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Eastern Question

The document discusses the Eastern Question between 1820-1856. It provides context on the interests and motives of Russia and Britain in the declining Ottoman Empire. It then outlines major events including the Greek War of Independence, the Syrian Question involving Mehmet Ali, and the Crimean War.

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Amir Balush (Rind)
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46 views

Eastern Question

The document discusses the Eastern Question between 1820-1856. It provides context on the interests and motives of Russia and Britain in the declining Ottoman Empire. It then outlines major events including the Greek War of Independence, the Syrian Question involving Mehmet Ali, and the Crimean War.

Uploaded by

Amir Balush (Rind)
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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By Aamir Rahim Arbalush@gmial.

com

Q:02: Define the term “Eastern Question” and the motives of England and Russia in it. Highlight the
major events in this regard between 1820 and 1856

Ans:

Eastern Question:

Definition:

The Ottoman Empire usually referred as sick-man or old man of Europe. It was a decaying in 19 th
century. Now the Question was that “Who was going to take over from the Turks, and when, where and
to what extent?”.

The question arose due to the interest of European powers such as:

 Britain.
 Russia
 France
 Austria.

However, the main stakeholders were the Britain and Russia.

Outline:

 Russian Interest
 British Interest.
 Greek War of Independence:
o Nationalist Movements
o Foreign intervention.
o Independence
 Syrian Question
o Mehmet Ali Crises (1st and 2nd)
o Strait Convention.
 Crimean War:
o Causes
o Foreign stakes
o Treaty of Paris

Russian Relevance to Eastern Question:

There were basically two interests of Russia:

1. The Strategic: Russian Warm water policy through Black Sea into Turkish straits and to
Mediterranean.
By Aamir Rahim [email protected]

2. Emotional linkage: there were close links between Russian and Turkish Christian subjects. Both
shared same orthodox Christianity and Slavic ethnicity.

However, Russian policy varied time to time. Seemingly supporter of ottoman empire and making it a
buffer state to annexation of Ottoman territories.

British Relevancy in Eastern Question:

The British Policy also can be determined on two dynamics:

1. Britain supported Ottoman to sustain because of the threat of Russia gets more power and
influence over Mediterranean which was ultimately a threat for British Naval Supremacy.
2. The 2nd was the question of Syria which made easy access of France to Indian affairs of Britain.

The British interest based on a “counter Russian” approach. Britain in no case wanted Russia and France
to strong-hold their influence on states supposedly form after decay of ottoman empire. Britain did not
want Russian warm water policy to be succeed and France to reach near Indian Affairs.

Important Episodes (1821-56):

There were three main events occurred:

1. The Greek war of Independence.


2. Syrian Question.
3. Crimean War.

Greek War of Independence:

Although the Greek subjects of ottoman enjoying comparatively good life and freedom of trade and

education and religion. However, the ideas of revolution and nationalism vows them to seek
independence:

Ypsilanti’s Adventure (1820-21):

A Greek commander of Tsar’s army, mustered courage to enter in Moldavian region of ottoman from
Russia and planned to further liberate till the Greece. Initially succeeded on many battles and defeater
Ottoman Troops. But lost his support from Tsar after Barbarous massacre. hopeless Ypsilanti defeated in
1821 and escaped to Austria and imprisoned there.

Revolt In Morea:

The early Peloponnesus, now calls Morea, revolted against Turk army and they conducted a massacre of
Turks, more than 50,000 Turks had been ruthlessly killed. Sultan asked his pasha of Egypt Mehmet Ali for
By Aamir Rahim [email protected]

help after which he promised of giving Morea and some other regions. He sent troops under his son
Ibrahim. The retaliation conducted by Turks was worse than of that.

Russo-Turkish War:

This massacre made Russia furies. Russia intervened and successfully defeated the forces of Ibrahim and
forced to signed treaty of London before but refused by sultan and uncertain battle of Navarino Bay
occurred.

Treaty of Adrianople (1829):

 Greek got its semi-independence position under lordship of Sultan ruled by a hereditary prince.
 Free-passage of merchant ships in peace time from Turkish straits.
 Russia, a virtual protectorate of Moldovia and Wallachia.

Greek Complete Independence (1832):

The above-mentioned semi-independence supervised by Russia threaten the British that Britain opted
that “complete independent Greece would be much more resistant to Russian interference”.

1832 it was signed by European powers and Sultan a Independent Greece and Otto of Bavaria Crown
Prince.

Syrian Question:

The sultan promised his pasha Mehmet Ali of Egypt for Syria and Morea if Pasha sent troops to suppress
Morea revolt. However, the that was failed and Morea kept by Greece. Now the Mehmet Ali asked for
reward and invaded Syria. Sultan Retaliated but lost and Ibrahim Pasha son of Mehmet reached near
Constantinople.

Treaty of Unkiar: (1833)

1st Mehmet Ali Crises:

Sultan unwilling asked Russia to help. Meanwhile Russian policy toward ottoman was to support it
because of weakness rather she would have deal strong European national states in Balkan. Russia
assured her help and alliance with ottoman with treaty of Unkiar which affirmed.

 The treaty of Adrianople was confirmed.


 Both countries help each other if attacked.
 Ottomans close the Strait during wartime to any other war ships.

The third clause(secret) was a worst nightmare of Britain. Britain seeking opportunity to curtail this.

2nd Mehmet Ali Crises:

After gaining the support of Russia, Sultan attacked Syria but could not succeed. It was a great
opportunity for Britain to intervene revert the treaty of Unkiar. European powers forced Mehmet Ali to
withdrew his forces from Syria and keep Egypt as a separate and Hereditary right of rule.

Strait Convention: (1841)


By Aamir Rahim [email protected]

Russia lost her privileged position over straits. Now the Straits were to be closed to all warships while
the Ottoman Empire was at peace.

The Crimean War: 1854-56

The Crimean war was fought by France Britain, Piedmont and Ottomans against Russia.

Causes:

 Russian Claim to protect all Christians in Ottoman empire


 Napoleon III pursuits of Popularity. And support of Catholics
 Russian over-confidence and claiming the protection of all Christian holy places including
Palestine under Orthodoxy.
 Russian annexation of Moldova and Wallachia.
 British Russophobia.

War Events:

The war events divided into three phases:

 The Danuban Province war: Anglo-French Naval went to Baltic and to Gallipoli. However, these
regions were at any case irrelevant to war. moreover, Russia withdrew from Moldovia and
Wallachia after the threat of Austria.
 The Attack on Crimea 1854. For political reasons French and British forces challenged Russia on
Black Sea and attacked Crimea and captured Alma but wasted energy their instead capturing
Sebastopol. However, it was strong fortress of Russia could not fell easily.
 The last phase was of change in Government in Britain, helped ally forces to improve and
reinforcement of Piedmont changed the fate of war and ally forces succeeded the fort and
Russian agreed for unconditional terms at 1956

Treaty of Paris 1856:

Following terms were agreed after Crimean war in Paris Treaty of 1856:

 Reduction of Russian Influence in eastern Mediterranean.


 Ottoman’s independent and integrity was guaranteed.
 Danube River were internationalized.
 Regulation of Maritime warfare.

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