Russo-Turkish War (1735–1739)
The Russo-Turkish War of 1735–1739 between Russia and the Ottoman Empire was caused by the Ottoman Empire's war with Persia and continuing raids by the Crimean Tatars.[5] The war also represented Russia's ongoing struggle for access to the Black Sea. In 1737, the Habsburg monarchy joined the war on Russia's side, known in historiography as the Austro-Turkish War of 1737–1739.
Russian diplomacy before the war[edit]
By the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War, Russia had successfully secured a favorable international situation. This was achieved through the signing of treaties with the Persian Empire from 1732 to 1735 (which was engaged in a conflict with the Ottoman Empire from 1730 to 1735) and by supporting the accession of Augustus III to the Polish throne in 1735, instead of Stanislaw Leszczynski, who had been nominated by pro-Ottoman France. Austria had been Russia's ally since 1726.
The final stage of the war[edit]
In 1739, the Russian army, commanded by Field Marshal Münnich, crossed the Dnieper, defeated the Turks at Stavuchany and occupied the fortresses of Khotyn (August 19) and Iaşi. However, Austria was defeated by the Turks at Grocka and signed a separate treaty in Belgrade with the Ottoman Empire on 21 August,[19] probably alarmed at the prospect of Russian military success.[20] This, coupled with the imminent threat of a Swedish invasion,[21] and Ottoman alliances with Prussia, Poland, and Sweden,[22] forced Russia to sign the Treaty of Niš with Turkey on 29 September, which ended the war.[23] The peace treaty granted Azov to Russia and consolidated Russia's control over the Zaporizhia[24] in exchange for Russia abandoning its claims to Crimea and Moldova.[25]
For Austria, the war proved a stunning defeat. The Russian forces were much more successful on the field, but they lost tens of thousands to disease.[26] The Russians had access to the Black Sea[27] but were not allowed to maintain any fleet in the Azov and Black Sea. [28][29]