Persian campaign 1722-1723 was committed in the southeastern parts of Transcaucasia and in Dagestan. His goal was to restore the trade route from India and Central Asia to Europe.
Background
Peter the Great paid great attention to the economy and trade. In 1716, he sent a detachment of Bekovich-Cherkassky to Bukhara and Khiva across the Caspian. During the expedition, it was necessary to explore the routes to India, to explore the gold deposits in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya. In addition, the task was to persuade the Emir of Bukhara to friendship, and the Khan of Khiva to Russian citizenship. But the first expedition was a complete failure. The Khan of Khiva persuaded Bekovich-Cherkassky to disperse the detachment, and then attacked individual groups, destroying them. The Persian campaign of Peter 1 was also conditioned by a message transmitted through the representatives of Israel Ori from the Syunik meliks. In it, they asked the Russian Tsar for help. Peter promised to provide support after the end of the battles with Sweden.
Situation on the coast
The history of Persia at the beginning of the 18th century was marked by increased activity in the Eastern Caucasus. As a result, all the coastal territories of Dagestan were subordinated. Persian ships controlled the Caspiansea. However, this did not put an end to the civil strife of the local rulers. Violent clashes took place on the territory of Dagestan. Turkey was gradually drawn into them. All these events disturbed Russia. The state conducted trade through Dagestan with the East. Due to the activity of Persia, all paths were actually cut. Russian merchants suffered huge losses. The whole situation had a negative impact on the state of the treasury.
Immediate occasion
Victoryly ending the Northern War recently, Russia began to prepare to send troops to the Caucasus. The direct reason was the robbery and beating of Russian merchants in Shamakhi. The attack was organized by the Lezgi owner Daud-bek. On August 7, 1721, armed mobs ravaged Russian shops in the Gostiny Dvor, beat and dispersed the clerks. Lezgins and Kumyks looted goods worth about half a million rubles.
Preparation
The Russian emperor learned that Shah Tahmasp II was defeated by the Afghans near his capital. Trouble began in the state. There was a threat that the Turks, taking advantage of the situation, would attack first and appear before the Russians in the Caspian. Postponing the Persian campaign became very risky. Preparations began in the winter. In the Volga cities of Yaroslavl, Uglich, Nizhny Novgorod, Tver, the hasty construction of ships began. In 1714-1715. Bekovich-Cherkassky compiled a map of the eastern and northern coasts of the Caspian. In 1718, the description was also made by Urusov and Kozhin, and in 1719-1720. - Verdun and Soymonov. This is how the general map of the Caspian was drawn up.
Plans
The Persian campaign of Peter 1 was supposed to start from Astrakhan. He planned to go along the Caspian coast. Here he intended to capture the city of Derbent and Baku. After that, it was planned to go to the river. Chickens to build a fortress there. Then the road went to Tiflis to assist the Georgians in the battles against the Ottoman Empire. From there, the military flotilla was supposed to arrive in Russia. In the event of the outbreak of hostilities, contact was established with both Vakhtang VI (King of Kartli) and Astvatsatur I (Armenian Catholicos). Astrakhan and Kazan became the centers of preparation and organization of the campaign. Out of 80 field companies, 20 battalions were created. Their total number was 22 thousand people. with 196 artillery pieces. On the way to Astrakhan, Peter agreed on support with the Kalmyk Khan Ayuki. As a result, the Kalmyk cavalry, numbering 7 thousand people, joined the detachments. On June 15, 1722, the emperor arrived in Astrakhan. Here he decided to send 22 thousand infantrymen by sea, and seven dragoon regiments (9 thousand people) - by land from Tsaritsyn. The latter were commanded by Major General Kropotov. Don and Ukrainian Cossacks were also sent by land. In addition, 3,000 Tatars were hired. Transport ships were built in the Kazan Admir alty (about 200 in total) for 6,000 sailors.
Manifesto to the peoples of the Caucasus and Persia
It was published on July 15 (26). The author of the message was Dmitry Kantemir, who was in charge of the field office. This prince spoke oriental languages, which allowed him to play an important role in the campaign. Kantemir made typesetting Arabicfont, created a special typography. The manifesto was translated into Persian, Tatar and Turkish.
First stage
The Persian campaign began from Moscow. Variable rowers were trained along the way to speed up the course along the rivers. By the end of May, Peter arrived in Nizhny Novgorod, June 2 - in Kazan, 9 - in Simbirsk, 10 - in Samara, 13 - in Saratov, 15 - 1 Tsaritsyn, 19 - in Astrakhan. On June 2, ships with ammunition and soldiers left Nizhny Novgorod. They also went to Astrakhan. The ships went in five rows one after another. On July 18, all ships put to sea. Count Fyodor Matveyevich Apraksin was put in charge. On July 20, the ships entered the Caspian Sea. During the week, Fedor Matveyevich Apraksin led ships along the western coast. By the beginning of August, Kabardian detachments joined the army. They were commanded by princes Aslan-Bek and Murza Cherkassky.
Andyrey
July 27, 1722 there was a landing in the Agrakhan Bay. The Russian tsar first stepped on the land of Dagestan. On the same day, Peter sent a detachment led by Veterani to capture Endirey. However, on the way to the settlement in the gorge, he was attacked by the Kumyks. The highlanders took refuge in the rocks and behind the forest. They managed to disable 2 officers and 80 soldiers. However, the detachment quickly regrouped and went on the offensive. The enemy was defeated, and Erdirey was burned. The rest of the North Kumyk rulers expressed their full readiness to serve the Russians. On August 13, the troops entered Tarki. Here Peter was greeted with honor. Shamkhal Aldy-Girey gave the Russian Tsar an argamak, the troops received wine, food and fodder. After a while, the troops enteredUtamysh possession, which was located near Derbent. Here they were attacked by the 10,000th detachment of the Sultan-Mahmud. However, as a result of a short battle, the Russians managed to put the army to flight. The village was burned down.
G. Derbent
The Russian Tsar was very loyal to those who agreed to submit, and very cruel to those who resisted. The news of this soon spread throughout the region. In this regard, Derbent offered no resistance. On August 23, the ruler with several eminent citizens met the Russians a mile away from the city. Everyone fell on their knees, bringing Peter the silver keys to the gate. The Russian tsar received the ruler kindly and promised not to send troops into the city. However, not all residents, but mostly Shiites, provided a warm welcome. They occupied a privileged position, as they were the backbone of the Safavid domination. By August 30, the Russians approached the river. Rubas and laid a fortress in the immediate vicinity of the territory inhabited by the Tabasarans. Many villages were under the rule of Peter. For several days, all the surroundings that ran between the Belbele and Yalama rivers also came under the control of the Russians.
Reaction of local authorities
Feudal lords in Dagestan had different attitudes towards the emergence of Russians. Haji Dawood began to actively prepare for defense. His allies Ahmed III and Surkhay tried to sit out in their own possessions, taking a wait-and-see attitude. Hadji-Davud was well aware that he would not be able to resist the attackers alone. In this regard, heHoping that Akhmed III and Surkhay would help, he tried at the same time to improve relations with the main rivals of the Russian Tsar - the Turks.
Completion of the first stage
The Persian campaign involved the annexation of not only the territories of Dagestan, but almost the entire Transcaucasus. The Russian army began to prepare to move south. In fact, the first part of the campaign was over. Storms at sea prevented the continuation of the journey, which made it difficult to transport food. The Russian tsar left a garrison under the command of Colonel Juncker in Derbent, and he himself went to Russia on foot. On the way to the river Sulak he laid the fortress. Holy Cross for the defense of the border. From here, Peter and his army went by water to Astrakhan. After his departure, the command of the detachments in the Caucasus was transferred to Major General Matyushkin.
Rasht
By the fall of 1722, the threat of Afghan occupation hung over the province of Gilan. The latter made a secret agreement with the Turks. The governor of the province turned to the Russians for help. Matyushkin decided to preempt the enemy. Quite quickly, 14 ships were prepared, which took on 2 battalions with artillery. On November 4, the ships left Astrakhan and a month later appeared at Anzeli. The city of Rasht was taken by a small landing force without a fight. The following year, in the spring, reinforcements in the amount of 2 thousand people were sent to Gilan. infantrymen with 24 guns. They were commanded by Major General Levashov. Having united, the Russian detachments occupied the entire province. Thus, control was established over the southern part of the Caspian coast.
Baku
More fromDerbent, the Russian Tsar sent Lieutenant Lunin to this city with an invitation to surrender. However, the people of Baku were under the influence of Daud-bek's agents. They did not let Lunin into the city and refused the help of the Russians. June 20, 1773 Matyushkin headed for Baku from Astrakhan. On July 28, the troops entered the city. The authorities, welcoming them, gave Matyushkin the keys to the gate. Having occupied the city, the detachments settled in 2 caravanserais and established control over all important strategic points. Having received the news that Sultan Mohammed-Hussein-bek was in touch with Hadji-Davud, Matyushkin ordered him to be taken into custody. After that, he and three brothers with property were sent to Astrakhan. Dergakh-Kuli-bek was appointed the ruler of Baku. He was elevated to the rank of colonel. Prince Baryatinsky was appointed as commandant. The campaign of 1723 made it possible to capture almost the entire coast of the Caspian Sea. This, in turn, caused serious damage to the positions of Haji Dawood. Having lost the Caspian provinces, he actually lost the opportunity to recreate an independent and strong state on the territory of Lezgistan and Shirvan. Hadji-Davud at that time was under the allegiance of the Turks. They did not give him any support as they were busy solving their own problems.
Results
The Persian campaign was very successful for the Russian government. In fact, control was established over the coast of the Eastern Caucasus. The successes of the Russian army and the invasion of the Ottoman troops forced Persia to sign a peace treaty. He was imprisoned in Petersburg. In accordance with the agreement of September 12 (23), 1723, Russia retreatedvast territories. Among them were the provinces of Shirvan, Astrabad, Mazandaran, Gilan. Passed to the Russian Tsar and Rasht, Derbent, Baku. However, the advance to the central parts of Transcaucasia had to be abandoned. This was due to the fact that in the summer of 1723 Ottoman troops entered these territories. They devastated Georgia, the western lands of modern Azerbaijan and Armenia. In 1724, the Treaty of Constantinople was signed with the Porte. In accordance with it, the sultan recognized the acquisitions of the Russian Empire in the Caspian region, and Russia, in turn, recognized his rights in the territory of Western Transcaucasia. Later, relations with the Turks deteriorated greatly. To prevent a new war, the Russian government, interested in an alliance with Persia, returned to it all the Caspian territories under the Ganja Treaty and the Resht Treaty.
Conclusion
Peter undertook his campaign in time. Its success was ensured by a sufficient number of people, ships and guns. In addition, the Russian Tsar was able to enlist the support of his neighbors. They readily responded to his requests. So, for example, Russian detachments were replenished with Kabardian wars, hired Tatars. Preparing for the trip was well organized. It didn't take long at all. Transport ships were of particular importance in the campaign. They ensured an uninterrupted supply of provisions. The strategic maneuvers of the Russians were also of no small importance. Given that the area was unfamiliar, they were able to establish control over almost the entire territory. Big problems could deliver RussianTurks. They exerted strong pressure on Haji Dawood. He, in turn, influenced the people of Baku and other rulers. Nevertheless, even this could not prevent the implementation of Peter's plans. If not for the autumn storms in the Caspian Sea, it is quite possible that he would have moved even further. However, the decision was made to return. Nevertheless, Russian troops remained in the controlled territories. Several fortresses were established. In the villages and cities, Russian officers were present in the administration. By the time Peter sailed to Russia, not a single uncontrolled settlement remained on the territory of the Eastern Caucasus. The situation for some mountaineers was complicated by the inaction of the allies. Some of them, perhaps, would have resisted, but given the inequality of forces, they preferred to surrender. Most of the battles took place without bloodshed or with minor losses on the part of the Russians. This was largely due to the fact that the local rulers knew the behavior of Peter with the submissive. If he said that he would not send troops into cities that surrendered on their own, then he kept his promise. However, the Russians acted rather harshly with those who resisted. The key moment was the capture of Baku. With the occupation of the city, the Russians established control over almost the entire coast. It was the most effective and largest capture. Against the backdrop of the recent victory in the Northern War, the success of the Persian campaign ex alted the Russian Tsar even more. It should also be taken into account that inside the country the emperor carried out active reforms that implied the Europeanization of the state. All this in combination has made Russia a truly powerful state,whose participation in foreign policy relations became mandatory.
Peter's campaign in Eastern Transcaucasia ensured unhindered trade for Russian merchants. The paths were open again for them, they no longer suffered losses. The royal treasury also replenished. The officers who remained in the garrisons and fortresses continued to serve there until the signing of new agreements in 1732 and 1735. Peter needed these treaties to relieve tension on the borders and prevent clashes with the Turks.
