The Ottoman Crimean War (1853-1856)

Erscheinungsjahr 2010
ISBN: 978-90-04-18205-9
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 44, 432 Seiten, Format (B × H): 172 mm x 254 mm, Gewicht: 869 g

Reihe: The Ottoman Empire and its Heritage

The Crimean War was a defining event in both European and Ottoman history, but it has principally been studied from the Europeans’ point of view. This study analyzes the role of the Ottoman Empire in the Crimean War and the War’s impact on the Ottoman state and Ottoman society. Based on hitherto unused Ottoman and Russian sources, it offers new insights into the Crimean War’s financial, social and political implications for the Empire, emphasizing the importance of the Ottomans as both actors and victims. In addition to analyzing Ottoman and European public opinion and the diplomatic, economic and political origins of the War, The Ottoman Crimean War (1853-1856) also contains a critical review of the voluminous existing literature on the subject.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Badem, Candan

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein Politische Geschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Militärgeschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Mentalitäts- und Sozialgeschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Europäische Geschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Geschichte einzelner Länder Naher & Mittlerer Osten

Inhaltsverzeichnis

CONTENTS

List of Illustrations and Maps. vii
List of Abbreviations. ix
List of Geographical Names. xi
A Note on Transliteration and Dates. xiii
Acknowledgements. xv

I. Introduction and Review of the Sources. 1
Introduction. 1
Ottoman and Turkish Sources. 5
Turkish Official Military History. 19
Dissertations and Theses in Turkish. 22
Sources in Russian. 25
Sources in Other Languages. 34

II. The Origins of the War. 46
Overview of the Ottoman Empire on the Eve of the War 46
Relations with Britain. 58
Russia between Expansionism and Legitimism. 60
Dispute over the Holy Places. 64
Positions of France, Austria and Other States. 65
The “Sick Man of Europe”. 68
The Mission of Prince Menshikov. 71
The Vienna Note and the “Turkish Ultimatum”. 82
European and Ottoman Public Opinion before the War. 87

III. Battles and Diplomacy during the War. 99
The Declaration of War. 99
The Danubian Front in 1853. 101
The Battle of Sinop and European Public Opinion. 109
The Caucasian Front in 1853. 143
Relations with Imam Shamil and the Circassians in 1853. 149
The Battle of Sekvetil. 154
The Battles of Ahisha, Bayindir and Basgedikler. 156
The Danubian Front in 1854 and the Declaration of War by France and Britain. 177
The Caucasian Front in 1854–1855. 190
Relations with Shamil and the Circassians in 1854–1855. 195
The Campaign of Summer 1854 and the Battle of Kürekdere. 212
The Siege and Fall of Kars and Ömer Pasha’s Caucasian Campaign in 1855. 238
Battles in the Crimea and the Siege of Sevastopol. 268
The End of the War and the Treaty of Paris. 285

IV. Financing the War. 289
Ottoman Financial Crisis before the War. 289
The Abortive Loan of 1852. 294
Ottoman War Expenses. 295
Conspicuous Consumption by Palace Women. 300
The Mission of Namik Pasha. 301
The Mission of Black and Durand and the First Foreign Loan of 1854. 316
The Iane-i Harbiye. 319
The Guaranteed Loan of 1855. 322
The Loan Control Commission of 1855. 324

V. The Impact of the War on Ottoman Social and Political Life. 329
Contacts with the Europeans. 329
The Islahat Fermani and the Question of the Equality of Muslims and Non-Muslims. 335
The Prohibition of the Black Sea White Slave Trade. 348
Law and Order in the Provinces. 359
The Revolt of Yezdansêr. 360
British Interference and the Suppression of the Rebellion. 370
Desertions and the Basibozuk Troops as a Source of Disorder. 377
Public Opinion and Patriotism. 394
Corruption and its Treatment. 398
Conclusion. 403
Bibliography. 413
Index. 427

Über Autor(innen)

Candan Badem, Ph.D. (2007) in Ottoman History, Sabanci University, is an assistant professor at the History department of Tunceli University, Turkey. He has written many articles and presented papers at various international symposia and conferences on the Crimean War.