Anna Ioannovna

Description

The casus belli for the Russian Turkish war of 1735 – 1739 became incessant forays, made by Crimean Tatars to Ukraine and Caucasus. In 1736 the Russians contemplated to take Azov and to concentrate wholly on fighting the Crimean Tatars. In summer of 1736 the don army, headed by the general P. P. Lassy and under support of the don military flotilla took Azov, while the Dnieper army, headed by B. K. Minikh, captured Bakhchisarai. However, certain problems, linked with the army provision with foodstuffs and ammunition, combined with epidemics and overall weariness, urged Minikh to retreat and to return to Ukraine.

In 1737 Minikh resumed military actions and took Ochakov, leaving there 8000-strong garnison. In summer of 1737 upon forcing a crossing over Sivash, the Russian army entered Crimea and inflicted a series of defeats to Fetkhi-Guirey. However, it has failed to retain Crimea. Meanwhile, military campaigns, ventured by Austria, the ally of Russia, have ended in failure too.

Because of the plague epidemic the Russian Army had to abandon Ochakov and Kinburn, yet in 1739 Minikh succeeded to take Khotin and Yassy in violent battles.

Subsequent conclusion of the peace treaty between Austria and Turkey, as well as certain threat of eventual aggression on the part of Sweden, urged Russia to sign Belgrade peace treaty in September of 1739. Peaceful negotiations in Constantinople on behalf of Russia were carried out by French ambassador Villeneuve. According to said Belgrade peace treaty Azov has been returned to Russia with no right to erect any fortifications there, while Kabarda in the Northern Caucasus has been announced as the neutral territory. Moreover, Russia had no right to keep either military or trade vessels on the Black Sea. To make the matters worse, the ruling Sultan of Turkey refused to recognize Empress status of Anna Ioannovna.