The city taken by Peter I in 1696. Azov campaigns of Peter I briefly

Azov campaigns of Peter 1

Campaigns towards Azov took place in 1695 and 1696. They were undertaken against the Turkish Empire. Even before the reign of Peter 1, his sister Sophia began a campaign against Turkey and Crimea. After Peter's accession to the throne, Russia suspended active military operations. only stopped the attacks of the Crimean Tatars. In 1694, it was decided to capture the Turkish fortress of Azov. This trip was not supposed to be on foot, but along the Volga and Don rivers. In the spring of 1695, a 20,000-strong army, divided into 3 groups, went on a campaign. From the Ukrainian side, they were joined by the Cossacks, led by Mazepa, and the Sheremetyev group. 3 Turkish fortresses were recaptured and from the end of June the Russian army laid siege to the Azov fortress. It was guarded by a 7,000-strong garrison led by Hassan-Araslan. The first assault on the fortress was undertaken on August 5 by Lefort, but it was not crowned with success. On September 25, Russian troops tried to take it again. This was partially successful, but due to inconsistency in the actions of the Russian army, the attempt to finally occupy the fortress had to be abandoned on October 2. Russian archers were left as a garrison in the previously captured towers. In general, it can be considered unsuccessful, since there were no ships in Russia and it was impossible to organize food supplies for the garrisons.

In 1696, the army was preparing for the 2nd campaign. The ships were built in Voronezh by peasants and townspeople from the surrounding area. Lefort was appointed commander of the fleet, Shein was appointed commander of the ground forces. To increase the size of the army and the interest of the soldiers, a decree was issued, according to which slaves who joined received their freedom. The ground force reached 70 thousand people. On May 16, the siege of Azov began again. On May 27, the Russian fleet cut off the besieged fortress from possible help from the sea. Preparations for the assault took 2 months and by July 16 it was completed. On July 17, 1500 Cossacks captured 2 bastions. Realizing that there was nowhere to wait for help, the garrison defended itself much more passively and surrendered after 2 days, and on July 20 the neighboring fortress of Lyutikh admitted defeat. It was decided to establish a more convenient harbor for the fleet, for which the construction of the city of Taganrog began. This campaign revealed Peter 1's military abilities. It became clear how important the interaction of the fleet, artillery and ground forces is for success. To hold Azov, the fleet was strengthened. 50 noble nobles were sent to study abroad so that they could study shipbuilding and shipbuilding. And the tsar himself also went abroad to gain experience, including in the structure of the fleet and to attract the necessary specialists (see).

Prut campaign of Peter 1

After the defeat, Charles XII found refuge in the possessions of the Ottoman Empire - in Moldavia. This threatened the security of Russia, since by organizing an army of Crimean Tatars and Ukrainian Cossacks, Charles XII could attempt revenge. Therefore, Peter 1 insisted on his extradition, threatening Turkey with war if he refused. The Ottoman Sultan himself declared war on Russia, although he did not take active action. In 1711, the Prut campaign of Peter 1 to Moldova took place. Although Field Marshal Sheremetyev was formally in command, Peter 1 joined the army. Initially the troops consisted of approximately 80 thousand people. But during the campaign, many died from disease and lack of food, some deserted, and some, unable to withstand such conditions, committed suicide. As a result, a 38,000-strong Russian army reached the Prut River, where it was met by superior enemy forces. Russian troops fought desperately, which led to the conclusion of a peace treaty. According to it, Russia ceded to Turkey the previously conquered city of Azov and the coast of the Azov Sea. In general, the campaign can be considered unsuccessful, because Russia lost Azov and the southern fleet based in the Sea of Azov.

Muscovite Rus', starting from the 16th century, in a constant struggle with the Crimean and Nogai Tatars, tried to take possession of coastal areas Azov and Black Seas. Numerous wars with Ottoman Empire until the end of the 17th century did not lead to definite results. And only with the ascension to the throne of Peter I was a decisive step taken towards access to southern seas, as well as the creation of the Russian fleet - the capture of the Turkish fortress of Azov. These events, called the Azov Campaigns, became the first significant achievements of the young autocrat.

Personality of Peter I

Peter owes the presence of strong personal qualities, will, and worldview primarily to Mother Nature, who endowed him with a lively, scientifically receptive mind and many talents. Peter was left without a father at the age of 4, and without a brother at the age of 10. Throughout his adolescence and youth he was left to his own devices, his education was neglected, no one was involved in raising the future sovereign. He spent those years when the main qualities are formed in a person, in some way in disgrace, in the village of Preobrazhenskoye, with his mother. Natalya Kirillovna, due to her feminine perception, could not give her son the education that was necessary for his high purpose. However, Peter himself found an example to follow - the Genevan Lefort, who settled in the German settlement near Moscow and immediately gained authority with the young tsar.

Subsequently, together with Peter Lefort, he went on the Azov campaigns, personally captured the Turkish banner, and was soon appointed admiral of the Russian fleet. From this smart, educated military man, the youth king first heard about Europe, famous commanders, navigation, and he himself was inspired by the idea of starting a new type of army and fleet.

Russian-Turkish conflicts

Since the conquest of Crimea by Turkey in 1475, Russian-Turkish relations have remained quite tense for several centuries.

In the second half of the 17th century, Türkiye, in addition to conquering Podolia from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the island of Crete from Venice, tried to take possession of Right Bank Ukraine. This was met with opposition, and as a result of the Chigirin campaigns (1677, 1681), Russian and Ukrainian Cossack troops completely thwarted the capture attempts.

As a result, a truce agreement was signed in Bakhchisarai between Russia, Turkey and the Crimean Khanate (Treaty of Bakhchisarai, 1681). This was of great international importance.

However, the terms of the Bakhchisarai Agreement were annulled when the “Eternal Peace” was signed with Poland, which ended the Russian-Polish war, but obliged the Russian kingdom to resume military campaigns against Crimean Khanate.

In 1687 and 1689, under the command of Queen Sophia’s favorite, Prince V. Golitsyn, two campaigns were undertaken against the Crimea and Turkey, which were never successful. Then it was obvious that Russia did not have sufficient potential for victory.

Preparation for the Azov campaigns

Peter's youthful passion for military affairs led to the creation of an amusing company in the village of Preobrazhenskoye, where his peers enrolled. Over time, their number increased so much that some were transferred to Semenovskoye. It was from them that two regiments were subsequently formed - Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky, where military affairs were studied according to all the rules of European military science. This was the beginning of the Russian Guard.

Having come to autocracy, Peter does not give up his adolescent games; they gradually acquire an increasingly serious strategic character. But the young king is still obsessed with maritime affairs. At his whim, the construction of ships begins in Arkhangelsk.

In 1693, he personally visited Arkhangelsk, the only seaport at that time, and clearly realized that the White Sea alone was not enough for the development of foreign policy and economy. Indeed, Russia still does not have access to ice-free sea space. There is an urgent need for access to Black Sea waters, where the Ottoman Empire reigns. Back in the early 90s, Poland and Austria, allies of Russia, concluded peace agreements with Turkey that did not in any way meet the interests of Russian lands. Peter I himself entered into negotiations with the Crimean Khan and put forward demands for free movement in the southern seas, an end to raids and the payment of tribute. Negotiations between the Tatars were long disputed and dragged on.

Then Peter begins preparations for a new war with Turkey. This necessitates carrying out serious exercises in the village of Kozhukhovo near Moscow in the fall of 1694, which lasted 3 weeks. The main objective of the maneuvers is to cross the Moscow River and capture a fortress built specifically for this purpose. Petrovsky regiments defeat the traditional Streltsy regiments. After this the king accepts firm decision next year go on a campaign and initially strike at the Azov fortress, which is located at the mouth of the Don.

First Azov campaign

Preparations took the winter and spring of 1695, when efforts were made to create the first flotilla. Sea boats and plows, as well as rafts for delivering troops, ammunition, and provisions were built on the Don.

In the spring, 3 groups of troops under the command of Gordon, Lefort, Golovin began to move south along the Volga and Don regions. Part of the army under the command of Sheremetyev went to the lower reaches of the Dnieper, where it was joined by Ukrainian Cossacks. In fact, Peter led all the actions, but at the same time performed the duties of a bombardier. During the 1st Azov campaign, the tsar himself filled the shells and fired.

Two small Turkish fortresses were captured, but main goal- the Azov fortress, surrounded by ramparts and ditches, was still inaccessible. In June, Peter's troops began the siege of Azov. But the besieged received help from the sea. The Russian army was not ready to operate far from supply bases.

The Dutchman Jacob Jansen, a foreigner, an engineer, favored by the Tsar, caused great damage. He knew Peter’s plans and, going over to the enemy’s side, handed the Russians over to the Turks. As a result, the Janissaries attacked with weak side Russian army. However, General Gordon arrived in time to help and repulsed them. This clash further weakened the Russian army.

The assault attempts made on August 5 and September 25 were unsuccessful. In October, Peter I gave the order to lift the siege.

Russian victory

1 The Azov campaign was not successful. But this not only did not plunge Peter into despondency, but on the contrary, it greatly provoked him. Already in the winter of 1695, Peter began preparing for a new campaign. Now all forces were thrown into Voronezh to create a Russian rowing flotilla. Over the course of several months, various ships were built, led by the 36-gun ship Apostle Peter.

Already in May 1696, the 40,000-strong Russian army began the Second Azov Campaign. The Don and Zaporozhye Cossacks actively joined it. Generalissimo Shein commanded the military operations. Now Russian ships from the sea blocked the fortress. Peter I, along with everyone else, with the rank of captain, took part in the siege.

On July 19, the Azov fortress capitulated, and access to the southern seas opened for Russia for the first time. During the 2nd Azov campaign, the Russian army obtained 16 Turkish banners and 130 cannons.

This was the first significant success of the 24-year-old tsar in foreign policy. As a sign of consolidation of success, Peter gives the order to build a fortress and harbor on Cape Taganrog.

Historical significance of the Azov campaigns of Peter I

This is how Tsar Peter the Great began his state and military career. The Azov campaigns brought him not only fame and authority, but also experience. It was then that he realized that for new achievements and gaining the authority of Russia, a strong fleet was needed. Already on October 20, 1696, a meeting of the Boyar Duma made a decision to expand shipbuilding. This day is considered a birthday Russian fleet.

The Azov campaigns, the results of which influenced the development of the fleet and military affairs in Russia, became the starting point for further activities Peter I to strengthen the country's defense capability.

Results of mastering the fortress

The Azov campaigns of Peter 1 are a very important step for Russia on the path to the Black Sea, to the further advance of the power to the south. As a result of these campaigns the following goals were achieved:

the Azov fortress was captured;
the first entry of the Russian fleet into the southern seas;
attack from the sea became possible;
the port of Taganrog began to be built;
Russia's southern borders have become secure;
prerequisites arose for the creation of a professional fleet.

In 1699, a Russian ambassador arrived in Constantinople on the 46-gun Russian ship “Fortress” to negotiate peace. The Sultan was amazed by the greatness of the ship and in July 1700 made peace, leaving the Azov fortress behind Russia.

Consolidating positions

Peter understood well that in order for Azov to remain behind Tsarist Russia, it is not enough just to conquer it. It was necessary to make it a Russian city. To do this, the king resettled 3,000 families there, stationed a cavalry detachment of 400 soldiers and 3,000 infantry in the city to keep order.

Azov was strengthened, mosques were transformed into churches, merchants, townspeople, and artisans moved to the Azov region. As the Russian population grew, customs changed. There is evidence in the historical archive that Peter, having visited Azov some time later, was in a very good mood, hearing Russian speech on every corner.

Azov - starting point

Azov was captured and finally assigned to Russia. Now this milestone no longer seemed so important to Peter. He had far-reaching plans. The Azov campaigns of Peter 1 became the starting point in the most important matter - mastering the Black Sea.

The possession of Azov did not satisfy the tsar; he perceived it only as a point that opened the way for Russia’s further movement to the south.

Already on November 4, 1696, Peter I in the Preobrazhenskoye village assembled a Duma of Russian boyars and close foreigners, where the issue of creating the most short time fleet for a new military campaign and a strategy was developed to suppress stubborn opposition from the Turks and Tatars. A new page was opening in the history of Russia.

The Russian fleet originated on the White Sea. The king was pleased, but not for long. He soon saw that the sea he had chosen was inconvenient for trade. For three quarters of the year it stands under ice, it lies in a remote region in which only timber and flax can be traded. AND Peter I began to carefully look at the map of Russia and study the direction of the rivers. The Volga flows into the Caspian sea, - sea, closed on all sides. Along the Volga you can only trade with the Persians; The Russians have been trading with them for a long time, but they haven’t learned much. The Don flows into the Sea of Azov, and from the Sea of Azov you can go to the Black Sea and further to the Mediterranean. There, according to foreigners, lie richest countries, from where enlightenment comes to all of Europe. But the access to the Sea of Azov is in the power of the Turks, there lies a strong fortress Azov. Crimea is in the power of the Crimean Khan, subordinate to the Turkish Sultan. Peter's sister, Princess Sophia, tried to conquer Crimea twice, but both times Russian army failed. In order to take possession of the Crimea and the Sea of Azov, first of all, it was necessary to take Azov from the Turks. And Tsar Peter began to ask knowledgeable people about Azov. And then he heard that Azov had been in the hands of the brave Don Cossacks more than once, and that now Don Cossacks they know how to deceive the vigilance of Turkish sentries and sail in bold villages on boats along the Black Sea. Peter decided to go to the Don Cossacks, explore the Sea of Azov with them and settle down there firmly, from there start trading with foreign lands. March 16, 1695 Don Ataman Frol Minaev received a secret letter from the king. The Tsar informed him that the Tsar's army would gather in Tambov under the command of the hired German general Gordon and go to the Khoper River, and from Khoper to the Don, to Cherkassk. The Tsar ordered the Don army to secretly prepare for the conquest of Azov. The Tsar reminded Ataman Frol Minaev that his decree should remain a secret and that no one except the Ataman and military elders would know anything about it, and that the army would gather quietly and that the arrival of Russian regiments on the Don in Azov would not be known “before time.” At the same time, the old Moscow troops, a huge cavalry army, under the command of boyar Sheremetyev, went to the Dnieper to fight against the Turks along with the Little Russian Cossacks. New regiments, trained by Peter according to German regulations, went to the Don: Preobrazhensky, Semenovsky, Butyrsky and Lefortov, Moscow archers, city soldiers and royal servants went. A total of 31 thousand people marched. The troops were commanded by governors, already called generals in a foreign language: Golovin, Lefort and Gordon. With the army was the tsar himself, who assumed the title of commander of an artillery company and called himself “bombardier Pyotr Alekseev.” This army first marched on ships along the Volga to Tsaritsyn. From Tsarina we traveled by land to the town of Panshina on the Don. During this journey, the young soldiers of Tsar Peter were very tired. They, tired from the long rowing on ships on the Volga, had to carry heavy cannons on their hands all this way. There were not enough supplies in Panshin. To the young army The Tsar had to starve. From Panshin we went along the Don on Cossack plows. The Tsar of Moscow appeared for the first time on the Don. For the first time he saw the freedom of Zadonye and the steep right bank covered with wooded gullies. Everything occupied the young king. HE talked for a long time with the Cossack rowers, listened to their songs, admired their ability to shoot. During an overnight stay in the Verkhne-Kurmoyarskaya village, the tsar stopped with a Cossack woman Chebachikhi. But he couldn’t sit in the stuffy hut. He went to the bank of the Don and admired the free steppe. Noticing a duck on the other bank, the tsar ordered one of the young Moscow men accompanying him to shoot it. He shot and missed. The king asked: “Is there a Cossack who could do this?” The young Cossack Pyadukh volunteered. He took his arquebus and, without aiming, killed the duck at a glance. “Execute, Cossack,” the sovereign told him. “Although I will kill, I will only kiss!” On June 26, 1695, Tsar Peter arrived in Cherkassk. Here the troops rested for three days. On June 29, the Russian army, reinforced by 7,000 Cossacks of Ataman Frol Minaev, approached Azov. But no matter how secretly the tsar’s army gathered near Azov, the Turks found out about it. On June 6 they received reinforcements and large supplies. Without ships, the tsarist army could not approach Azov. The Turks built towers on both banks of the Don - towers, firmly built and equipped with artillery. Between the towers, piles were driven along the Don and chains were stretched. Without taking the towers, it was impossible to approach Azov. They called out to the Don Cossack hunters and promised 10 rubles to each hunter. The Donets, together with one of the guards regiments, surrounded one of the towers; The artillery demolished its top and part of the wall with its cannonballs. At dawn on June 14, two hundred Cossacks, who volunteered for the attack by hunting, jumped into the watchtower located on the left bank of the river. The next day the Turks made a sortie and attacked infantry division General Gordon, who was in the middle of the Russian position, during a midday rest, captured 7 guns from the Russians, nailed most of the rest and killed and wounded about a thousand sleepy young Russian soldiers. But the next day the Cossacks avenged the Russians and occupied the second tower. Russian troops began to surround the fortress more closely. After a heated affair, Peter built a strong trench, or, as they called it then, a trench on the right bank of the Don and armed it with cannons and mortars. Siege of Azov in 1796. Engraving by A. Schonebeck. By August, our siege ramparts approached the very walls of Azov, and an assault on the fortress was scheduled for August 5th. But the Turks repulsed this assault, and our troops lost one and a half thousand people. There was no need to blow up the fortress walls with gunpowder, as the Cossacks did in 1637. Only by September 25 did Gordon manage to detonate a mine and destroy the city walls for 20 fathoms. Troops burst into the city, but the Russian regiments, not accustomed to fighting in the streets with the Turks, who were advancing with extraordinary ardor, were driven back, and Gordon ordered a retreat. Just at this time, Ataman Frol Minaev with 1000 Donets on kayaks, and behind him the guard regiments mounted on boats: Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky, under the command of Apraksin, approached Azov from the sea, captured the fortifications and also broke into the city; but they were not supported, and they were forced to retreat... Here the Don Cossacks became teachers of maritime affairs for Peter's young amusing regiments. These repulsed assaults and the approaching autumn with winds and bad weather forced Peter to postpone the capture of Azov. On September 28, the siege was lifted, the tsarist army retreated first to Cherkassk, and then went to Valuiki for the winter. Don hundreds dispersed to the villages. 3,000 soldiers were left in the Azov towers taken by the Cossacks. Stories about the young tsar spread throughout the Don. He made a strong impression on the Cossacks. The king was of enormous height, less than two inches tall, broad in the shoulders, with a round open face and big, clear, bold eyes. He wore German clothes and spoke authoritatively and at the same time affably. "An eagle, a real eagle!" - the Cossacks said in delight and were ready to give everything for their sovereign. (From the book "Pictures of the Past" Quiet Don", St. Petersburg, 1909).

Ministry of Education and Science Russian Federation

Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution

higher vocational education

National Mineral Resources University "Mining"

Department of History and Political Science

Abstract on the discipline " Domestic history»

On the topic: “Azov campaigns of Peter I”

Completed by: student gr. APM-12 Tereshkov A.A.

Checked by: Associate Professor L.G. Pozina

Saint Petersburg

Introduction

Politics of Peter I

2. First Azov campaign

Second Azov campaign

The significance of the Azov campaigns

Conclusion

References

Introduction

Relevance of the topic. Peter's Azov campaigns very clearly characterize the personality of Peter I. They revealed the organizational and strategic abilities of the tsar. They can be considered the first significant accomplishment of the young king. Nowadays, the study of Peter I is a developing area in history. Events that characterize his leadership skills cannot be left unnoticed. Also, the Azov campaigns had a significant impact on the course of Russian history. They decided whether Russia would gain access to the Azov and Black Seas. A detailed study of this topic allows us to evaluate one of the major events Russian-Turkish War of 1686-1699.

Historiography of the problem.This problem has been of interest since the 17th century. Historians were able to study it in more detail in the middle of the 19th century. The problem is still being studied.

Review of sources on the topic.The works of N.A. Shefov turned out to be the most complete and easy to understand. "The most famous wars and battles of Russia” and Shishkin “From Ancient Rus' to the Russian Empire”. Other sources, including Internet resources, also gave quite specific and educational information on the chosen topic.

Purpose of the work.Study the course of the Azov campaigns, their influence on the fate of Russia and the policies of Peter I.

1. Policy of Peter 1

Azov campaigns of 1695 and 1696 - Russian military campaigns against the Ottoman Empire; were undertaken by Peter I at the beginning of his reign and ended with the capture of the Turkish fortress of Azov.

The choice of the southern direction as the first goal is due to several main reasons:

the war with the Ottoman Empire seemed an easier task than the conflict with Sweden, which was closing access to Baltic Sea;

the capture of Azov would make it possible to secure southern regions countries from the raids of the Crimean Tatars;

Russia's allies in the anti-Turkish coalition (Rzeczpospolita, Austria and Venice) demanded that Peter the Great begin military action against Turkey.

It was decided to strike not at the Crimean Tatars, as in Golitsyn’s campaigns, but at the Turkish fortress of Azov. The route was also changed: not through the desert steppes, but along the Volga and Don regions.

The size of the Russian army participating in the First Azov Campaign was 32 thousand people. It should be noted that this Russian army consisted mostly of new troops, organized on a foreign model, with foreign commanders, as well as from the former amusing Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments.

The Azov fortress was defended by a 7,000-strong garrison under the command of Bey Hassan-Araslan. With the capture of this strategic Turkish fortress, the land connection between the possessions of the Crimean Khanate in the Northern Black Sea region and the Northern Caucasus was disrupted.

Owning Azov, the tsar strengthened control not only over the Khanate, but also over the Don Cossacks. The relative convenience of communication also played an important role in choosing the object of the hike. Unlike the road to Perekop, the path to Azov ran along rivers (Don, Volga) and through fairly populated areas. This freed the troops from unnecessary convoys and long marches across the sultry steppe.

In the winter and spring of 1695, transport ships were built on the Don: plows, sea boats and rafts to deliver troops, ammunition, artillery and food from the deployment to Azov. This can be considered the beginning, albeit imperfect for solving military problems at sea, but the first Russian fleet.

In the spring of 1695, the army in 3 groups under the command of Golovin, Gordon and Lefort moved south.

The entire detachment, according to the original order, was under the command of a “consultation” of three persons: Golovin, Lefort and Gordon; During the campaign, Peter the Great combined the duties of the first bombardier and the de facto leader of the entire campaign. Rivalry and disagreement between these commanders, weak discipline and grumbling of individual units against foreign commanders, the tsar’s inexperience in military matters, who also did not have any military talent, as well as the lack of horses and food supplies could not promise a favorable outcome for this company.

Gordon was more experienced than others, but Lefort, a layman in military affairs, had more influence on Tsar Peter the Great.

The Azov campaigns (1695-1696) of Peter I were a continuation of Russia's policy in the southern direction. After the fruitless Crimean campaigns (1687, 1689), Peter planned a campaign not directly against the Crimea through the endless waterless steppes, but along the Don, to its mouth - the Turkish fortress of Azov [Founded in the 1st-3rd centuries. AD as a Maeotian settlement, from the 13th century. Golden Horde city Azak. In the 14th century - a Venetian and Genoese colony (Tana). In 1395 it was destroyed by Tamerlane. Since 1475 Turkish fortress. Part of Russia since 1739 (finally since 1774).].

The change in direction of the main attack was explained by a number of reasons. Bad experience Golitsyn's campaigns predetermined the choice of a more modest goal. The object of the attack was now not the center of the Khanate, but its eastern flank, the starting point of the Crimean-Turkish aggression towards the Volga region and Moscow. With the capture of Azov, the land connection between the possessions of the Crimean Khanate in the Northern Black Sea region and the North Caucasus was disrupted. Owning this fortress, the tsar strengthened control not only over the Khanate, but also over the Don Cossacks. In addition, Azov opened Russia's access to the Sea of Azov. The relative convenience of communication also played an important role in choosing the object of the hike. Unlike the road to Perekop, the path to Azov ran along rivers (Don, Volga) and through fairly populated areas. This freed the troops from unnecessary convoys and long marches across the sultry steppe.

2. First Azov campaign

"Azov seat" (1637-1641).The prologue to the Azov campaigns of Peter I was the so-called Azov seat - the defense of the Don and Zaporozhye Cossacks Azov fortress, taken from the Turks in 1637. In 1641, the Cossacks withstood the siege; in the summer of 1642, having destroyed the fortifications, they left Azov. Reflected in a military story created on the Don - “A Poetic Tale” (1642).

The first Azov campaign (1695).The first Azov campaign began in March 1695. The main blow to Azov was dealt by an army commanded by generals Autonomous Golovin, Franz Lefort and Patrick Gordon (31 thousand people). In this army, the tsar himself was in the position of commander of the bombardment company. Another less significant group led by Boris Sheremetev operated in the lower reaches of the Dnieper to divert the troops of the Crimean Khan. Sheremetev captured 4 Turkish fortresses on the Dnieper (Islam-Kermen, Tagan, etc.), destroyed two of them, and left Russian garrisons in the other two.

However, the main events took place on the Don. In July 1695, all Russian troops finally gathered under the walls of Azov and on the 8th began shelling the fortress. At one of the batteries, bombardier Pyotr Alekseev filled grenades himself and fired around the city for 2 weeks. So it began military service Tsar, which he reported with a note: “I started serving as a bombardier from the first Azov campaign.”

Azov was a strong Turkish fortress, surrounded by stone walls, in front of which stood an earthen rampart. Then followed a ditch with a wooden palisade. Upstream of the river there were two stone towers on different banks, between which three iron chains were stretched. They blocked the path along the river.

The fortress was defended by a 7,000-strong Turkish garrison. The siege lasted 3 months, however complete blockade The fortress could not be reached. The Russians' lack of a fleet allowed the besieged to receive support from the sea. The delivery of food to the Russian camp along the river was prevented by towers with chains. They managed to take them by storm. But this was, perhaps, the only success of the first Azov campaign.

Both assaults on Azov (August 5 and September 25) ended in failure. The artillery was unable to break through the fortress wall. Those who stormed did not act in concert, which allowed the Turks to regroup their forces in time to fight back. In October, the siege was lifted and the troops returned to Moscow. The only trophy of the campaign was a captured Turk, who was taken through the streets of the capital and shown to the curious.

After the overthrow of the government of Princess Sophia, military operations against the Turks and Tatars were suspended. Russian troops only repelled the raids of the Tatars. In 1694 it was decided to resume active fighting and strike not at the Crimean Tatars, as in Golitsyn’s campaigns, but at the Turkish fortress of Azov. The route was also changed: not through the desert steppes, but along the Volga and Don regions. In the spring of 1695, the army in 3 groups under the command of Golovin, Gordon and Lefort moved south. During the campaign, Peter combined the duties of the first bombardier and the de facto leader of the entire campaign.

In the spring of 1695, the army in 3 groups under the command of Golovin, Gordon and Lefort moved south. During the campaign, Peter combined the duties of the first bombardier and the de facto leader of the entire campaign. On the Ukrainian side, Sheremetyev’s group and Mazepa’s Cossacks acted.

On the Dnieper, the Russian army recaptured three fortresses from the Turks (July 30 - Kyzy-Kermen, August 1 - Eski-Tavan, August 3 - Aslan-Kermen), and at the end of June the main forces besieged Azov (a fortress at the mouth of the Don). Gordon stood opposite the southern side, Lefort to his left, Golovin, with whose detachment the Tsar was also located, to the right. On July 2, troops under the command of Gordon began siege operations. On July 5, they were joined by the corps of Golovin and Lefort. On July 14 and 16, the Russians managed to occupy the towers - two stone towers on both banks of the Don, above Azov, with iron chains stretched between them, which blocked river boats from entering the sea. This was actually the highest success of the campaign. Two assault attempts were made (August 5 and September 25), but the fortress could not be taken. On October 20, the siege was lifted.

The Azov campaign is the first campaign of the Russian army with the participation of Tsar Peter I (31 thousand people) against the Turkish fortress of Azov in July-October 1695 (Russian-Turkish War, 1686-1700). The fortress was defended by a 7,000-strong garrison under the command of Bey Hassan-Araslan. Taking into account the experience of unsuccessful campaigns of Prince V.V. Golitsyn (see. Crimean campaigns 1687, 1689), Peter decided to deliver the main blow to Azov, which was blocking Russia’s access to the sea. With the capture of this strategic Turkish fortress, the land connection between the possessions of the Crimean Khanate in the Northern Black Sea region and the Northern Caucasus was disrupted. Owning Azov, the tsar strengthened control not only over the Khanate, but also over the Don Cossacks. The relative convenience of communication also played an important role in choosing the object of the hike. Unlike the road to Perekop, the path to Azov ran along rivers (Don, Volga) and through fairly populated areas. This freed the troops from unnecessary convoys and long marches across the sultry steppe.

In July 1695, the Russian army besieged Azov. On July 8, shelling began. At one of the batteries, bombardier Pyotr Alekseev (Peter 1) filled grenades himself and fired around the city for 2 weeks. This is how the tsar’s military service began, about which he wrote: “I began to serve as a bombardier from the first Azov campaign.”

It was not possible to achieve a complete blockade of the fortress. The Russians' lack of a fleet allowed the besieged to receive support from the sea. The delivery of food to the Russian camp along the river was prevented by towers with chains. They managed to take them by storm. But this was the only serious success of the first Azov campaign. Both assaults on the fortress itself (August 5 and September 25) ended in failure. The artillery was unable to break through the fortress wall. The attackers acted uncoordinated, allowing the Turks to regroup their forces in time to fight back.

3. Second Azov campaign

Second Azov campaign (1696).

After the failure of the 1st Azov campaign, the tsar did not lose heart. Peter discovered remarkable strength to overcome obstacles. Returning from the campaign, he began to prepare for a new campaign. It was supposed to use a fleet. The place of its creation was Voronezh (founded in 1585 as a fortress). The king himself worked here with an ax in his hands. By the spring of 1696, 2 ships, 23 galleys, 4 fire ships were built, as well as a significant number of plows (1300), on which Peter set out on a new campaign in the spring of 1696.

In the 2nd Azov campaign, the number of Russian forces, led by governor Alexei Shein, was increased to 75 thousand people. To divert the troops of the Crimean Khan, Sheremetev’s group was again sent to the lower reaches of the Dnieper.

As a result of joint actions of the army and navy, Azov was completely blocked. The attacks of the Crimean troops, who tried to prevent the siege, were repulsed. The onslaught from the sea was also repelled. On June 14, 1696, Cossack plows attacked a Turkish squadron with a 4,000-strong landing force that had entered the mouth of the Don. Having lost two ships, the squadron went to sea. Following her, the Russian squadron entered the sea for the first time. The Turks' attempt to break through to Azov was unsuccessful, and their ships left the combat area.

After the naval victory, the assault Cossack detachments under the command of atamans Yakov Lizogub and Frol Minaev (2 thousand people) launched an attack. They were knocked out of the internal fortifications, but managed to gain a foothold on the rampart, from where direct shelling of the fortress began. After this, Peter ordered all troops to prepare for a general assault. However, it did not come. Deprived of support, the garrison threw out a white flag and surrendered on July 19, 1696. The capture of Azov was the first major victory Russia over the Ottoman Empire.

After the first Azov campaign, the tsar began preparing a new campaign, in which it was planned to use the fleet. For this purpose, construction of a fleet began in Voronezh.

By the spring of 1696, 30 ships had been built. The Russian army was facing the Second Azov Campaign...

All the Dutch and English shipwrights who were there were transferred from Arkhangelsk to Voronezh and the carpenters from neighboring provinces were driven away. Up to 26 thousand people worked all winter. All interests were relegated to the background. The thirst for victory over the Turks overwhelmed the king. His unyielding will strengthened the activities of the masters.

By the spring of 1696 the fleet was ready. Lefort was appointed admiral of the new fleet, and command of the land army was given to boyar Shein.

The second Azov campaign of the Russian army against the Turkish fortress of Azov took place in March - July 1696. It became a logical continuation of the First Azov campaign of Peter I. In this campaign, the number of Russian forces was increased to 75 thousand people.

Throughout the winter of 1696, the Russian army prepared for the second campaign. In January, large-scale construction of ships began at the shipyards of Voronezh and Preobrazhenskoye. The galleys built in Preobrazhenskoye were dismantled and transported to Voronezh, where they were reassembled and launched on the Don. Over 25 thousand peasants and townspeople were mobilized from the immediate surroundings to build the fleet. Craftsmen from Austria were invited to build the ships. 2 large ships, 23 galleys and more than 1,300 plows, barges and small ships were built.

The command of the troops was also reorganized. Lefort was placed at the head of the fleet, ground forces entrusted to boyar Shein.

The highest decree was issued, according to which slaves who joined the army received freedom. The land army doubled in size, reaching 70,000 men. It also included Ukrainian and Don Cossacks and Kalmyk cavalry.

May Russian troops again besieged Azov.

In May, Cossacks in galleys at the mouth of the Don attacked a caravan of Turkish cargo ships. As a result, 2 galleys and 9 small ships were destroyed, and one small ship was captured. On May 27, the fleet entered the Sea of Azov and cut off the fortress from sources of supply by sea. The approaching Turkish military flotilla did not dare to engage in battle.

June and June 24, the attacks of the Turkish garrison, reinforced by 60,000 Tatars camped south of Azov, across the Kagalnik River, were repulsed.

July preparatory siege work was completed. On July 17, 1,500 Don and part of the Ukrainian Cossacks arbitrarily broke into the fortress and settled in two bastions. On July 19, after prolonged artillery shelling, the Azov garrison surrendered. On July 20, the Lyutikh fortress, located at the mouth of the northernmost branch of the Don, also surrendered.

Already by July 23, Peter approved the plan for new fortifications in the fortress, which by this time was heavily damaged as a result of artillery shelling. Azov did not have a convenient harbor for basing navy. For this purpose, on July 27, 1696, a more favorable place was chosen on Tagany Musa, where Taganrog was founded two years later.

Voivode Shein became the first Russian generalissimo for his services in the second Azov campaign.

4. The significance of the Azov campaigns

The Azov campaign demonstrated in practice the importance of artillery and navy for warfare. It is a notable example of successful interaction between the fleet and ground forces during the siege of a seaside fortress, which stands out especially clearly against the background of the similar failures of the British during the assault on Quebec (1691) and Saint-Pierre (1693).

The preparation of the campaigns clearly demonstrated Peter’s organizational and strategic abilities. For the first time, such important qualities as his ability to draw conclusions from failures and gather strength for a second strike appeared.

Despite the success, at the end of the campaign, the incompleteness of the results achieved became obvious: without capturing the Crimea, or at least Kerch, access to the Black Sea was still impossible. To hold Azov it was necessary to strengthen the fleet. It was necessary to continue building the fleet and provide the country with specialists capable of building modern sea vessels.

October 1696, the Boyar Duma proclaims “Sea vessels will be...” This date can be considered the birthday of the Russian regular navy. An extensive shipbuilding program is approved - 52 (later 77) ships; To finance it, new duties are introduced.

November, a decree was announced sending nobles to study abroad.

The war with Turkey is not over yet, and therefore, in order to better understand the balance of power, find allies in the war against Turkey and confirm the already existing alliance - the Holy League, and finally strengthen the position of Russia, the “Grand Embassy” was organized.

The war with Turkey ended with the Treaty of Constantinople (1700).

Treaty of Constantinople 1700- concluded on July 3 (14), 1700 between Russia and Turkey in Constantinople. It was the result of the Azov campaigns of Peter the Great.

Russia received Azov with the adjacent territory and newly built fortresses (Taganrog, Pavlovsk, Mius) and was freed from the annual payment of tribute to the Crimean Khan. The part of the Dnieper region occupied by Russian troops with small Turkish fortresses, which were subject to immediate destruction, was returned to Turkey. The parties pledged not to build new fortifications in the border strip and not to allow armed raids. Türkiye was supposed to release Russian prisoners, and also grant Russia the right to diplomatic representation in Constantinople on an equal basis with other powers. The treaty ensured Turkey's neutrality and allowed Peter I to enter the Northern War.

The agreement concluded for 30 years was observed until November 1710, when the Sultan declared war on Russia.

In Azov, the Russians took 96 copper cannons, 4 mortars and large number military shells.

Peter the Great made a reconnaissance seashore and laid the foundation of the port and fortress of Trinity on Taganrog. After this, leaving a strong garrison in Azov led by Prince Lvov, he triumphantly returned to Moscow. The whole burden of defending this fortress again fell on the Cossacks. All the following years were spent in hot battles between the Donets and the Turks and Tatars, both at sea and on land.

The capture of Azov was Russia's first major victory in the wars with the Ottoman Empire in the 17th century. This serious strategic success of the Russians was secured in 1700 by the Treaty of Constantinople. Azov ceased to serve as the northeastern stronghold of Turkey's imperial aspirations, and access to the sea in southern Russia became open.

The significance of the Azov campaigns in the history of Russia is not limited only to the sphere of military success. Their consequences became more important. These campaigns gave rise to the most important undertakings of Peter I, which largely determined the further nature of his reign.

Azov's experience convinced the Tsar of the need to reorganize the Russian armed forces. The Azov campaigns marked the beginning of the creation of Peter the Great's fleet.

In honor of the capture of this fortress, a medal with the image of Peter the Great was stamped. The inscription on it read “By lightning and water, the winner.”

The capture of Azov made a great impression on his contemporaries. The authority of the Russian state abroad increased even more. Almost no one imagined that Peter, after the failure of the 1695 campaign, would be able to take control of Azov so quickly. Many misunderstood Peter's plans. Others were inclined to believe that by capturing Azov the task set by Peter was resolved. However, with all his actions, Peter showed that the capture of Azov marks only the first step in his further actions in the south. The very next day after the surrender of Azov, engineer de Laval received Peter’s order to urgently develop a plan for creating new reliable fortifications in Azov, according to all the rules of military art. This plan was ready in three days. According to the plan, it was planned to build 5 stone bastions with ravelins in the west, with a crownwork in the east, and a retrenchment in the steppe on the Kuban side. A separate fort should be built on the right bank of the Don opposite Azov. Having approved the plan, Peter ordered the immediate dispatch of soldiers to work on the construction of fortifications.

Firstly, they expanded Peter's foreign policy plans. Access to the Sea of Azov did not solve the problem of Russia’s access to the Black Sea, since the path there was reliably covered by Turkish fortresses in the Kerch Strait. To solve this problem, Peter organizes the Great Embassy in European countries. With their help, the Tsar hoped to oust the Turks from Europe and achieve Russia's access to the Black Sea shores.

Secondly, the experience of the Azov campaigns convincingly confirmed the need for further reorganization of the Russian armed forces. The Azov campaigns marked the beginning of the creation of the Russian fleet. In 1699, the recruitment of a new regular army began. Its distinctive feature was the lifelong service of conscripts (in foreign regiments, soldiers, as a rule, went home after a military campaign). The mission of the Grand Embassy did not live up to Peter's hopes. In Europe in those years, the confrontation between France and Austria intensified, and no one sought a serious fight with Turkey. In 1699, at the Congress of Karlowitz, representatives of the countries " Holy League", with the exception of Russia, signed peace with the Ottoman Empire. A year later, Russia also concluded peace with Turkey. According to the Treaty of Constantinople (1700), the Russians received Azov and the surrounding lands and stopped the tradition of sending gifts to the Crimean Khan. The collapse of the Black Sea hopes leads to a reorientation of Peter's foreign policy plans to the Baltic shores. Soon it began there. Northern War, which became a turning point in the history of Russia.

azov campaign peter fleet

Conclusion

During the study, all the tasks were solved, and the goal was achieved. Having received a sufficient amount of information on the Russian-Turkish wars, it is possible to make a final and reasonable conclusion.

Before Peter the Great, the last attempts were two Russian campaigns in Crimea. One is worse than the other. Failure was not scary; Peter the Great was still impatient to measure his strength with the Turkish Sultan. The huge Ottoman Empire, in addition to Turkey itself, was formed North Africa, Middle East and Balkans.

The hand of the Turkish Sultan was recognized by the Crimea, the Black Sea steppes, North Caucasus. It was a “wild field”. These peoples, even by Russian standards, did not have proper statehood. Russia did not have a strict southern border. The nomads reached Tula in their raids. They robbed, burned and drove thousands of Russians to the slave markets of Istanbul.

Peter the Great's first campaign to the Turkish fortress of Azov at the mouth of the Don was unsuccessful. Azov was stormed, burned in places, and a hole was broken in the wall. But due to the lack of a fleet, the fortress could not be surrounded. And they didn’t take it from that. Here, for the first time, Peter’s fortitude showed itself to the point of arrogance, giving himself and others a year to correct any failure. And then get back to the old ways. In Voronezh, the first domestic shipbuilding center, a fleet is being built with great haste. So far only galleys, river-sea class vessels.

Second Azov campaign. From Voronezh they descend along the Don, surround the fortress and a month later the Turks surrender. Alekseevsky Gate in the fortress wall of Azov in honor of the son of Peter Tsarevich Alexei. Two churches are being founded in Azov. This is how Peter first had an outpost in the south. The Turks in Azov blocked traffic down the Don. Later, at the height of the war with the Swedes, after another unsuccessful southern campaign, Peter the Great did not want to return these lands to the Turks. The Russians pledged to destroy the fortress and tear down all the fortifications, but they did not do this either, realizing that further clashes were inevitable. There will be many more throws to the south and the last one won’t be coming soon. Only in the 18th century will there be three Russian-Turkish war. But for now, Peter the Great is truly “knee-deep in the sea.” He felt like a naval commander. But Azov will still have to be given back to the Turks in order to be taken again. And the first Peter's fleet rotted in Azov as unnecessary, never moving anywhere from here.

Like any first victory, Azov, of course, is a great victory, but the way to Sea of Azov That's not even half the story. The sea is small with huge coastal shallows. The Sea of Azov is purely internal, locked by the Kerch Strait, and in Kerch Crimean Tatars- the main allies of the Turks. And beyond Kerch there is another purely inland sea - the Black Sea. And it is locked by the Bosphorus Strait. And on the Bosphorus, the main Turkish shrine is Istanbul. Even if Peter the Great had not rushed north from here and would have kept the south as the main direction, it is still difficult to imagine that a new strategic direction for Russia would have taken shape here. And the capital of the Empire would not be St. Petersburg, but Taganrog or Azov.

References

1. Brickner A. “The History of Peter the Great”

2.S.P. Shishkin "From Ancient Rus' to the Russian Empire", Ufa

Nikolai Shefov Battles of Russia. - Moscow: "Military Historical Library", 2002

Waliszewski K. “Peter the Great”

Tarle E.V. Russian fleet and foreign policy Peter I. - St. Petersburg, 1994

Web resource http://ru.wikipedia.org (29.10.12)

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In 1395 it was destroyed by Tamerlane. Since 1475 Turkish fortress. Part of Russia since 1739 (finally since 1774).]. The change in direction of the main attack was explained by a number of reasons. The unsuccessful experience of Golitsyn’s campaigns predetermined the choice of a more modest goal. The object of the attack was now not the center of the Khanate, but its eastern flank, the starting point of the Crimean-Turkish aggression towards the Volga region and Moscow. With the capture of Azov, the land connection between the possessions of the Crimean Khanate in the Northern Black Sea region and the North Caucasus was disrupted. Owning this fortress, the tsar strengthened control not only over the Khanate, but also over the Don Cossacks. In addition, Azov opened Russia's access to the Sea of Azov. The relative convenience of communication also played an important role in choosing the object of the hike. Unlike the road to Perekop, the path to Azov ran along rivers (Don, Volga) and through fairly populated areas. This freed the troops from unnecessary convoys and long marches across the sultry steppe.

"Azov seat" (1637-1641). The prologue to the Azov campaigns of Peter I was the so-called Azov seat - the defense of the Azov fortress by the Don and Zaporozhye Cossacks, taken from the Turks in 1637. In 1641, the Cossacks withstood the siege; in the summer of 1642, having destroyed the fortifications, they left Azov. Reflected in a military story created on the Don - “A Poetic Tale” (1642).

First Azov campaign (1695). The first Azov campaign began in March 1695. The main blow to Azov was dealt by an army commanded by generals Autonomous Golovin, Franz Lefort and Patrick Gordon (31 thousand people). In this army, the tsar himself was in the position of commander of the bombardment company. Another less significant group led by Boris Sheremetev operated in the lower reaches of the Dnieper to divert the troops of the Crimean Khan. Sheremetev captured 4 Turkish fortresses on the Dnieper (Islam-Kermen, Tagan, etc.), destroyed two of them, and left Russian garrisons in the other two. However, the main events took place on the Don. In July 1695, all Russian troops finally gathered under the walls of Azov and on the 8th began shelling the fortress. At one of the batteries, bombardier Pyotr Alekseev filled grenades himself and fired around the city for 2 weeks. This is how the tsar’s military service began, which he reported with the note: “I began to serve as a bombardier from the first Azov campaign.” Azov was a strong Turkish fortress, surrounded by stone walls, in front of which stood an earthen rampart. Then followed a ditch with a wooden palisade. Upstream of the river there were two stone towers on different banks, between which three iron chains were stretched. They blocked the path along the river. The fortress was defended by a 7,000-strong Turkish garrison. The siege lasted 3 months, but a complete blockade of the fortress was not achieved. The Russians' lack of a fleet allowed the besieged to receive support from the sea. The delivery of food to the Russian camp along the river was prevented by towers with chains. They managed to take them by storm. But this was, perhaps, the only success of the first Azov campaign. Both assaults on Azov (August 5 and September 25) ended in failure. The artillery was unable to break through the fortress wall. Those who stormed acted uncoordinatedly, which allowed the Turks to regroup their forces in time to fight back. In October, the siege was lifted and the troops returned to Moscow. The only trophy of the campaign was a captured Turk, who was taken through the streets of the capital and shown to the curious.

Second Azov campaign (1696). After the failure of the 1st Azov campaign, the tsar did not lose heart. Peter discovered remarkable strength to overcome obstacles. Returning from the campaign, he began to prepare for a new campaign. It was supposed to use a fleet. The place of its creation was Voronezh (founded in 1585 as a fortress). The king himself worked here with an ax in his hands. By the spring of 1696, 2 ships, 23 galleys, 4 fire ships were built, as well as a significant number of plows (1300), on which Peter set out on a new campaign in the spring of 1696. In the 2nd Azov campaign, the number of Russian forces, led by governor Alexei Shein, was increased to 75 thousand people. To divert the troops of the Crimean Khan, Sheremetev’s group was again sent to the lower reaches of the Dnieper. As a result of joint actions of the army and navy, Azov was completely blocked. The attacks of the Crimean troops, who tried to prevent the siege, were repulsed. The onslaught from the sea was also repelled. On June 14, 1696, Cossack plows attacked a Turkish squadron with a 4,000-strong landing force that had entered the mouth of the Don. Having lost two ships, the squadron went to sea. Following her, the Russian squadron entered the sea for the first time. The Turks' attempt to break through to Azov was unsuccessful, and their ships left the combat area. After the naval victory, the assault Cossack detachments under the command of atamans Yakov Lizogub and Frol Minaev (2 thousand people) launched an attack. They were knocked out of the internal fortifications, but managed to gain a foothold on the rampart, from where direct shelling of the fortress began. After this, Peter ordered all troops to prepare for a general assault. However, it did not come. Deprived of support, the garrison threw up a white flag and surrendered on July 19, 1696. The capture of Azov was Russia's first major victory over the Ottoman Empire.

In honor of this victory, a medal with the image of Peter was knocked out. The inscription on it read: “The winner is by lightning and water.” For successful actions in the 2nd Azov campaign, governor Alexei Shein was the first in Russia to receive the rank of generalissimo. The consequences of the Azov campaigns for the history of Russia were enormous. Firstly, they expanded Peter's foreign policy plans. Access to the Sea of Azov did not solve the problem of Russia’s access to the Black Sea, since the path there was reliably covered by Turkish fortresses in the Kerch Strait. To solve this problem, Peter organizes a Grand Embassy to European countries. With their help, the Tsar hoped to oust the Turks from Europe and achieve Russia's access to the Black Sea shores. Secondly, the experience of the Azov campaigns convincingly confirmed the need for further reorganization of the Russian armed forces. The Azov campaigns marked the beginning of the creation of the Russian fleet. In 1699, the recruitment of a new regular army began. Its distinctive feature was the lifelong service of conscripts (in foreign regiments, soldiers, as a rule, went home after a military campaign). The mission of the Grand Embassy did not live up to Peter's hopes. In Europe in those years, the confrontation between France and Austria intensified, and no one sought a serious fight with Turkey. In 1699, at the Congress of Karlowitz, representatives of the Holy League countries, with the exception of Russia, signed peace with the Ottoman Empire. A year later, Russia also made peace with Turkey. According to the Treaty of Constantinople (1700), the Russians received Azov and the surrounding lands and stopped the tradition of sending gifts to the Crimean Khan. The collapse of the Black Sea hopes leads to a reorientation of Peter's foreign policy plans towards the Baltic shores. Soon the Northern War began there, which became a turning point in the history of Russia.

"From Ancient Rus' to the Russian Empire." Shishkin Sergey Petrovich, Ufa.