of the tsarist embassy. He took part in the discussion of the conditions under which the Russo-Persian war ended (1826-1828). In short, the treaty did not suit the Iranians. A few months later a new Russian-Turkish war began, and the Persians tried to break the peace conditions.

In order to settle the conflict, an embassy was sent to Tehran headed by Griboyedov. In 1829, this delegation was brutally murdered by Islamic fanatics. Dozens of diplomats perished. The Shah sent rich gifts to Petersburg to make amends for the scandal. Nikolai did not go to confrontation, and since then there has been a long peace between the neighbors.

The mutilated body of Griboyedov was buried in Tiflis. Being in Yerevan, just freed from Iranians, he first put on stage his most famous play "Woe from Wit". Thus ended the Russian-Persian war. The peace treaty allowed the creation of several new provinces, and since then the Transcaucasia remained part of the empire until the fall of the monarchy.