Russian-Iranian wars. Russian-Persian wars Russian-Persian wars 1804 1813 1826 1828

At the end of the 20s of the XIX century. and especially in the 1930s and 1940s the so-called Eastern question became acute again.

In close connection with the Eastern question, the struggle of the European powers for influence in Iran developed, which, like a weak, backward feudal state, was undermined from the inside by the separatist actions of the feudal lords and the liberation movements of the oppressed peoples.

In the Eastern question and, in a broader sense, in general, in the policy of the European powers in the Middle East, mutually exclusive plans of conquest clashed, inevitably dooming any attempts at a peaceful resolution of emerging problems to failure.

It was also impossible to reconcile the desire of the oppressed peoples for national liberation and the desire of the European powers either to maintain the old position (the so-called status quo policy) or to replace Turkish domination with a new one - European.

The Middle East became the scene of constant conflicts and wars, which increased the tension of the international situation in Europe and Asia.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Russia, England and France were most active in the Middle East.

The tsarist government, while providing extensive assistance in the just liberation struggle to the peoples oppressed by Turkey and Iran, at the same time carried out its plans of conquest. England and France, for the most part, covered up their aggressive policy by the fact that they allegedly opposed Russian expansion.

In reality, the policy of the Western powers was of the same mercenary and predatory nature as the policy of tsarism, and in the final analysis only hindered the liberation of these peoples from the Turkish and Iranian yoke.

Analyzing the essence of the Eastern question and its history in the first half of the 19th century, K. Marx and F. Engels brilliantly revealed its economic, political, military and international significance, showed the true causes of rivalry between European powers. They subjected to devastating criticism the methods and techniques of European diplomacy: intimidation, intrigue, gross interference in the affairs of the weak states of the East under the guise of assistance, etc.

Marx and Engels countered this policy with the program of European democracy, which advocated a solution to the Eastern question that would grant national independence to the peoples oppressed by Turkey. Engels wrote: "The solution of the Turkish problem, like other great problems, will fall to the lot of the European revolution."

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 on the provision of material assistance to Iran in the event of a war "with one of the European states."

British officers were invited to train Iranian troops and supervise the construction of military fortifications. Placing great hopes on British assistance, the Iranian ruling circles decided to be the first to open hostilities against Russia.

In July 1826, 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 Russian 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 countries. Shah recognized the accession of the Yerevan and Nakhchevan khanates to Russia. Under the terms of the treaty, only Russia could and chalked the fleet in the Caspian Sea.

Iran paid Russia an indemnity of 20 million rubles in silver. According to the treatise on trade, Russia received benefits 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. At the beginning of the XIX century. Armenian lands were in a state of complete decline. Agriculture, with primitive tools of production and the utter arbitrariness of the Iranian feudal lords, degraded. Labor productivity was krappe 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 liberated the Transcaucasian peoples from the threat of enslavement by the 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 the ancient culture of the Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples.

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 the Persian campaign, he made an alliance with King Vakhtang VI, but there were no successful military operations. 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 insignificant military forces to Georgia. 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 the annexation of the Eastern Caucasus to Russia, 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 from Russia for the lost wars at the end of the 18th century.

An alliance was formed against Russia between Persia, Ottoman Empire and the Ganja Khanate, they were assisted by Great Britain. Russia had no allies in this war.

The course of hostilities

	Battle of Erivan. The defeat of the Russian allied forces.
	The Russians completely surrounded the Erivan fortress.
	The Russians lifted the siege of the Erivan fortress.
January 1805	The Russians occupied the Shuragel Sultanate and annexed it to Russian Empire.
	The Kurekchay Treaty was signed between Russia and the Karabakh Khanate.
	A similar agreement was concluded with the Sheki Khanate.
	Agreement on the transfer of the Shirvan Khanate to Russian citizenship.
	The siege of Baku by the Caspian flotilla.
Summer 1806	The defeat of Abbas-Mirza at Karakapet (Karabakh) and the conquest of the Derbent, Baku (Baku) and Quba khanates.
November 1806	The beginning of the Russian-Turkish war. Uzun-Kilis truce with the Persians.
	Resumption of hostilities.
October 1808	Russian troops defeated Abbas-Mirza at Karababe (south of Lake Sevan) and occupied Nakhichevan.
	A.P. Tormasov repelled the offensive of the army led by Feth Ali Shah in the Gumra-Artik region and thwarted Abbas-Mirza's attempt to capture Ganja.
May 1810	The army of Abbas-Mirza invaded Karabakh, was defeated by the detachment of P. S. Kotlyarevsky near the fortress of Migri.
July 1810	The defeat of the Persian troops on the Araks River.
September 1810	The defeat of the Persian troops near Akhalkalaki and the prevention of their connection with the Turkish troops.
January 1812	Russian-Turkish peace treaty. Persia is also ready to conclude a peace treaty. But Napoleon's entry into Moscow complicated the situation.
August 1812	Capture of Lankaran by the Persians.
	The Russians, having crossed the Araks, defeated the Persians at the Aslanduz ford.
December 1812	The Russians entered the territory of the Talysh Khanate.
	The Russians took Lankaran by storm. Peace negotiations began.
	Gulistan world. Russia received Eastern Georgia, the northern part of modern Azerbaijan, Imeretia, Guria, Megrelia and Abkhazia, as well as the right to have a navy in the Caspian Sea.

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

June 1826	Iranian troops crossed the border in two places. The southern regions of Transcaucasia were captured.
	The first blow to the Russian troops. Running fight.
July 1826	The 40,000-strong army of Abbas-Mirza crossed the Araks.
July - August 1826	Defense of Shusha by Russian troops.
	Shamkhor battle. The defeat of the 18,000th vanguard of the Persian army.
	Liberation of Elizavetpol by Russian troops. The siege of Shusha was lifted.
	The defeat of the 35,000th Persian army near Elizavetpol.
	General Yermolov replaced by General Paskevich.
	Capitulation of the Persian fortress of Abbas-Abad.
	Russian troops took Erivan and entered Persian Azerbaijan.
	Russian troops captured Tabriz.
	The Turkmanchay peace treaty was signed.

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.

Russia's victory in the second war with Persia put an end to Tehran's claims to supremacy in the affairs of the Caucasus. The defeat of the Persian troops in the two battles that will be discussed predetermined the entire course of the war.
The campaign of 1826 began on July 16, when the enemy crossed the borders of Russia in the Mirak region. Two days later, a 25,000-strong Persian army led by Abbas Mirza crossed the Araks River and invaded the Karabakh province. The Persians sought to occupy Elisavetpol, realizing how important it could be both from a political point of view and from a military point of view, the capture of this fortified city. To prevent the plans of the enemy, Alexey Petrovich Ermolov sends his best battalions to Karabag, and the command of the troops is entrusted to General Madatov V.G. 1)

August 22 Madatov, having received a report that on one of the tributaries of the river. Tausa, a 3,000-strong Persian detachment under the command of Zurab Khan, who also had a contender for the Georgian throne, Tsarevich Alexander, was located, raised troops in alarm and moved towards the enemy. When crossing the Tausa River, the Cossacks encountered a Persian patrol and put it to flight, and approaching the enemy camp, they found out that it was empty; the Persians abandoned it and fortified themselves on one of the peaks. Madatov decided to attack them and, sending mounted Georgians to cut off the enemy possible path retreat, opened fire from guns. The Russian infantry rushed forward fearlessly. The Persians could not stand the bayonet attack and rushed to Elisavetpol, pursued by the cavalry. Part of the detachment was destroyed, and the Shamshadil Tatars, who were in its composition, dispersed to their villages. Yermolov, having learned about the success of Madatov, sent a battalion of the Kherson Grenadier Regiment to reinforce him and ordered him to occupy Yelisavetpol.

On August 25, Prince Madatov became aware of the arrival of the Persian army in Karabakh under the command of Abbas-Mirza, and he, leaving on the river. Akstafa post to communicate with Tiflis, quickly marched to Elisavetpol. His detachment included five companies of the Georgian regiment, a battalion of the Kherson grenadier regiment, three companies of rangers of the 41st regiment, Cossacks and police, in addition, there were 12 guns.
The Persians were in the area of ​​Elisavetpol earlier, and Mamed-mirza, the son of Abbas-mirza, knowing about the approach of Madatov, decided to go further, forward, to the village of Shamkhor. With him there were 10,000 people, 4 guns and 20 falconets, and on September 1, the Erivan sardari joined him with 4,000 people and 6 guns. But already on September 3, when the Cossacks, with the support of the Kazakh Tatars, attacked the enemy's vanguard, the Persian troops were forced to retreat beyond Shamkhor, where they lined up in battle order. Selected infantry and artillery were in the center, cavalry occupied the flanks. Thus, by deploying troops behind a fortified line more than two miles long, the enemy was able to fire on the only road along which the Russians advanced.
Madatov's detachment approached this huge crowd in three small columns with Cossacks and police on the flanks and immediately went on the offensive. Artillery opened accurate and frequent fire, mounted Georgians and Tatars attacked the enemy's right flank, infantry crossed the Shamkhor River and hit with bayonets. The Persians could not stand such pressure and ran. Russian cavalry, covering the road with the corpses of enemies, drove them almost to Elisavetpol. The most surprising thing is that the Russian losses in this fleeting battle amounted to only 27 people. The battalion of Nazar-Ali-khan, who occupied Elisavetpol, also took off running, and the next day the Armenian population of the city joyfully greeted the Shamkhor hero. The victory made it possible to partially liberate Karabakh from the invaders and made it possible for the inhabitants to some extent avoid forced resettlement in Persia.
The Shamkhor defeat forced Abbas Mirza to lift the siege of Shusha and lead the army to Elisavetpol. He was determined to beat Madatov. Meanwhile, on September 10, a detachment sent by Yermolov to reinforce Madatov arrived in Yelisavetpol. They were led by Adjutant General Ivan Fedorovich Paskevich, who took command of all the combined forces. The total number of troops now amounted to 8000 people, but these were the best parts of the Caucasian Corps. However, Paskevich did not believe in their capabilities and offered to act on the defensive, waiting for the Persians outside the fortress walls. This was stubbornly opposed by experienced Caucasian veterans - generals Madatov and Velyaminov.
The forward detachments of the Persians were discovered by the Cossacks the next day, but they did not accept the battle with the three companies of the Georgians and the battalion of the 7th Carabinieri, sent forward, and withdrew.
At dawn on September 13, the huge Persian camp began to move. This whole armada, more than 35,000 people with 25 guns, moved to Elisavetpol in the hope of crushing a handful of Russian troops. In response, Paskevich built troops for battle. Time passed, but the enemy did not appear. Then, at 7.00, the commander gave the order to leave the camp under the protection of two companies of the Kherson Grenadier Regiment and go towards the enemy.

“At about 10 o’clock in the morning, on September 13, the enemy began to show up from the Kurakchay postal station; all his movements across the plain were clearly visible; in front of him, the Tatars of the Kazakh Shamshadil distances, who had joined the Persians, were horse-riding ... At about noon, Abbas Mirza began to approach our positions with banners unfurled and drumming, following the high road to Elisavetpol with regular troops, who, not reaching 2 miles from our position, began to line up to the right and left ... meanwhile, the reserve, consisting of 6 regular battalions of the Shah's guards, under the command of the youngest son of Abbas Mirza Ishmael, had not yet come out of Kurak-chai. When the Persian army had about 20 guns, well arranged according to the European model, and a lot of zemburekchi or light artillery on camels. " 5)

Location of Russian troops
1st line: right flank - two semi-battalions of the 41st Jaeger Regiment (later the 16th Mingrelian Grenadier); in the center - 12 guns of the Caucasian Grenadier Brigade (1st company); left flank - two semi-battalions of the Shirvan regiment. The first line sent shooters, the Cossacks covered the right flank, the Georgian and Tatar cavalry covered the left flank. 2nd line (located 200 steps from the first): behind the rangers - two semi-battalions of the 7th Carabinieri Regiment; to the right - a square of two carabinieri companies with two guns; behind the Shirvans in the same order are three semi-battalions of the Georgian Grenadier Regiment. Major General Prince Madatov commanded both lines. The intervals between the troops of the first line were covered by the Nizhny Novgorod dragoons built in three columns.

The formation of the Persian troops
The composition of the Persian army: 15,000 regular infantry, 20,000 cavalry and irregular infantry and 24 guns.
Center - 18 guns, followed by three infantry lines, in particular, a battalion consisting of fugitive lower ranks of the Russian army; on the flanks - 6 infantry battalions, cavalry and artillery. Behind the infantry of the center and the cavalry of the right flank are falconets on camels. The Persian battle line was so stretched and concave that the extremities of its flanks were almost in the rear of the Russian troops.
After standing for about an hour, Paskevich, under pressure from his generals, launched an attack on the enemy, and an artillery duel immediately ensued. True, in a report to Emperor Alexander I, he reports that he “decided to go forward and attack him on the move,” that is, as if he himself took the initiative, but meanwhile he did not trust the troops entrusted to him at all. Count Simonich, a witness to the events, recalled how, before the battle, Paskevich turned to him with the question: "Are you sure of victory?" To which he replied: "Yes, I'm sure, and now my comrade Grekov is also responsible with his head for success." Subsequently, one of the participants in the battle wrote: “Paskevich, having examined the area, stopped his detachment, got off his horse, ordered the drum to be sent to the front and sat down in deep thought. , Yermolov. Even then distrust of the "Yermolovskys" crept into Paskevich, - he called the associates of this glorious general ... ".

Actions on the left flank and in the center of the Russian troops
18 enemy infantry battalions, under the cover of powder smoke, approached the front and left flank. "The Persian regular infantry stopped and opened battle fire, supported by artillery placed in the intervals between the battalions; at the same time, part of the infantry and a crowd of cavalry rushed to our left flank. Fortunately, in front of this flank there was a small but rather steep ravine, which could not be noticed by the enemy, meanwhile, this circumstance had an important influence on the fate of the battle. 6)
The first to take the blow of the Persian armada were two companies of the Georgian Grenadier Regiment, which stood in a square in the gap between the 1st and 2nd lines. There were also Cossacks and Tatar militias, but they could not resist the onslaught and began to roll back. We must pay tribute to General Paskevich, without bowing to the bullets, he went to this irregular cavalry and began to put it in order. Meanwhile, a ravine turned out to be on the enemy’s path, it just delayed the enemy, who came under fire from the Georgians, and was soon attacked by cavalry. Paskevich brought into battle a battalion of the Kherson Grenadier Regiment and the 2nd and 3rd squadrons of the Nizhny Novgorod dragoons. Non-commissioned officer Zhilin, the orderly of the Nizhny Novgorod commander, Colonel Shabelsky, hacked to death the enemy standard-bearer, but immediately fell, struck down by a bullet. A hand-to-hand fight ensued. To the credit of the Persians, they fought desperately. In this battle, the commander of the 3rd squadron, staff captain Shanshiev, lieutenant Zarembsky and warrant officer Prince Yazon Chavchavadze were injured. An attempt by the enemy to carry away the banner was futile. The decisive actions of the ensign Borovitinov, the volunteer brothers Dolinsky and the private (from the demoted) Grachev made it possible to defend the coveted trophy. Subsequently, the Russian counterattack developed so rapidly that the Persians mixed up and rushed to flee.
By order of General Velyaminov, a 12-gun battery opened fire. Colonel Avernaus led the troops of the 1st line to attack, the columns of the 2nd line entered the intervals of the 1st, and this whole unstoppable avalanche fell on the Persians. The enemy fire was fierce, but despite this, the battalion of Lieutenant Colonel Count Simonich (Georgian Grenadier Regiment) and the battalion of the Shirvan Regiment of Lieutenant Colonel Grekov bravely attacked the enemy. Lieutenant Colonel Simonich was wounded in the leg, and Lieutenant Colonel Grekov fell on the battlefield. However, the soldiers of his battalion did not weaken the onslaught, Major Yudin became ahead of the ranks. The actions of the Shirvans and Georgians were supported by the 41st Jaeger Regiment. In the center, the enemy also began to retreat, the soldiers of the Shirvan regiment captured one gun.

Action on the right flank
Here the situation was serious, the Persian cavalry tried to bypass this flank and go to the rear of the Russian troops. She, with the assistance of 6 infantry battalions, shot down the Cossacks and attacked the square of the Kherson regiment and Nizhny Novgorod. The blow was taken by two companies of the Kherson Grenadier Regiment and the 1st Battalion of the Nizhny Novgorod Dragoons. Noticing this, Colonel Shebalsky turned to the right the square of the 1st semi-battalion of the 7th Carabinieri regiment with five guns (in a number of documents it is noted that they were sent by Paskevich). Major Kluki-von-Klugenau, who commanded the Carabinieri, carried out a swift counterattack, the 1st and 2nd dragoon squadrons, having galloped the Persian infantry, attacked its flank. A general flight of the enemy began, the Kherson grenadiers pursued him. Part of the Persians retreated to the old fortifications, located on a steep hill: "Meanwhile, the day was leaning towards evening and the whole corps had long ago come to Kurak-chai, without finding a single Persian there ... Klugenau, out of patience, chose a small hill near the mound , on which, having ordered to drag two guns, opened fire on the rubble ... ". The carabinieri of Captain Avramenko and Staff Captain Muzaiko attacked the Persians, who had settled in the fortifications, and after a short resistance, they surrendered (819 soldiers and officers). Among the captured trophies, the carabinieri got two banners. Paskevich reported in a report: "Prince Madatov surrounded their infantry on the mound and, putting the guns in position, forced them to surrender with grapeshot ... ".
The creators of this victory were generously rewarded by the emperor, Adjutant General Paskevich was granted a sword with diamonds, Prince Madatov received the rank of lieutenant general. The Order of St. George was decorated with Major General Vilyaminov (3rd degree), Colonel Shabelsky and Major Kluki-von-Klugenau, Count Simonich, Major Yudin and cornet Eremkin (all 4th degree).
Officers who participated in the battle were awarded orders and promotions. Particularly distinguished lower ranks were awarded the insignia of the Military Order, among the awarded were non-commissioned officers of the 7th Carabinieri Regiment: Longin Zakharov (No. 45794) 11) and Gerasim Nikolaev (No. 45795), privates of the same regiment Naum Neglyadov (No. 45796), Kharlam Egorov (No. 45797) and Ivan Shvetsov (No. 4 5798). The lower ranks of the Nizhny Novgorod Dragoon Regiment received 30 insignia of the Military Order.
Surprisingly, there were few trophies: three guns, one zemburek, three banners and up to 1000 prisoners. Losses of Russian troops - 46 killed and 249 wounded.
Paskevich, in a letter to General Dibich dated September 14, 1826, praised the enemy: "... do not think that they fought completely badly - they came to the distance without a shot from the front, opened battle fire at least for the best infantry, but were dispersed by the true courage of the troops. I can assure you that the bad troops would be overthrown."
And lastly, although Paskevich was the commander of the detachment, in fact the troops were led by Yermolovsky generals and officers.
The victory at Elisavetpol made a huge impression not only on the local population, but also on the peoples of the Caucasus in general, in Persia they were waiting for the inevitable, as it seemed, invasion of the Russian troops. Wanting to end the war as soon as possible and following the instructions from St. Petersburg, Paskevich was ready to transfer the war to enemy territory. Ermolov asked him to confine himself only to actions up to the river. Araks, realizing that the Persians would have time to prepare for the meeting, wrote to him on September 21, 1826: “The enemy, by haste of flight, has a lot of time ahead of you and can prepare means of defense. Having saved almost all his artillery, he cannot have infantry in such absent-mindedness, so that he does not retain quite significant forces ... ". It was also necessary to restore order in Karabakh. In addition, the Russians, having shifted their actions beyond the Araks, would have been left without supply bases on the land devastated by the war. Apparently, Yermolov's practical actions as a boss did not suit Paskevich, who was greedy for honors and awards, and only strengthened his intrigues, the end result of which was Yermolov's departure from the Caucasian scene.

Sources and notes:

1. Madatov Valeryan Grigorievich 1782-1829 In military service from the age of 15 (belt-ensign of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment). Member of the war with Turkey 1807-1812, Patriotic War 1812, foreign campaigns 1813-1814, Russian-Persian war 1827-1828 and Russian-Turkish 1828-1829. Order of St. George 4th class for the battle of Batin 1810. Order of St. George 3rd class for the battle of Kalisz 1812.
2. The most humble report of Adjutant General Paskevich on the battle of Elisavetpol. // Military collection. No. 9, 1907.
3. Bobrovsky P. O. The history of the 13th Life Grenadier Erivan Regiment of His Majesty for 250 years St. Petersburg. 1893 T. 4.
4. Kazbek G. military history Georgian Grenadier Regiment. Tiflis, 1865.
5. Grezhegorsky I. Lieutenant General Kluki-von-Klugenau.//Essay on Military Events in the Caucasus 1818–1850// Russian antiquity. 1874. T. X1. Book. eleven.
6. Potto V. Abkhazia St. Petersburg.
7. Dubrovin N. History of war and domination of Russians in the Caucasus, St. Petersburg, 1888. T. 6.
8. Potto V. History of the 44th Nizhny Novgorod Dragoon Imperial Majesty Sovereign Heir Tsesarevich Regiment St. Petersburg, 1894. T. 3.
9. Russian World. No. 11, 1873.
10. Numbers of insignia of the Military Order are given in brackets.

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 the Ottoman Empire, was ready to cede the southern part of the Talish Khanate to Persia for the neutrality of Persia. 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 12,000 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 karapapakhs ("black hats", Turkic ethnic group) plundered and burned the 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 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 an active part 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 the main problem was the lack 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 repelled. 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.

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 Erzerum 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 the partisan detachments of Bei-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 regions. 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, the Russian policy in the Caucasus changed: 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. 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 the liberation struggle of the 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 of Russian troops in Transcaucasia, her 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 (£200,000) and with the consent of London, achieved the exclusion of 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 indemnity, 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 crowd, at the call of the clergy, 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.