Case Study Circassian Migration FV - EUROCLIO

Further information: Why was the Caucasus so
important to the Great Powers in the 19 th Century?
In 1833, Russian diplomats persuaded the Sultan to sign the Treaty of Unkiar Skelessi. In return Russia
agreed to protect the Ottoman Empire from external attack and the Sultan agreed to close the Straits to
foreign warships whenever Russia was at war.
The other Great Powers were deeply concerned about Russian expansionism. She had designs on control
of the southern Caucasus which would increase the potential for a land invasion of Persia and Afghanistan
and this threatened British interests in India. Russia was seeking more influence over those European
lands held by the Ottoman Empire where the majority of the population were Orthodox Christians. This
concerned Austria-Hungary, Prussia and France. Also the Treaty of Unkiar Skelessi gave Russia free access
to the Mediterranean through the Straits and this concerned all of the Great Powers.
Britain responded by invading Afghanistan to create a buffer state between India and the Russian army.
They were the first but by no means the last foreign power to learn how difficult a military occupation of
Afghanistan can be. The Great Powers also persuaded the Tsar to abandon his Treaty with the Sultan and
in 1841 the Sultan agreed that the Straits should be closed to all foreign warships except those who were
allies of the Sultan in wartime.
Competition between the Great Powers for influence over the Sultan continued to increase in the mid-19 th
century and eventually they clashed over the Ottoman lands in south-east Europe. Treaties negotiated in
the 18 th century had given responsibility to France for the protection of Catholics in the Ottoman Empire
and responsibility to Russia for the protection of Orthodox Christians. Both clashed over which Church
should control the holy sites in Palestine. Both appealed to the Sultan who decided in favour of the
French. Russia retaliated by invading and occupying Moldavia and Wallachia. The Sultan declared war on
Russia in 1853 and soon the other Great Powers were being dragged into what came to be known as the
Crimean War.
“This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the Anna Lindh Foundation. The contents of this document are the
sole responsibility of EUROCLIO and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the Anna Lindh Foundation”