The Clash of Empires: The Political and Military Dimensions of Relations Between the Ottoman and Russian Empires During the Great Eastern Crisis (1875–1878)

Abstract

This paper examines the political and military dimensions of relations between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire during the Great Eastern Crisis (1875– 1878), a period that profoundly reshaped the Balkan region in the final quarter of the nineteenth century. The crisis began with uprisings in Herzegovina and Bosnia and escalated through the Serbian–Ottoman Wars and the Russo–Turkish War, culminating in the Treaty of San Stefano and the decisions of the Congress of Berlin. These events marked a decisive turning point in the decline of Ottoman authority in the Balkans and the reconfiguration of regional power relations. Th e study focuses on the interaction between imperial interests, ideology, and geopolitics in shaping Russian and Ottoman policies during the crisis. Russia sought to expand its influence in Southeastern Europe by combining diplomatic initiatives with military intervention, while simultaneously relying on the ideological framework of Pan- Slavism, which served as a powerful instrument for mobilizing support among Slavic populations in the Balkans. Th rough this ideological construct, Russia positioned itself as the protector of Orthodox and Slavic peoples, thereby legitimizing its involvement in regional conflicts. In contrast, the Ottoman Empire, weakened by internal political instability, economic difficulties, and administrative challenges, aimed to preserve its territorial integrity and maintain international support. Its responses to the uprisings and wars reflected both the limitations of imperial power and attempts to adapt to mounting external pressures from the Great Powers. Drawing on a comparative analysis of primary sources and relevant domestic and foreign scholarship, this paper highlights the complexity of Ottoman–Russian relations during the Great Eastern Crisis. It demonstrates how military confrontation, diplomatic negotiations, and ideological strategies were deeply intertwined, shaping not only the outcomes of individual conflicts but also broader geopolitical transformations. Th e research contributes to a deeper understanding of imperial rivalry in the late nineteenth century and the role of great-power politics in the transformation and gradual decline of the Ottoman Empire.