Iran and European countries in the XVIII. Russo-Persian Wars Iranian War 1804 1813

Russian - Persian war of 1804-1813

The activity of Russia's policy in the Transcaucasus was mainly associated with Georgia's persistent requests for protection from the Turkish-Iranian onslaught. During the reign of Catherine II, the Treaty of Georgievsk (1783) was concluded between Russia and Georgia, according to which Russia pledged to defend Georgia. This led to a clash first with Turkey and then with Persia (until 1935, the official name of Iran), for which Transcaucasia had long been a sphere of influence. The first clash between Russia and Persia over Georgia occurred in 1796, when Russian troops repelled an invasion of Georgian lands by Iranian troops. In 1801, Georgia, by the will of its king George XII, joined Russia.

GeorgiyXII

This forced St. Petersburg to become involved in the complex affairs of the troubled Transcaucasian region. In 1803, Mingrelia joined Russia, and in 1804, Imereti and Guria. This caused discontent in Iran, and when in 1804 Russian troops occupied the Ganja Khanate (for the raids of Ganja troops on Georgia),

After the annexation of Georgia to Russia and the granting of governance to it, which existed in other regions of the Empire, the pacification of the Caucasus became a necessary, although extremely difficult, task for Russia, and the main attention was paid to the establishment in Transcaucasia. By annexing Georgia, Russia became openly hostile towards Turkey, Persia and the mountain peoples. The petty ruling Transcaucasian princes, who managed to become independent, taking advantage of the weakness of the Georgian kingdom, under whose protectorate they were, looked with extreme hostility at the strengthening of Russian influence in the Caucasus and entered into secret and open relations with the enemies of Russia. In such a difficult situation, Alexander I chose the prince. Tsitsianov.

Pavel Dmitrievich Tsitsianov

Realizing that for successful operations in Georgia and Transcaucasia, not only an intelligent and courageous person is needed, but also familiar with the area, with the customs and customs of the highlanders, the Emperor recalled the commander-in-chief Knorring, appointed by Paul I, and, on September 9, 1802, appointed Astrakhan military governor and the commander-in-chief in Georgia, Prince. Tsitsianova. Entrusting him with this responsible post and informing Count Zubov’s plan, which consisted of occupying lands from the Rion River to the Kura and Araks, to the Caspian Sea and beyond, Alexander I ordered: “to bring into clarity and system the confused affairs of the region, and meek, fair, but also with firm behavior, try to gain trust in the government not only of Georgia, but also of various neighboring possessions." “I am confident,” the Emperor wrote to Tsitsianov, “that, convinced of the importance of the service entrusted to you, and guided both by the knowledge of my rules for this region and by your own prudence, you will fulfill your duty with the impartiality and righteousness that I have in you I always assumed and found it."

Realizing the seriousness of the danger threatening from Persia and Turkey, Tsitsianov decided to secure our borders from the east and south and started with the Ganzhinsky Khanate closest to Georgia, which had already been conquered by the gr. Zubov, but, after the removal of our troops, again recognized the power of Persia. Convinced of the inaccessibility of Ganja and hoping for help from the Persians, its owner, Javat Khan, considered himself safe, especially since the Jarians and Elisuis, convinced by the Dagestan princes, disobeyed, despite Tsitsianov’s convictions. Javat Khan, in response to Tsitsianov’s letter inviting him to submit, declared that he would fight the Russians until he won. Then Tsitsianov decided to act energetically. Having strengthened the detachment of Gulyakov, who had a permanent post on the river. Alazani, near Aleksandrovsk, Tsitsianov with 4 infantry battalions, part of the Narva Dragoon Regiment, several hundred Cossacks, a detachment of Tatar cavalry, with 12 guns, moved towards Ganja. Tsitsianov did not have a plan of the fortress or a map of its surroundings. I had to do reconnaissance on the spot. On December 2, for the first time, Russian troops clashed with the troops of Javat Khan, and on December 3, Ganja was besieged and bombardment began, since Javat Khan refused to surrender the fortress voluntarily. Tsitsianov hesitated for a long time to storm Ganja, fearing heavy losses. The siege lasted four weeks and only on January 4, 1804, the main mosque of Ganja was already “turned into a temple to the true God,” as Tsitsianov put it in his letter to General Vyazmitinov. The assault on Ganja cost 38 people killed and 142 wounded. Among those killed by the enemy was Javat Khan.

Javat Khan

The Russians got as booty: 9 copper guns, 3 cast iron, 6 falconets and 8 banners with inscriptions, 55 pounds of gunpowder and a large grain supply.

Persia declared war on Russia. In this conflict, the number of Persian troops many times exceeded the Russian ones. The total number of Russian soldiers in Transcaucasia did not exceed 8 thousand people. They had to operate over a large territory: from Armenia to the shores of the Caspian Sea. In terms of weapons, the Iranian army, equipped with British weapons, was not inferior to the Russian one. Therefore, the final success of the Russians in this war was associated primarily with a higher degree of military organization, combat training and courage of the troops, as well as with the leadership talents of the military leaders. The Russian-Persian conflict marked the beginning of the most difficult military decade in the country's history (1804-1814), when the Russian Empire had to fight along almost the entire perimeter of its European borders from the Baltic to the Caspian Sea. This required tension from the country unprecedented since the Northern War.

Campaign of 1804 .

The main hostilities of the first year of the war took place in the Erivan (Yerevan) region. The commander of the Russian troops in Transcaucasia, General Pyotr Tsitsianov, began the campaign with offensive actions.

The main forces of the Persians, under the command of Abbas Mirza himself, had already crossed the Araks and entered the Erivan Khanate.

Abbas-Mirza

On June 19, Tsitsianov approached Etchmiadzin, and on the 21st, an eighteen-thousandth Persian corps surrounded Tsitsianov, but was driven back with heavy losses. On June 25th the attack resumed and again the Persians were defeated; Abbas Mirza retreated beyond the Araks. Notifying the Erivan Khan about this, Tsitsianov demanded that he surrender the fortress and take an oath of citizenship. The treacherous Khan, wanting to get rid of the Russians and gain favor with the Persian Shah, sent to ask him to return back. The result of this was the return of the 27,000-strong Persian army camped near the village of Kalagiri.

Abbas-Mirza was making preparations here for decisive action, but Tsitsianov warned him. On June 30, a detachment of three thousand Russian troops crossed the river. Zangu and, having repelled a sortie made from the Erivan fortress, attacked the enemy, who occupied a strong position on the heights. At first the Persians stubbornly defended themselves, but in the end they were forced to retreat to their camp, located three miles from the battlefield. The small number of cavalry did not allow Tsitsianov to pursue the enemy, who left his camp and fled through Erivan. On this day, the Persians lost up to 7,000 killed and wounded, the entire convoy, four banners, seven falconets and all the treasures looted on the way. Tsitsianov's reward for the victory was (July 22, 1804) the Order of St. Vladimir 1st Art. Having won a victory over the Persians, Tsitsianov directed his forces against the Erivan Khan and on July 2 besieged Erivan. At first, the khan resorted to negotiations, but since Tsitsianov demanded unconditional surrender, on July 15, part of the garrison and several thousand Persians attacked the Russian detachment. After a ten-hour battle, the attackers were repulsed, losing two banners and two cannons. On the night of July 25, Tsitsianov sent Major General Portnyagin with part of his troops to attack Abbas Mirza, whose camp was located in a new place, not far from Erivan. This time victory was on the side of the Persians and Portnyagin was forced to retreat. Tsitsianov's position became more and more difficult. Intense heat exhausted the army; convoys with provisions arrived significantly late or did not arrive at all; the Georgian cavalry, which he sent back to Tiflis, was captured by the enemy on the road and taken to Tehran; Major Montresor, who held a post near the village of Bombaki, was killed by the Persians, and his detachment was exterminated; Lezgins raided; the Karabakh people invaded the Elisavetpol district; the Ossetians also began to worry; The detachment's relations with Georgia were interrupted. In a word, Tsitsianov’s position was critical; Petersburg and Tiflis were awaiting news of the death of the detachment and Tiflis was preparing for defense. Only Tsitsianov did not lose heart. Unshakable will, faith in himself and in his army gave him the strength to continue the siege of Erivan as persistently as before. He hoped that with the onset of autumn the Persian troops would withdraw and the fortress, without their support, would be forced to surrender; but when the enemy burned out all the grain in the vicinity of Etchmiadzin and Erivan and the detachment began to face inevitable famine, Tsitsianov faced a dilemma: lift the siege or take the fortress by storm. Tsitsianov, true to himself, chose the latter. Of all the officers he invited to the military council, only Portnyagin joined his opinion; everyone else was against the assault; yielding to the majority of votes, Tsitsianov gave the order to retreat. On September 4, Russian troops set out on a return campaign. During the ten-day retreat, up to 430 people fell ill and about 150 died.

Having refused to take Erivan, Tsitsianov hoped that through peaceful negotiations he would be able to expand the borders of Russia, and his attitude towards the mountain khans and rulers was the opposite of that followed by the Russian government before Tsitsianov. “I dared,” he wrote to the chancellor, “to accept a rule contrary to the previously existing system here and instead of paying some kind of tribute for their imaginary citizenship with salaries and gifts determined to soften the mountain peoples, I myself demand tribute.” In February 1805, Prince. Tsitsianov took the oath of allegiance to the Russian Tsar from Ibrahim Khan of Shusha and Karabakh; in May Selim Khan of Sheki took the oath; in addition, Jangir Khan of Shagakh and Budakh Sultan of Shuragel expressed their submission; Having received a report on these annexations, Alexander I awarded Tsitsianov a cash lease in the amount of 8,000 rubles. in year.

But although Tsitsianov’s troops in the battle of Kanagir (near Erivan) defeated the Iranian army under the command of Crown Prince Abass-Mirza, Russian forces were not enough to take this stronghold. In November, a new army under the command of Shah Feth Ali approached the Persian troops.

Shah Feth Ali

Tsitsianov’s detachment, which had already suffered significant losses by that time, was forced to lift the siege and retreat to Georgia.

Campaign of 1805 .

The failure of the Russians at the walls of Erivan strengthened the confidence of the Persian leadership. In June, a 40,000-strong Persian army under the command of Prince Abbas Mirza moved through the Ganja Khanate to Georgia. On the Askeran River (region of the Karabakh ridge), the vanguard of the Persian troops (20 thousand people) met stubborn resistance from a Russian detachment under the command of Colonel Karyagin (500 people), which had only 2 cannons. From June 24 to July 7, Karyagin's rangers, skillfully using the terrain and changing positions, heroically repelled the onslaught of a huge Persian army. After a four-day defense in the Karagach tract, the detachment fought its way into the Shah-Bulakh castle on the night of June 28, where it was able to hold out until the night of July 8, and then secretly left its fortifications.

Shah-Bulakh Castle

The selfless resistance of Karyagin’s soldiers actually saved Georgia. The delay in the advance of the Persian troops allowed Tsitsianov to gather forces to repel the unexpected invasion. On July 28, at the Battle of Zagam, the Russians defeated the troops of Abbas Mirza. His campaign against Georgia was stopped and the Persian army retreated. After this, Tsitsianov transferred the main hostilities to the Caspian coast. But his attempts to conduct a naval operation to capture Baku and Rasht ended in vain.

Campaign of 1806 .

P.D. Tsitsianov set out on a campaign against Baku.

The Russians moved through the Shirvan Khanate, and, in this case, Tsitsianov managed to persuade the Shirvan Khan to join Russia. Khan took the oath of citizenship on December 25, 1805. From Shirvan, the prince notified the Khan of Baku about his approach, demanding the surrender of the fortress. After a very difficult transition through the Shemakha Mountains, Tsitsianov and his detachment approached Baku on January 30, 1806.

Sparing people and wanting to avoid bloodshed, Tsitsianov once again sent the khan an offer to submit, and set four conditions: a Russian garrison would be stationed in Baku; the Russians will manage the income; the merchants will be guaranteed from oppression; The eldest son of the khan will be brought to Tsitsianov as an amanate. After quite long negotiations, the khan declared that he was ready to submit to the Russian commander-in-chief and betray himself into eternal citizenship of the Russian Emperor. In view of this, Tsitsianov promised to leave him as the owner of the Baku Khanate. The Khan agreed to all the conditions set by the prince and asked Tsitsianov to set a day for accepting the keys. The prince set February 8th. Early in the morning he went to the fortress, having with him 200 people who were supposed to remain in Baku as a garrison. Half a mile before the city gates, the Baku elders were waiting for the prince with keys, bread and salt and, presenting them to Tsitsianov, announced that the khan did not believe in his complete forgiveness and asked the prince for a personal meeting. Tsitsianov agreed, gave back the keys, wanting to receive them from the hands of the khan himself, and rode forward, ordering Lieutenant Colonel Prince Eristov and one Cossack to follow him. About a hundred steps before the fortress, Hussein-Kuli Khan, accompanied by four Baku residents, came out to meet Tsitsianov, and while the khan, bowing, brought the keys, the Baku men fired; Tsitsianov and Prince. The Eristovs fell; the khan's retinue rushed towards them and began to chop down their bodies; at the same time, artillery fire opened on our detachment from the city walls.

Body of the book Tsitsianov was first buried in a hole, at the very gate where he was killed. General Bulgakov, who took Baku in the same 1806, buried his ashes in the Baku Armenian Church, and the governor in 1811-1812. Georgian Marquis Paulucci transported him to Tiflis and buried him in the Zion Cathedral. A monument was erected over Tsitsianov’s grave with an inscription in Russian and Georgian.

I.V. Gudovich

General Ivan Gudovich was appointed commander-in-chief and continued the offensive in Azerbaijan. In 1806, the Russians occupied the Caspian territories of Dagestan and Azerbaijan (including Baku, Derbent, and Cuba). In the summer of 1806, the troops of Abbas Mirza, who tried to go on the offensive, were defeated in Karabakh. However, the situation soon became more complicated. In December 1806, the Russian-Turkish war began. In order not to fight on two fronts with his extremely limited forces, Gudovich, taking advantage of the hostile relations between Turkey and Iran, immediately concluded a truce with the Iranians and began military operations against the Turks. The year 1807 was spent in peace negotiations with Iran, but they came to nothing. In 1808, hostilities resumed.

Campaign of 1808-1809 .

In 1808, Gudovich transferred the main hostilities to Armenia. His troops occupied Etchmiadzin (a city west of Yerevan) and then besieged Erivan. In October, the Russians defeated Abbas Mirza's troops at Karababa and occupied Nakhichevan. However, the assault on Erivan ended in failure, and the Russians were forced to retreat from the walls of this fortress a second time. After this, Gudovich was replaced by General Alexander Tormasov, who resumed peace negotiations. During the negotiations, troops under the command of the Iranian Shah Feth Ali unexpectedly invaded northern Armenia (Artik region), but were repulsed. The attempt of Abbas Mirza’s army to attack Russian positions in the Ganja region also ended in failure.

A.P. Tormasov in the troops

Campaign of 1810-1811 .

In the summer of 1810, the Iranian command planned to launch an attack on Karabakh from its stronghold of Meghri (a mountainous Armenian village located in the area of the left bank of the Arak River). To prevent the offensive actions of the Iranians, a detachment of rangers under the command of Colonel Kotlyarevsky (about 500 people) went to Meghri, who on June 17, with an unexpected attack, managed to capture this stronghold, where there was a 1,500-strong garrison with 7 batteries. Russian losses amounted to 35 people. The Iranians lost more than 300 people. After the fall of Meghri, the southern regions of Armenia received reliable protection from Iranian invasions. In July, Kotlyarevsky defeated the Iranian army on the Arak River. In September, Iranian troops attempted to launch a westward offensive towards Akhalkalaki (southwestern Georgia) to link up with Turkish troops there. However, the Iranian offensive in the area was repulsed. In 1811 Tormasov was replaced by General Paulucci. However, Russian troops did not take active action during this period due to limited numbers and the need to fight a war on two fronts (against Turkey and Iran). In February 1812 Paulucci was replaced by General Rtishchev, who resumed peace negotiations.

Campaign of 1812-1813 .

P.S. Kotlyarevsky

At this time, the fate of the war was actually decided. The sharp turn is associated with the name of General Pyotr Stepanovich Kotlyarevsky, whose brilliant military talent helped Russia victoriously end the protracted confrontation.

Battle of Aslanduz (1812) .

After Tehran received news of the occupation of Moscow by Napoleon, negotiations were interrupted. Despite the critical situation and the obvious lack of forces, General Kotlyarevsky, who was given freedom of action by Rtishchev, decided to seize the initiative and stop a new offensive by Iranian troops. He himself moved with a 2,000-strong detachment towards the 30,000-strong army of Abbas Mirza. Using the factor of surprise, Kotlyarevsky’s detachment crossed Arak in the Aslanduz area and on October 19 attacked the Iranians on the move. They did not expect such a quick attack and retreated to their camp in confusion. Meanwhile, night fell, hiding the real number of Russians. Having instilled in his soldiers an unshakable belief in victory, the undaunted general led them into an attack against the entire Iranian army. Courage trumped strength. Having burst into the Iranian camp, a handful of heroes with a bayonet attack caused an indescribable panic in the camp of Abbas Mirza, who did not expect a night attack, and put the entire army to flight. Iranian casualties amounted to 1,200 killed and 537 captured. The Russians lost 127 people.

Battle of Aslands

This victory of Kotlyarevsky did not allow Iran to seize the strategic initiative. Having crushed the Iranian army at Aslanduz, Kotlyarevsky moved to the Lankaran fortress, which covered the path to the northern regions of Persia.

Capture of Lankaran (1813) .

After the defeat at Aslanduz, the Iranians pinned their last hopes on Lankaran. This strong fortress was defended by a 4,000-strong garrison under the command of Sadyk Khan. Sadyk Khan responded to the offer to surrender with a proud refusal. Then Kotlyarevsky gave the order to his soldiers to take the fortress by storm, declaring that there would be no retreat. Here are the words from his order, read to the soldiers before the battle: “Having exhausted all means of forcing the enemy to surrender the fortress, having found him adamant to do so, there remains no longer any way to conquer this fortress with Russian weapons except by force of assault... We must take the fortress or everyone will die, why were we sent here... so let us prove, brave soldiers, that nothing can resist the power of the Russian bayonet..." On January 1, 1813, an attack followed. Already at the beginning of the attack, all the officers in the first ranks of the attackers were knocked out. In this critical situation, Kotlyarevsky himself led the attack. After a brutal and merciless assault, Lankaran fell. Of its defenders, less than 10% survived. Russian losses were also great - about 1 thousand people. (50% of the composition). During the attack, the fearless Kotlyarevsky was also seriously injured (he became disabled and left the armed forces forever). Russia has lost a bright successor to the Rumyantsev-Suvorov military tradition, whose talent was just beginning to work “Suvorov’s miracles.”

assault on Lankaran

Peace of Gulistan (1813) .

The fall of Lankaran decided the outcome of the Russian-Iranian War (1804-1813). It forced the Iranian leadership to stop hostilities and sign the Peace of Gulistan [concluded 12(24). October 1813 in the village of Gulistan (now the village of Gulustan, Goranboy region of Azerbaijan)]. A number of Transcaucasian provinces and khanates (Khanate of Derbent) went to Russia, which received the exclusive right to maintain a navy in the Caspian Sea. Russian and Iranian merchants were allowed to trade freely on the territory of both states.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Russian Empire and Persia argued for influence in Transcaucasia and on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Between these powers were countries such as Georgia, Armenia and Dagestan. In 1804, the first Russian-Persian war began. It ended after nine years. According to its results, enshrined in the Gulistan Peace Agreements, Russia annexed Georgian and partially Armenian lands.

The defeat did not suit the Persians. Revanchist sentiments became popular in the country. The Shah wanted to return the lost provinces. Because of this insoluble conflict of interests, the Russian-Persian War (1826-1828) began. The causes of the conflict and the tense situation in the region made it inevitable.

Diplomatic situation

Preparations for a new war began in Persia immediately after the defeat in 1813. First of all, Feth Ali Shah tried to enlist the support of the European powers. Before this, he relied on Napoleon Bonaparte, who entered into an alliance with the Persians on the eve of his attack on Russia in 1812. Its terms were stipulated in the Treaty of Finkestein.

However, since then the situation in the world has changed a lot. The Napoleonic Wars ended with the defeat of France and the ambitious emperor, who found himself in exile on the island of St. Helena. The Shah needed a new ally. Before the Russian-Persian War of 1826-1828 began, Great Britain began to show signs of attention to Persia.

This colonial power had its own interests in the Asian region. The kingdom owned India, and the British ambassadors extracted a promise from the Iranians not to allow any of London's enemies into this country. At the same time, a conflict broke out between Persia and Turkey. The British played the role of peacekeepers in negotiations with the Ottoman Empire, trying to persuade the Shah to war with another neighbor - Russia.

On the eve of the war

At this time, Feth Ali Shah's second son Abbas Mirza was made commander-in-chief of the Persian army. He was instructed to prepare the army for new tests and carry out all the necessary reforms. The modernization of the army took place with the support of Great Britain. The soldiers received new weapons and uniforms, partly purchased in Europe. In this way, Abbas-Mirza tried to overcome the technical lag of his subordinates from the Russian units. Strategically, these were steps in the right direction, but in their reforms the Iranian headquarters was in an extremely hurry, trying not to waste time. This played a cruel joke. When the Russian-Persian War began, those who participated in the previous conflict could notice changes in the enemy’s camp. But they were not enough to bridge the gap that existed between the armies and the Shah.

In 1825, Iranian militarists joyfully received the news that Russian Emperor Alexander I had unexpectedly died in Taganrog. His death led to a short dynastic crisis and (more importantly) the Decembrist uprising. Alexander had no children, and the throne was to pass to his next brother, Constantine. He refused, and as a result, Nikolai, who had never prepared for this, began to rule. He was a military man by training. The Decembrist uprising infuriated him. When the coup attempt failed, a lengthy trial began in St. Petersburg.

It was in those days that the advisers of the new king began to inform the monarch that his southern neighbor was openly preparing for an armed conflict. The commander-in-chief in the Caucasus was the famous General Alexei Ermolov. The last Russian-Persian war took place before his eyes, and he, like no one else, realized the danger of a new conflict. It was this general who reminded Nicholas more often than others about the prospects in the Caucasus.

The emperor responded rather sluggishly, but still agreed to send Prince Alexander Menshikov to Tehran. The future naval minister did not find a common language with Persian diplomats. The king gave his ward instructions according to which he was ready to cede part of the disputed Talysh Khanate in exchange for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. However, Tehran did not accept such proposals. Menshikov was even arrested along with all the ambassadors, although he was released already in 1827.

Persian intervention

The failure of preliminary negotiations led to the fact that the Russian-Persian war finally began. On July 16, 1826, the Iranian army crossed the border in the area of modern Azerbaijan, where the Talysh and Karabakh khanates were located. This operation was carried out secretly and treacherously, there was no official declaration of war.

On the border there were only defensive detachments, hastily assembled and consisting of local Azerbaijanis. They could not provide serious resistance to the trained Persian army. Some residents who professed Islam even joined the interventionists. According to Abbas Mirza's plans, the Persian army was supposed to move northwest along the valleys of the Kura River. The main target was the provincial city of Tiflis. Ideally, Russian troops should have been thrown to the other side of the Terek.

The war in the Caucasus region has always had several tactical features related to the specific terrain. It was possible to cross the ridge by land only through certain passes. Operating in Transcaucasia, the Persians sent auxiliary detachments to the north, hoping to block all routes for the main Russian army.

War in Karabakh

The main group under the direct leadership of Abbas Mirza numbered 40 thousand soldiers. This army crossed the border and headed towards the Shushi fortress. Even the day before, the Persian command tried to enlist the support of the local khans, who were the leaders of the Azerbaijanis living in the city. Some of them actually promised Abbas Mirza support.

An Orthodox Armenian population also lived in Shusha, which, on the contrary, was loyal to the Russian authorities. The garrison of the fortress consisted of a detachment of Cossacks. The besieged decided to take hostage those Muslim khans who were suspected of betrayal and collaboration with the Persians. Hasty training of the militia, consisting mainly of Armenians, began. Despite the energetic actions of the Cossacks, Shusha did not have any large supply of food and weapons necessary for successful defense during an assault or siege.

At this time, the Karabakh Khan, who became a vassal of Russia after the war of 1804-1813, announced support for the Persian interventionists. Abbas Mirza, for his part, promised protection to all local Muslims. He also announced that he was fighting only the Russians, hoping that this would help him convert the population to his side.

Siege of Shushi

The new Russian-Persian war began from Shushi. The attackers and defenders were separated by fortifications made of walls. To get rid of this obstacle, the Persians installed mines obtained thanks to European assistance. In addition, Abbas Mirza ordered several demonstrative executions of Karabakh Armenians to be carried out right under the walls, hoping that this act of intimidation would quarrel between the Armenians and Russians holed up in the fortress. This did not happen.

The Persian army besieged Shusha for seven weeks. This delay greatly changed the course of the entire military campaign. The Iranians decided to divide the army and send an 18,000-strong detachment towards Elisavetpol (Ganja). Abbas Mirza hoped that this maneuver would allow him to reach Tiflis from the east, which would be a complete surprise for the Cossacks.

Battle of Shamkhor

The commander-in-chief of Russian troops in the Caucasus, General Ermolov, was in Tiflis at the beginning of the war and assembled regiments. His first plan was to quickly retreat into the depths of the region, luring the Persians away from his own territory. Already in new positions, the Cossacks would have had a noticeable advantage over the Shah's army.

However, by the time a detachment of 8 thousand soldiers was assembled in Tiflis, it became clear that the interventionists were stuck for a long time under the walls of Shushi. So, unexpectedly for everyone, the Russian-Persian war began. The year 1826 was in full swing, and Ermolov decided to launch a counterattack before the onset of cold weather. An army led by Major General Madatov was sent towards Elisavetpol to stop the enemy and lift the siege of Shushi.

This detachment encountered the enemy vanguard near the village of Shamkir. The ensuing battle in historiography was called the Battle of Shamkhor. It was she who influenced the results of the Russian-Persian War of 1826-1828. Up to this point, the Iranians had advanced, encountering virtually no organized resistance. Now they had to face a real Russian army.

By the time Madatov found himself in Azerbaijan, the Persians had already managed to besiege Elisavetpol. In order to break through to the blockaded city, the Russian army needed to defeat the enemy vanguard. On September 3, in the ensuing battle, the Persians lost 2 thousand people killed, while Madatov lost 27 soldiers. Due to the defeat in the Battle of Shamkhor, Abbas Mirza had to lift the siege of Shushi and move to the rescue of the regiments stationed near Elisavetpol.

Expulsion of the Persians from Russia

Valerian Madatov commanded only 6 thousand people. There were clearly not enough of them to drive the Persians away from Elizavetpol. Therefore, after the victory near Shamkhor, he made a small maneuver, during which he linked up with fresh reinforcements that came from Tiflis. The meeting took place on September 10. The new regiments were commanded by Ivan Paskevich. He also took command of the entire army that was marching to liberate Elizavetpol.

On September 13, Russian troops found themselves near the city. There were also Persians there. The parties began to prepare for a general battle. It began with intense artillery shelling. The first Persian infantry attack floundered due to the fact that the regiments ran into a ravine and, being trapped, came under enemy fire.

In the offensive of the Russian units, the Kherson regiment, which was directly led by Paskevich, played a decisive role. The Iranians could not be helped by either artillery or cavalry, which tried to attack the Georgian militias from the flank. The Russo-Persian War, the reasons for which lay in the Shah's desire to strike at his neighbor, once again showed how the eastern type of army was ineffective against Russian units trained in the European manner. The counterattack of Paskevich’s units led to the fact that the Iranians first retreated to their original positions, and by the evening they completely surrendered them.

The losses of both sides were again strikingly disproportionate. General Paskevich counted 46 killed and approximately two hundred wounded. The Iranians lost two thousand people. About the same number of soldiers surrendered. In addition, the Russians received enemy artillery and banners. The victory at Elisavetpol led to Russia now deciding what the Russian-Persian war would be like. The results of the battle were announced throughout the country and accepted as a gift to the new emperor, who needed to publicly prove his own competence as a ruler.

Campaign of 1827

Paskevich's success was appreciated. He was appointed commander-in-chief and viceroy of the Tsar in the Caucasus. By October, Iranian troops were driven back beyond the border Araks River. Thus the status quo was restored. The soldiers wintered, and a temporary lull established at the front. However, all parties understood that the Russian-Persian War (1826-1828) was not yet over. Briefly speaking, Nicholas decided to take advantage of the successes of the army and not only drive out the interventionists, but also complete the annexation of Orthodox Armenia, part of which still belonged to the Shah.

Paskevich’s main goal was the city of Erivan (Yerevan) and the Erivan Khanate, which was a vassal of Iran. The military campaign began in late spring. In the summer, the important fort of Sardar-Abad surrendered to Russian troops. Until August, the king's army did not encounter serious resistance. All this time Abbas-Mirza was in his homeland, collecting new regiments.

Battle of Oshakan

In early August, the Persian heir with a 25,000-strong army entered the Erivan Khanate. His army attacked the city of Etchmiadzin, which had only a small Cossack garrison, as well as an ancient Christian fortified monastery. The fortress had to be rescued by a detachment led by Lieutenant General Afanasy Krasovsky.

On August 17, a small Russian army of 3 thousand people attacked the 30 thousand-strong army of Abbas Mirza. This was one of the most striking episodes for which that Russian-Persian war is known. The date of the Battle of Oshakan (as it is known in historiography) coincided with the established unbearable Caucasian heat, which tormented all soldiers equally.

The goal of Krasovsky’s detachment was to break through to the besieged city through the dense ranks of the enemy. The Russians carried an extensive baggage train and supplies needed for the garrison. The path had to be paved with bayonets, because there was not a single road left where there were no Persians. To deter enemy attacks, Krasovsky deployed artillery, which from the very beginning of the operation occupied strategically convenient heights for shelling. Firing from the guns prevented the Persians from attacking the Russians with all their might, which was reflected in the result of the battle.

As a result, Krasovsky’s detachment managed to break through to Etchmiadzin, despite the fact that every second soldier from this army died fighting off Muslim attacks. The failure had an extremely strong demoralizing effect on the entire Persian leadership. Abbas Mirza tried to besiege the city for some time, but soon wisely retreated.

The main forces of the empire under the leadership of Paskevich at this time planned to invade Azerbaijan and go to Tabriz. But at the end of August, the commander-in-chief received news of the events in Etchmiadzin, because of which the Russian-Persian War (1826-1828) moved to another stage. The reasons why Paskevich sent a small detachment to the west were simple - he believed that Abbas Mirza was in a completely different region. Realizing that the main Iranian army was in his rear, the commander-in-chief abandoned the campaign to Tabriz and moved towards the Erivan Khanate.

Capture of Yerevan

On September 7, Paskevich and Krasovsky met in Etchmiadzin, from which the siege had been lifted the day before. At the council it was decided to take the Armenian Erivan. If the army had managed to capture this city, the Russian-Persian war would have ended. The year 1828 was already approaching, so Paskevich immediately set off, hoping to complete the operation before the onset of winter.

The Russian-Persian War, the years of which occurred during a period of turbulence in the Russian state, nevertheless showed that, in spite of everything, the tsarist army could solve operational problems in the most difficult conditions. Nicholas I, not without reason, believed that he needed to establish a protectorate over all of Armenia. The indigenous people of this country were also Orthodox Christians and suffered from Muslim domination for centuries.

The first attempts by Armenians to establish contact with St. Petersburg took place back in It was from that time that the Russian army liberated province after province in Transcaucasia. Paskevich, once in eastern Armenia, was greeted with enthusiasm by the local residents. Most of the men joined the general as militiamen.

The Russian-Persian War of 1828 became a chance for Armenians to start living in a Christian country again. There were many of them in Erivan. Realizing this, the Persian commandant of the fortress expelled from the city members of influential Armenian families who could incite the townspeople to revolt. But the precautionary measures did not help the Iranians. The city was taken by Russian troops on October 1, 1827 after a short assault.

Negotiation

Two weeks after this victory, it became known at headquarters that another royal detachment had captured Tabriz. This army was commanded by Georgy Eristov, sent by Paskevich to the southeast after the commander-in-chief left for Erivan. This victory was the last front-line event for which the Russian-Persian War (1826-1828) is known. The Shah needed a peace treaty. His army lost all strategically important battles. In addition, the royal regiments now occupied part of its territory.

Therefore, with the onset of winter, both states began to exchange diplomats and envoys. They met in Turkmanchay, a small village not far from captured Tabriz. The treaties signed in this place on February 10, 1828 summed up the results of the Russian-Persian War (1826-1828). All the gains that the tsarist army made in the previous conflict were recognized for Russia. In addition, the imperial crown received new territorial acquisitions. This was eastern Armenia with its main city Yerevan, as well as the Nakhichevan Khanate. The Iranians agreed to pay a large indemnity (20 million rubles in silver). They also guaranteed their non-interference in the process of resettlement of Orthodox Armenians to their homeland.

End of the conflict

It is curious that a member of the royal embassy was the diplomat and writer Alexander Griboyedov. He took part in the discussion of the conditions under which the Russian-Persian War (1826-1828) ended. In short, the agreement did not suit the Iranians. A few months later a new one began and the Persians tried to violate the terms of the peace.

In order to resolve the conflict, an embassy was sent to Tehran, headed by Griboyedov. In 1829, this delegation was brutally murdered by Islamic fanatics. Dozens of diplomats were killed. The Shah sent rich gifts to St. Petersburg to smooth over the scandal. Nikolai did not agree to confrontation, and since then there has been a long peace between the neighbors.

Griboedov's mutilated body was buried in Tiflis. While in Yerevan, which had just been liberated from the Iranians, he staged his most famous play, “Woe from Wit,” on stage for the first time. This is how that Russian-Persian war ended. The peace treaty allowed the creation of several new provinces, and from then on Transcaucasia remained part of the empire until the fall of the monarchy.

The “Eastern Question” has always remained a pressing problem for the Russian Empire. The emperors sought to strengthen their interests in the East, which often resulted in military conflicts. One of the countries with conflicting interests was Iran.

The Second War between Russia and the Persian Empire began in 1826 and lasted almost two years. In February 1828, the Turkmanchay Peace Treaty was concluded between the parties, which put an end to relations between the empires. But peace conditions became very difficult for Iran, which subsequently led to the country's economic and political crisis.

Russia's previous war with Iran ended with the signing of the Gulistan Peace Treaty. According to the latter, Northern Azerbaijan and Dagestan went to the Russian Empire.

In addition, many eastern countries voluntarily sought Russian protection. This state of affairs did not suit Iran, which sought independence. In addition, Great Britain interfered in the affairs of the countries.

Causes of the conflict

In Iran, in the spring of 1826, an aggressive government led by Abbas Mirza, supported by Great Britain and the Shah's court, came to power. The Russian Empire did not support the new ruler.

After this, open propaganda for a new war with Russia began. Nicholas I hastened to resolve the conflict peacefully and sent a peace delegation led by A. Menshikov for negotiations. But the Iranian side refused to receive the ambassadors, and the delegation returned without results.

After this, with the permission of the religious elite of the Khanate, military operations against Russia began.

The reasons for starting the war were:

revenge for the Russian-Iranian war of 1804-1813;
return of lost territories under the Gulistan Peace;
the desire to weaken the influence of the Russian Empire on the world stage;
England's desire to stop the trade of Russian merchants in the East.

Progress of hostilities

Russia did not expect the start of an open armed attack and was initially unprepared for worthy resistance. In addition, England supported the Persian troops. In the first months, the Russian army was forced to retreat.

Aspect Ratio and Command

Plans of the parties

Main events

Stage I: July 1826 - September 1826

During the offensive, Abbas Mirza counted on the help of Armenians and Azerbaijanis living in Russia. But hopes were not justified; small nations sought to get rid of the oppression of Iranian khans and shahs. For this reason, Russian troops were actively supported.

On July 16, Erivan Khan Hussein Khan Qajar attacks the Russian border territories near Mirak. There was a small Russian army here, which was forced to retreat and leave the territories of the Shirvan and Sheki Khanates;

Russian units retreated to Karkalis. The defense of the latter was held by Russian troops together with a detachment of Armenians and Tatar cavalry.

in mid-July Abbas Mirza besieged the Shusha fortress.

The Shah's army numbered about 40 thousand people. There were much fewer Russians; the garrison numbered 1,300 people. Commander of Russian troops in Karabakh I.A. Reut sent reinforcements to the fortress, but not all of them arrived; 1/3 were killed in local battles. The peoples of Karabakh, loyal to Russia, took refuge behind the walls. The commander managed to equip another 1,500 Armenians. But the army did not have enough food, so it had to rely on food from civilians.

Abbas-Mirza promised to fight only against the Russians, so some Armenians and Azerbaijanis still sided with the Iranians.

The defense of the fortress lasted 47 days. The Iranian command used various tactics: even causing discord between the peoples of the East and the Russians. By order of Abbas Mirza, several Aryan families were executed in front of the walls of the fortress, and the Russians were accused. But it was not possible to create discord.

As a result, the siege of Shushi was lifted and Iranian troops retreated to Elizavetopol, intending to attack Tiflis from there.

in August, Russian troops began to gather near Tiflis, on the orders of Yermolov. Madatov's detachment, numbering 1,800 people, was sent towards Abbas-Mirza to contain the Iranian army.

Stage II September 1826 - February 1828 counter-offensive of the Russian army

September 3 - Battle of Shakhmor. Madatov's small detachment was able to defeat the 18,000-strong enemy army on the way to Tiflis. Thus the commander completed his task;
September 13 battle near Elizavetpol. Cossacks under the command of General I.F. Paskichev was defeated by 35 thousand Iranians. The Russian army numbered a little more than 10 thousand people and 24 guns. After a crushing defeat, the enemy army retreated to Arkas.

March 16, 1827 - Paskevich is appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian army in the Caucasus instead of Ermolov.

in early August, Abbas Mirza's army departs for the Erivan Khanate;

On August 15, the Iranian army, together with Hussein Khan, besieged Etchmiadzin, which was defended by 500 people of the Sevastopol infantry regiment and 100 people of Armenian cavalry volunteers.

August 16 Battle of Oshakan. By order of the command, the army of A.I. was sent to help Echmiadzin. Krasovsky in 3000 people. But on the way to the fortress, the army was attacked by the enemy army, whose number was about 30,000 people. The Russians suffered large losses during the battle (1,154 people killed, wounded and missing). But despite this, Krasovsky’s army managed to break through to the fortress. As a result, the siege of Etchmiadzan was lifted.

On October 1, the Russian army under the command of Paskevich captured Erivan, after which they entered the territory of Iranian Azerbaijan;

Turkmanchay Peace Treaty

After a series of crushing defeats, the Persian Empire agreed to peace negotiations with Russia. By February 1928, an agreement was reached.

On February 10, a peace treaty was signed between the Russian and Persian empires, which went down in history as the Turkmanchay Treaty. The famous Russian writer Alexander Griboyedov participated in the development of the main points of the agreement.

According to the terms of peace:

all the conditions of the Gulistan Peace were confirmed;
Russia received Eastern Armenia, the Erivan and Nakhichevan khanates;
Persia took the obligation not to interfere with the voluntary resettlement of the Armenian population;
the losing party must pay an indemnity in the amount of 20 million rubles in silver;
Russia recognized Abbas Mirza as heir to the throne.

In addition to territorial and political decisions, trade decisions were made.

A treaty was concluded according to which Russian merchants had the right to trade in Iran. Merchant ships were allowed to move freely around the Caspian Sea. All these changes have seriously affected trade between Iran and Great Britain. The interests of the latter were greatly affected.

Historical meaning

The Russian-Iranian War and the Turkmanchay Peace had a negative impact on the development of Iran. Historians emphasize that the terms of the peace treaty seriously undermined the economic and political health of the state.

Russian-Iranian relations continued under the terms of a concluded peace until the October Revolution.

Russian empire Persia Commanders A. P. Ermolov
V. G. Madatov
I. F. Paskevich Feth Ali Shah
Abbas-Mirza Strengths of the parties 8 thousand 35 thousand

Russo-Persian Wars

Previous Events

The tense international situation in 1825 and the Decembrist uprising were perceived in Persia as the most favorable moment for moving against Russia. The heir to the throne and ruler of Iranian Azerbaijan, Abbas Mirza, who created a new army with the help of European instructors and considered himself capable of returning the lands lost in 1813, decided to take advantage of what seemed to him an opportunity that was so convenient.

The commander-in-chief of Russian troops in the Caucasus, General A.P. Ermolov, warned Emperor Nicholas I that Persia was openly preparing for war. Nicholas I, in view of the escalating conflict with Turkey, was ready to cede to it the southern part of the Talysh Khanate for Persia's neutrality. However, Prince A. S. Menshikov, whom Nicholas I sent to Tehran with instructions to ensure peace at any cost, could not achieve anything and left the Iranian capital.

Beginning of hostilities

The main task of the Iranian command was to capture Transcaucasia, capture Tiflis and push back Russian troops beyond the Terek. The main forces were therefore sent from Tabriz to the Kura region, and auxiliary forces to the Mugan steppe to block the exits from Dagestan. The Iranians also counted on a strike from the rear by the Caucasian mountaineers against the Russian troops, who were stretched out in a narrow strip along the border and did not have reserves. Help for the Iranian army was promised by the Karabakh beks and many influential persons of neighboring provinces, who maintained constant contacts with the Persian government and even offered to slaughter the Russians in Shusha and hold it until Iranian troops arrived.

The garrison of the Shushi fortress amounted to 1300 people. (6 companies of the 42nd Jaeger Regiment and Cossacks from the 2nd Molchanov Regiment). A few days before the complete blockade of the fortress, the Cossacks drove the families of all the local Muslim nobility behind its walls as hostages. The Azerbaijanis were disarmed, and the khans and the most honorable beks were put into custody. Residents of the Armenian villages of Karabakh and Azerbaijanis who remained loyal to Russia also took refuge in the fortress. With their help, dilapidated fortifications were restored. To strengthen the defense, Colonel Reut armed 1.5 thousand Armenians, who, together with Russian soldiers and Cossacks, were on the front line. A number of Azerbaijanis also took part in the defense and expressed their allegiance to Russia. However, the fortress did not have supplies of food and ammunition, so the soldiers had to use the grain and livestock of the Armenian peasants who took refuge in the fortress to provide meager food for the soldiers.

Meanwhile, the local Muslim population for the most part joined the Iranians, and the Armenians, who did not have time to take refuge in Shusha, fled to mountainous areas. Mehdi Quli Khan, the former ruler of Karabakh, again declared himself khan and promised to generously reward everyone who would join him. Abbas Mirza, for his part, said that he was fighting only against the Russians, and not against the local residents. Foreign officers who were in the service of Abbas Mirza took part in the siege. In order to destroy the walls of the fortress, according to their instructions, mines were placed under the fortress towers. The fortress was subjected to continuous fire from two artillery batteries, but at night the defenders managed to restore the destroyed areas. To create a split among the defenders of the fortress - Russians and Armenians - Abbas Mirza ordered several hundred local Armenian families to be driven under the walls of the fortress and threatened to execute them if the fortress was not surrendered - however, this plan was not successful either.

The defense of Shushi lasted 47 days and was of great importance for the course of military operations. Desperate to capture the fortress, Abbas Mirza eventually separated 18 thousand people from the main forces and sent them to Elizavetpol (modern Ganja) to strike Tiflis from the east.

Having received information that the main Persian forces were pinned down by the siege of Shushi, General Ermolov abandoned the original plan to withdraw all forces deep into the Caucasus. By this time, he managed to concentrate up to 8 thousand people in Tiflis. Of these, a detachment was formed under the command of Major General Prince V. G. Madatov (4.3 thousand people), who launched an attack on Elizavetpol to stop the advance of Persian forces towards Tiflis and lift the siege from Shushi.

Russian counteroffensive

On September 3 (15), 1826, the Battle of Shamkhor took place. A Russian detachment under the command of V. G. Madatov defeated the 18,000-strong vanguard of the Iranian army heading towards Tiflis.

On September 5 (17), Madatov’s detachment liberated Elizavetpol. Abbas Mirza was forced to lift the siege of Shushi and move towards the Russian troops.

On October 1 (13), Paskevich took Erivan and entered Iranian Azerbaijan; On October 14 (26), K. E. Eristov’s detachment captured Tabriz.

Peace treaty

Military failures forced the Persians to negotiate peace. On February 10 (22), 1828, the Turkmanchay Peace Treaty was signed (in the village of Turkmanchay near Tabriz), concluded between the Russian Empire and Persia, according to which Persia confirmed all the conditions of the Gulistan Peace (1813), recognized the transfer to Russia of part of the Caspian coast up to the . Astra, Eastern Armenia (A special administrative entity was created on the territory of Eastern Armenia - the Armenian region, with the resettlement of Armenians from Iran there.). The Araks became the border between the states.

In addition, the Shah of Persia was obliged to pay an indemnity to Russia (10 kurur tumans - 20 million rubles). As for Iranian Azerbaijan, Russia has undertaken to withdraw troops from it upon payment of indemnity. The Shah of Persia also pledged to grant amnesty to all residents of Iranian Azerbaijan who collaborated with Russian troops.

Notes

Modern Iran (reference book). M., Main editorial office of oriental literature of the Nauka publishing house, 1975, p. 136.
Zakharevich A.V. Don Cossacks and the Armenian population in the defense of Russian borders from Persian troops in the initial period of the 1826 campaign. Center for Pontic-Caucasian Studies. Krasnodar, 1995
V. A. Potto in his book “The Caucasian War” described the region in which the fighting took place and the disposition of Russian troops as follows:

Before the war, in the twenties of our century, the Russian border from the side of the Erivan Khanate passed only about one and a half hundred miles from Tiflis. From the northern end of Lake Gokchi (Sevan), it stretched west in a broken line along the Bombak mountain range and then, deviating from it, through Mount Alagyoz (Aragats), it rested at right angles on the Turkish border, which ran along the Arpachay (Akhuryan) river directly to the north , to the Trioletsky mountains.
In this space, over eighty versts in length and going deeper into the country, towards Tiflis, about fifty versts, lay two Russian border provinces: Shuragel and Bombak. The country is filled with the ramifications of those enormous hills located in the depths of Asian Turkey, which give rise to significant rivers: the Euphrates, Araks and others. One of these branches, the Bombak ridge, descending to the southwest, towards the side of Arpachaya, forms a sloping plain, only broken by Mount Alagez on the border with Persia. Here lies Shuragel with the main city of Gumra. To the northeast of it is the Bombak province, in a valley outlined by two high and steep ridges, Bombak and Bezobdal. In the center of the country, the Bombak ridge, descending ten miles to the north, meets the slopes of Bezobdal, again raising the surface of the earth to sky-high limits. The distance between the ridges does not go beyond twenty miles. The valley gradually narrows to the east, as it approaches Big Karaklis, where its width is already only two versts, and another five versts further - the gorge begins. The river Bombak flows through this valley, which, connecting with the Kamennaya (Jalal-Ogly-chai), receives the name Borchaly and flows, upon merging with the Temple, into the Kura. To the east of Bombak, behind the Allaverdinsky ridge, lies the Kazakh distance.
To the north, beyond the silvery, sky-high Bezobdal, lies the luxurious Lori steppe, bordered in the distance by the gloomy, bare Akzabiyuk Mountains. Beyond those mountains lies Iberia.
A free, beautiful place is the Lori steppe, surrounded on all sides by forest, outlined by high mountains: Bezobdal - in the south, Akzabiyuk with its branches - in the north, east and west. Those mountains that separate the steppe from Shuragel are called the Wet Mountains, and the shortest road from Gumr to Bashkechet and further to Tiflis passes through them. In the east it is closed by the Allaverdinsky ridge, and the steppe ends where the Kamennaya River flows into Borchala...
The Lori steppe was administratively subordinate to the Bombak province; but that was already part of ancient Georgia, and one of the Tatar distances, Borchalinskaya, is located on it. When Shuragel and Bombaki still belonged to Persia, the Lori steppe was a place where Georgia put up barriers to enemy invasions. The Gergers and Jalal-Oglys, which protected the entrance to it, therefore became important strategic points.
In the summer of 1826, all these border areas with Persia, open on the flank, in the west, towards Turkey, were guarded by only two Russian battalions. In Gumry, the main village of Shuragel, there were two companies of the Tiflis regiment with two guns, and a company of carabinieri, which sent posts from themselves to Bekant and Amamly, where there was also one gun each.
In Big Karaklis, the most important point in the Bombak province, three companies of the Tiflis regiment were located, with three guns. From here two strong posts advanced to the Lori steppe: one, with a gun, to cover the crossing of the Kamennaya River at Jalal-Ogly, the other to the Bezobdalsky Pass, and the third stood already in Bombaki itself, on the Gamzachevanka River, about eighteen miles from Karaklis, where The regimental herd of the Tiflis regiment was grazing. A married company guarded the Gergers behind Bezobdal. Andreev's Don Cossacks were still scattered in small units throughout Bombak and Shuragel.
Finally, advanced detachments were advanced to the very border: to Mirak, which lay on the eastern slopes of Alagez, two companies of Tiflis and a company of carabinieri with two guns; to Balyk-chay, covering the only pack road to Erivan from the Kazakh distance, along the Delizhansky gorge along the Akstafa river - a company of Tiflis, with a force of three hundred bayonets and also with two guns. Both Mirak and Balyk-chay engaged Russian troops only in the summer, in order to prevent Persian gangs from entering Russian borders and to keep the Kazakh and Shamshadil Tatars wandering near these places in obedience.
In the fall, when the Tatars returned from their nomads, the posts were removed, since in winter, due to deep snow, the paths there became insurmountable. Thus, the total number of troops guarding the entire region consisted of a Cossack regiment, with a strength of about five hundred horses, two battalions of the Tiflis regiment (its third battalion was on the Caucasian line) and two companies of carabinieri, temporarily moved here from Manglis - a total of about three thousand bayonets, with twelve guns of the light company of the Caucasian Grenadier Artillery Brigade (Potto V.A., “Caucasian War.” vol. 3. Persian War 1826-1828).
Kersnovsky A. A. Chapter 8. Conquest of the Caucasus // History of the Russian Army // in 4 volumes / ed. Kuptsova V. - Moscow: Voice, 1993. - T. 2. - P. 99. - 336 p. - 100,000 copies. - ISBN 5-7055-0864-6
Shishkevich M. I. Chapter 7 - The Persian War of 1826. Ermolov and Paskevich (essay on the General Staff of Major General Shishkevich M.I.) // History of the Russian Army and Navy / ed. Grishinsky A.S. and Nikolsky V.P. - Moscow: Education, 1911. - T. 6 - Conquest of the Caucasus. Persian and Caucasian wars. - P. 66-67. - 197 p.
Grigoryan Z. T. Chapter 3 // Accession of Eastern Armenia to Russia in the beginning. XIX century / ed. Lazarevich L.. - Moscow: Sotsekgiz, 1959. - P. 111-112. - 187 p. - 8000 copies.
Nersisyan M. G.

Table: Russian-Iranian War 1804 - 1813 Minimum for the Unified State Exam.

The Khan of Ganja, under the patronage of the Persian Shah, carried out raids in Transcaucasia. Prince P. D. Tsitsianov went on a campaign to Ganja, in January 1804 he conquered it and renamed it Elizavetpol.

Reasons, goals, objectives of the war

The main reasons for the war:

rivalry between Russia and Iran in Transcaucasia;
the entry of Georgian principalities into the Russian Empire: in 1804, Russian troops conquered Ganja;
Persia's desire to influence Azerbaijan;
the desire of the Ottoman Empire to return Crimea and Kuban;
geopolitical interests of England.

To stop the spread of Russian influence in the Caucasus, the Persians began military operations against Russia in the summer of 1804.

Hostilities

	Hostilities	Commanders, heroes
Summer 1804	The Russian invasion of the Persian vassal Erivan Khanate and the siege of the Erivan fortress.	Prince P. D. Tsitsianov
November 1804	Lifting the siege of the Erivan fortress due to large losses in military strength.	P. D. Tsitsianov
	Invasion of Georgia by Abbas Mirza's 40,000-strong army.	P. D. Tsitsianov
	Resistance to the invasion of Iranian troops in the area of the Askeran River (Georgia): 493 rangers of the 17th regiment against a 20,000-strong Persian army. Capture of the Shah-Bulakh fortress.	Colonel P.M. Karyagin, Private Gavrila Sidorov
	The Kuba, Baku, and Derbent khanates were conquered. The defeat of the Persians at Karakapet.	Count I. V. Gudovich
	Temporary truce with Persia. War with the Turks. Unsuccessful attack on Kars, Poti, Akhalkalaki. Defeat of the Turks on the Arpachay River.	I. V. Gudovich
	Unsuccessful siege of Erivan.	I. V. Gudovich
	Displacement of the Turks from Transcaucasia.	General A.P. Tormasov
	Capture of the Migri fortress. Defeat of the Turks near Akhalkalaki. End of the war with the Turks.	Marquis Paulucci, Pyotr Kotlyarevsky
	Battle of Aslanduz (1812), assault on the Lankaran fortress (1813).	N. F. Rtishchev, P. S. Kotlyarevsky
	Conclusion of the Gulistan Peace.

Map of the Russian-Iranian War 1804 – 1813.

End of the war

Having suffered a crushing defeat at Aslanduz, Abbas Mirza asked Commander-in-Chief N.F. Rtishchev to resume peace negotiations. They took place in the village of Gulistan (Karabakh). According to the peace treaty, Persia recognized a significant part of Transcaucasia as Russia.

In accordance with the agreement, Russia received the right to station a fleet in the Caspian Sea.

The Treaty of 1813 was not made public until 1818, after which trade resumed between Russia and Persia.

Thanks to the annexation of most of Transcaucasia to Russia, the raids of the Persians and Turks stopped, and the peoples of this region breathed freely. The economic development of Transcaucasia and the gradual elimination of feudal fragmentation began.

Pavel Mikhailovich Karyagin

In 1805 Abbas Mirza went to fight in Tiflis. At Askeran, his path was blocked by a small detachment of Colonel P. M. Karyagin. June 24 – July 7, 493 rangers and musketeers of the 17th regiment fought off the 20,000-strong enemy army. And then they broke out of the ring and, having built a crossing from the bodies of soldiers, transported the guns over the obstacle. The idea of using the “living bridge” belonged to private Gavrile Sidorov, who paid with his life for his dedication.

On the night of June 28, the detachment secretly approached the Shah-Bulakh castle and took it by surprise. The remnants of the heroic detachment managed to hold out in the besieged fortress until June 8 and saved Georgia with their resistance.

P. M. Karyagin was awarded a golden weapon for his courage. The war undermined the health of the valiant commander, and after 2 years, on May 7, 1807, he died.

Pyotr Stepanovich Kotlyarevsky

P. S. Kotlyarevsky was born on June 12, 1782 in the family of a priest in the village. Olkhovatka, Kharkov province. Caucasian officer I.P. Lazarev advised Pyotr Stepanovich’s father to enlist his son in the army. Soon the young man was already serving under the command of I.P. Lazarev.

At the age of 17 he was transferred to the 17th Jaeger Regiment as Lazarev's adjutant. With him, at the invitation of George XII, he made the transition to Georgia, crossing the Caucasus Mountains.

When Lazarev was vilely killed in Tiflis, Pyotr Kotlyarevsky took command of the Jaeger company. With her he stormed Ganja and was seriously wounded. Fortunately, Count Vorontsov noticed the wounded man and saved him, taking him from the battlefield.

In 1805 he fought on the banks of Askeran, near Shah-Bulakh and Mukhrat, and was again wounded.

In 1810, Commander-in-Chief A.P. Tormasov gave the order to Kotlyarevsky to occupy Migri (Meghri). The soldiers made their way along mountain paths and captured the village and batteries.

Akhmet Khan approached Migri with a 10,000-strong Persian corps and surrounded Kotlyarevsky’s detachment. As a result of a night foray into the Persian camp, the Russians destroyed the enemy corps.

Alexander I appointed Kotlyarevsky chief of the 17th Grenadier Regiment and awarded the Order of St. George 4th degree for the capture of Migri.

General Tormasov was replaced by Marquis Paulucci. He decided to clear the Akhalkalaki fortress from the Turks. Again Kotlyarevsky took the fortress garrison by surprise, overcoming the Trioletsky Mountains. The enemy fled, abandoning their guns and banners.

In 1812, Napoleon started a war with Russia. Deciding to take advantage of the opportunity, Abbas Mirza entered the Talysh Khanate and conquered Lankaran. The new commander-in-chief N.F. Rtishchev did not dare to attack the enemy. On October 19, General Kotlyarevsky with a 2,000-strong detachment crossed the Araks and suddenly appeared in the Persian camp. The enemy fled in panic.

Abbas Mirza gathered all his forces in Aslanduz. To the shouts of “Hurray!” Russian grenadiers mercilessly stabbed the enemy, leaving no survivors. Aslanduz castle fell. Abbas Mirza fled to Tabriz.

In December 1812, a detachment of Lieutenant General Kotlyarevsky approached Lankaran and the assault began. The soldiers used ladders to overcome the walls of the fortification. A bloody battle ensued. The fortress fell.

The seriously wounded Kotlyarevsky was found after the battle among the bodies of the dead. He miraculously survived thanks to the regimental doctor. One and a half thousand soldiers fought in the ranks of those who took Lankaran. Only a handful of brave men survived.

After the capture of Lankaran, the Peace of Gulistan was concluded. The 31-year-old commander received an award - the Order of St. George, 2nd degree.

References:

Kersnovsky A.A. History of the Russian army in 4 volumes. T.1. From Narva to Paris 1700-1814. – M., Golos, 1992, 304 p.
Potto V.A. The Caucasian War in individual essays, episodes, legends and biographies. T.1. From ancient times to Ermolov. - St. Petersburg, Type. E. Evdokimova, 1887, 737 p.
Painting by Franz Roubaud “The Living Bridge”