.gif)
Russo-Turkish War (1568–1570)
Encyclopedia
The Russo–Turkish War (which is referred to in the Ottoman sources as the Astrakhan Expedition) is a war between the Tsardom of Russia
and the Ottoman Empire
. The casus belli
was the Astrakhan Khanate
.
In 1556, the khanate was conquered by Ivan the Terrible
, who had a new fortress built on a steep hill overlooking the Volga. In 1568 the Grand Vezier Sokollu Mehmet Paşa, who was the real power in the administration of the Ottoman Empire under Sultan Selim
, initiated the first encounter between the Ottoman Empire
and her future northern rival. The results presaged the many disasters to come. A plan to unite the Volga and Don by a canal was detailed in Constantinople and in the summer of 1569 a large force under Kasim Paşa of 1,500 Janissaries
, 2000 Spakhs
, and few thousand Azap
s, and Akıncı
s, were sent to lay siege to Astrakhan and begin the canal works, while an Ottoman fleet besieged Azov
.
But a sortie of the garrison under Knyaz Serebianov, the military governor of Astrakhan
drove back the besiegers; a Russian relief army of 15,000 attacked and scattered the workmen and the Tatar
force (5,000 men) sent for their protection; and finally, the Ottoman fleet was destroyed by a storm.
Early in 1570, the ambassadors of Ivan IV of Russia
concluded at Constantinople a treaty which restored friendly relations between the Sultan and the Tsar.
Tsardom of Russia
The Tsardom of Russia was the name of the centralized Russian state from Ivan IV's assumption of the title of Tsar in 1547 till Peter the Great's foundation of the Russian Empire in 1721.From 1550 to 1700, Russia grew 35,000 km2 a year...
and the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. The casus belli
Casus belli
is a Latin expression meaning the justification for acts of war. means "incident", "rupture" or indeed "case", while means bellic...
was the Astrakhan Khanate
Astrakhan Khanate
The Khanate of Astrakhan was a Tatar feudal state that appeared after the collapse of the Golden Horde. The Khanate existed in the 15th and 16th centuries in the area adjacent to the mouth of the Volga river, where the contemporary city of Astrakhan/Hajji Tarkhan is now located...
.
In 1556, the khanate was conquered by Ivan the Terrible
Ivan IV of Russia
Ivan IV Vasilyevich , known in English as Ivan the Terrible , was Grand Prince of Moscow from 1533 until his death. His long reign saw the conquest of the Khanates of Kazan, Astrakhan, and Siberia, transforming Russia into a multiethnic and multiconfessional state spanning almost one billion acres,...
, who had a new fortress built on a steep hill overlooking the Volga. In 1568 the Grand Vezier Sokollu Mehmet Paşa, who was the real power in the administration of the Ottoman Empire under Sultan Selim
Selim II
Selim II Sarkhosh Hashoink , also known as "Selim the Sot " or "Selim the Drunkard"; and as "Sarı Selim" or "Selim the Blond", was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1566 until his death in 1574.-Early years:He was born in Constantinople a son of Suleiman the...
, initiated the first encounter between the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and her future northern rival. The results presaged the many disasters to come. A plan to unite the Volga and Don by a canal was detailed in Constantinople and in the summer of 1569 a large force under Kasim Paşa of 1,500 Janissaries
Janissary
The Janissaries were infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultan's household troops and bodyguards...
, 2000 Spakhs
Sipahi
Sipahi was the name of several Ottoman cavalry corps...
, and few thousand Azap
Azap
Azabs were irregular light infantry of the Ottoman Army.The Azaps were also known as "the bachelors", they were volunteers who were paid only during campaigns and had the freedom to leave the army whenever they wanted. The Azaps were initially only Anatolian Turks, though by the late 16th century...
s, and Akıncı
Akinci
Akıncı were irregular light cavalry,scout divisions and advance troops of the Ottoman Empire's military. When the pre-existing Turkish ghazis were incorporated into the Ottoman Empire's military they became known as "akıncı." They were one of the first divisions to face the opposing military and...
s, were sent to lay siege to Astrakhan and begin the canal works, while an Ottoman fleet besieged Azov
Azov
-External links:** *...
.
But a sortie of the garrison under Knyaz Serebianov, the military governor of Astrakhan
Astrakhan
Astrakhan is a major city in southern European Russia and the administrative center of Astrakhan Oblast. The city lies on the left bank of the Volga River, close to where it discharges into the Caspian Sea at an altitude of below the sea level. Population:...
drove back the besiegers; a Russian relief army of 15,000 attacked and scattered the workmen and the Tatar
Tatars
Tatars are a Turkic speaking ethnic group , numbering roughly 7 million.The majority of Tatars live in the Russian Federation, with a population of around 5.5 million, about 2 million of which in the republic of Tatarstan.Significant minority populations are found in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,...
force (5,000 men) sent for their protection; and finally, the Ottoman fleet was destroyed by a storm.
Early in 1570, the ambassadors of Ivan IV of Russia
Ivan IV of Russia
Ivan IV Vasilyevich , known in English as Ivan the Terrible , was Grand Prince of Moscow from 1533 until his death. His long reign saw the conquest of the Khanates of Kazan, Astrakhan, and Siberia, transforming Russia into a multiethnic and multiconfessional state spanning almost one billion acres,...
concluded at Constantinople a treaty which restored friendly relations between the Sultan and the Tsar.