In 1725, having lived for 53 years, Peter the first died suddenly. But our semi-mystical story has just begun. Peter was replaced by his wife Catherine. Her reign was short and not particularly distinguished. Two years later, she just as suddenly fell ill and in May 1727, at the age of only 43, she died.
The 11-year-old grandson of Peter 1, Peter 2, urgently ascended the throne. But he too suddenly died 3 years later in January 1730, at the age of 14. As they say from smallpox.
On February 4, 1730, the daughter of Ivan 5, Anna Ioannovna, enters the throne.
The first 5 years of her reign were quite peaceful. However, already in 1735, a whole series of military companies began, which were aimed at the war with Turkey. Let's again, as in the last series, dwell on the details of this nebulous war in a little more detail. But just a little bit. In order not to drown in the swamp of details.
Anna Ioannovna.
First Turkish campaign of 1735
The first detail that you should immediately pay attention to is the term itself - campaign. It implies the conduct of hostilities in the warm season. However, even 40 years ago, in 1695, no campaigns existed - the troops freely went on a campaign in the most severe January frosts, sieged the northern fortresses in October-November. Now the war suddenly began to be divided into campaigns.
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So the campaign of 1735. She was … and at the same time she was not. Just before the start, the commander-in-chief, Minikh, suddenly fell ill. So much so that he could not command. The army set out under the command of Lieutenant-General Leontyev, but something was wrong with it on the way. There was not enough food and water, and she did not even reach the Crimea, and returned.
Isn't it strange? Not enough food to travel through your own territory? Did the commanders suddenly forget that the army needs to be fed? Not enough water? There were no wells along the way? There were no villages, villages, cities where you could replenish supplies?
There were no forests, rivers where you could catch fish, slaughter a dozen or so wild boars to feed a tiny army of 20 thousand soldiers? Of course, I'm exaggerating, but in my opinion all this speaks about one thing - there were global changes in nature.
And by the way, what kind of army is this for the war with the Turks? 20 thousand … even 23-year-old Peter took 30 thousand with him on the very first Azov campaign, and then he did not have enough of these forces. What was Anna hoping for by sending such a handful? Or were there no more people? Where did they all go? And this is after 20 years of peace.
Second campaign 1736
The Russian army went south again. This time it was split into two parts. Most went along the Dnieper to the Crimea, and a smaller part went to Azov. Sounds like a red herring, right? all the more so since the commander-in-chief went not with a larger, but with a smaller army - precisely to Azov. But very quickly, seizing all the approaches to the city and apparently realizing that there would be no problems, Commander-in-Chief Minich joined the larger army.
But even there there was practically no resistance. The Russian army passed the entire Crimea without much difficulty, destroying all defensive structures on its way. Kinburn surrendered without a fight at all. However, the army did not linger in the Crimea. The reasons are again rather strange - supposedly the fatigue of the troops … but … was it not possible to rest and gain a foothold in the captured cities?
Why go to war if you don't expect to capture territory? Or was it a prolonged distraction, and the purpose of the capture was something else? And where was the Ottoman army and the Tatars, whose number 20 years ago in Peter's Prut campaign, reached 200 thousand? And some other diseases, because of which the army was halved. TWICE! What kind of illness is this, epileptic? Be that as it may, the Russian troops for obscure reasons retreated from the Crimea and returned, leaving only Azov for themselves.
Commander-in-Chief Minich.
Third campaign 1737
Throughout the winter, negotiations were conducted with Turkey on the part of Russia and Austria. Turkey was suddenly ready to make any concessions. However, Austria still entered the war against her. By the spring, the Russian army had finally gained the strength of 70 thousand and set out on a new campaign, again dividing into two parts.
On July 2, Ochakov was taken and the army moved further to Bendery, and the second army again to the Crimea. However, this time the Turks have already put up worthy resistance, and despite the successes of the Russian army, Crimea and Bendery again had to be surrendered. And again, as an explanation for this, we are given primarily unfavorable climatic conditions, diseases and mortality. The same thing is happening in the Austrian army.
Fourth campaign 1738
Over the winter, the Russian army was weakened for unknown reasons. The empress also refused to replenish the army to Minich. Nevertheless, by August, Russian troops again reached the banks of the Dniester, where quite recently, 20 years ago, there was a huge Ottoman group. However, here we first hear about an outbreak of plague. And because of this, the Russian army again hastily retreats, again leaves the Crimea and is melting before our eyes because of the plague.
Fifth campaign 1739
this time the army was replenished and strengthened. And again it is divided into two parts. The first went again to Yassy, and the second, smaller, again to the Crimea and the Kuban.
At the end of July, the Russian army approached the Prut, where 20 years ago Peter was surrounded by the 200 thousandth Ottoman group. This time the Ottoman forces were less - about 90 thousand, but still 50 percent higher than the Russian army, which had about 60 thousand people. Nevertheless, the Russian army utterly defeated the Turks, captured Khotin and Yassy, took a large ransom of 12,000 ducats and … as a result of the Belgrade Peace Treaty, retreated again.
Thus, of all the acquisitions of this war, only Azov remained with us, which we again, according to the terms of the contract, had to destroy …
That is, five years of a senseless war? it would seem yes. Is that some kind of Azov / Taganrog became ours …
The next year passed without military companies, which indicates either the complete defeat of the Russian troops, or that they still achieved their goal.
In October 1740, Empress Anne fell ill and died in just a week and a half. At 48 years of age.
Continuation: "Elizabeth and Siberia"