| Russo-turkish War, 1787-1792 |
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The Russo-Turkish War (1787-1792) was a futile attempt by the Ottoman Empire to regain lands lost to Russia in the course of the previous Russo-Turkish War, 1768-1774 . In 1786 Catherine II Of Russia made a triumphal progress through the annexed Crimea in company with her ally, Emperor Joseph II . These events and the friction caused by mutual complaints of infringements of the Treaty Of Kuchuk-Kainarji , which had closed the previous war, stirred up public opinion in Constantinople , while the British and French ambassadors lent their unconditional support to the war party. In 1788 war was declared, but Turkey's preparations were inadequate and the moment was ill-chosen, now that Russia and Austria were in alliance, a fact of which Turkey became aware only when the horsetails were planted for the campaign. The Turks drove back the Austrians from Mehadia and overran the Banat (1789); but in Moldavia Field-Marshal Rumyantsev was successful and captured Iaşi and Khotin . After a long winter siege Ochakov fell to Prince Potemkin , and all its inhabitants were massacred. This news affected the Sultan so deeply as to cause his death. Turkish generals were incompetent and the army mutinous; expeditions for the relief of Bender and Akerman failed, Belgrade was taken by Laudon of Austria , the impenetrable fortress of Izmail was captured by Suvorov , with the use of combinated infantry and attillery surprise attacks, Ushakov shattered the Ottoman Fleet at Fidonisi , Tendra , Kerch Strait , and Cape Caliacria , and the fall of Anapa to Ivan Gudovich completed the series of Turkey's disasters. The young sultan Selim III was anxious to restore his country's prestige by a victory before making peace, but the condition of his troops rendered this hope unavailing; while Prussia , though on 31 January , 1790 she had signed an offensive treaty with Turkey, gave her no help during the war. Accordingly the Treaty Of Jassy was signed with Russia on 9 January 1792 by which Russia's 1783 annexation of the Crimean Khanate was recognized, Yedisan ( Hacibey and Ochakov ) was ceded to Russia, and the Dniester was made the frontier in Europe, while the Asiatic frontier — Kuban River — remained unchanged. REFERENCE |
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