As a result of the conclusion of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi peace between Russia and Turkey in 1774, the final conquest of Crimea became possible. The credit for this belongs to the favorite of the Empress G.A. Potemkin. This event had a key military-political and economic importance.
"GREEK PROJECT"
On July 10, 1774, peace was concluded with the Ottoman Empire in the village of Kuchuk-Kaynarji. The Black Sea cities of Kerch, Yenikali, and Kinburn went to Russia. Kabarda in the North Caucasus was recognized as Russian. Russia received the right to have a military and merchant navy at the Black Sea. Merchant ships could freely pass into the Mediterranean Sea through the Turkish Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. The Danube principalities (Wallachia, Moldavia, Bessarabia) formally remained with Turkey, but in fact Russia kept them under its protection. Türkiye was obliged to pay a huge indemnity of 4 million rubles. But the most significant loss Brilliant ports was recognition of independence Crimean Khanate.
In 1777-1778 in Russia, Commander-in-Chief G.A. Potemkin, who became the first person in the state after the empress, developed the “Greek project”. This project provided for the expulsion of the Turks from Europe by Russia in alliance with Austria, the liberation of Balkan Christians - Greeks, Bulgarians, the capture of Constantinople and the revival of the Byzantine Empire.
It was no coincidence that both of the empress’s grandsons, born at that time, received “antique” names - Alexander and Konstantin. They hoped to place their second grandson, Konstantin Pavlovich, on the Tsaregrad throne. This project, of course, was utopian. The Ottoman Empire was not yet so weak, and the European powers would not have allowed Russia to create a vassal “Byzantium”.
A truncated version of the “Greek project” provided for the creation of the state of Dacia from the Danube principalities with the same Constantine on the throne. They planned to cede part of the Danube lands to Russia's ally Austria. But they failed to come to an agreement with the Austrians about “Dacia”. Russian diplomats believed that Austrian territorial claims were excessive.
Soon, with the help of Russian troops, the Russian protege Khan Shagin-Girey reigned in Crimea. The former khan Devlet-Girey rebelled, but was forced to flee to Turkey. And on April 8, 1783, Catherine II promulgated a decree on the inclusion of Crimea into Russia. The newly annexed Crimean possessions were called Taurida. The Empress's favorite Grigory Potemkin (Prince Tauride) had to take care of their settlement, economic development, construction of cities, ports, and fortresses. The main base of the newly created Russian Black Sea Navy was to be Sevastopol in Crimea. This city was built on the ground ancient Chersonesos, known in Russian chronicles under the name Korsun.
FROM THE MANIFESTO OF CATHERINE II OF APRIL 8, 1783
...In such circumstances, WE were forced, in order to preserve the integrity of the building OUR erected, one of the best acquisitions from the war, to accept the well-meaning Tatars under OUR patronage, give them freedom, elect another legitimate Khan in Sahib-Girey’s place, and establish his rule; for this it was necessary to set OUR military forces in motion, to detach them to the most harsh time the nth corps to the Crimea, keep it there for a long time, and finally act against the rebels by force of arms; from which a new war almost broke out with the Ottoman Porte, as it is in everyone’s fresh memory.
Thanks be to the Almighty! Then this storm passed with recognition from the Porte of the legitimate and autocratic Khan in the person of Shagin-Girey. Making this change was not cheap for OUR Empire; but WE at least hoped that the future would be rewarded with security from the neighborhood. Time, and a short one, however, actually contradicted this assumption.
Rose last year new rebellion, whose true principles are not hidden from US, forced US again to full armament and to a new detachment of OUR troops to the Crimea and to the Kuban side, which remain there to this day: for without them peace, silence and order could not exist among the Tatars, when active For many children, the trial already proves in every possible way that just as their previous subordination to the Porte was the reason for coldness and strife between both powers, so their transformation into a free region, with their inability to taste the fruits of such freedom, serves to the ever-present worries, losses and troubles of US OUR troops...
“DID MORE FOR RUSSIA IN THE SOUTH THAN PETER I IN THE NORTH”
By order of Catherine II, immediately after the annexation of Crimea, the frigate “Caution” was sent to the peninsula under the command of Captain II Rank Ivan Mikhailovich Bersenev to select a harbor off the southwestern coast. In April 1783, he examined the bay near the village of Akhti-ar, located near the ruins of Chersonese-Tauride. I.M. Bersenev recommended it as a base for ships of the future Black Sea Fleet. Catherine II, by her decree of February 10, 1784, ordered the founding here “of a military port with an admiralty, a shipyard, a fortress and to make it a military city.” At the beginning of 1784, a port-fortress was founded, named Sevastopol by Catherine II - “The Majestic City”. In May 1783, Catherine II sent a returnee from abroad after treatment to Crimea, who brilliantly resolved all diplomatic and political problems regarding the Russian presence on the Crimean Peninsula.
In June 1783, in Karasubazar, on the top of Mount Ak-Kaya, Prince Potemkin took the oath of allegiance to Russia Crimean nobility and representatives of all segments of the Crimean population. The Crimean Khanate ceased to exist. The zemstvo government of Crimea was organized, which included Prince Shirinsky Mehmetsha, Haji-Kyzy-Aga, Kadiasker Musledin Efendi.
The order of G.A. has been preserved. Potemkin to the commander of Russian troops in the Crimea, General de Balmain, on July 4, 1783: “Her will Imperial Majesty“There is a requirement that all troops stationed in the Crimean peninsula treat the residents in a friendly manner, without causing any offense, for which superiors and regimental commanders set an example.”
In August 1783, De Balmain was replaced by the new ruler of Crimea, General I.A. Igelstrom, who turned out to be a good organizer. In December 1783, he created the “Tauride Regional Board”, which, together with the zemstvo rulers, included almost the entire Crimean Tatar nobility. On June 14, 1784, the first meeting of the Tauride regional board was held in Karasubazar.
By decree of Catherine II of February 2, 1784, the Tauride region was established under the control of the appointed and president of the military college G.A. Potemkin, consisting of the Crimean Peninsula and Taman. The Decree said: “... the Crimean peninsula with the land lying between Perekop and the borders of the Ekaterinoslav governorship, establishing a region under the name of Tauride, until the increase in population and various necessary institutions makes it convenient to establish its province, we entrust it to the management of our general, Ekaterinoslavsky and to the Tauride Governor-General Prince Potemkin, whose feat fulfilled our very assumption and that of all these lands, allowing him to divide that region into districts, appoint cities, prepare for the opening during the current year, and report to us about all the details related to this and to our Senate."
On February 22, 1784, by decree of Catherine II, the upper class of Crimea was granted all rights and benefits Russian nobility. Russian and Tatar officials, on the orders of G. A. Potemkin, compiled lists of 334 new Crimean nobles who retained land ownership. On February 22, 1784, Sevastopol, Feodosia and Kherson were declared open cities for all friendly nations Russian Empire. Foreigners could freely come and live in these cities and take Russian citizenship.
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Gorozhanina Marina Yurievna/ Ph.D., Associate Professor
Very interesting material, but it is not clear why not a word is said about joining the Russian Empire along with the Crimean Khanate and the right bank of the Kuban. It was quite landmark event In many ways, it was precisely this that contributed to Russia’s advance into the North Caucasus.
At the end of the 18th century, the right bank of the Kuban was inhabited by nomadic hordes of Nogais, as well as Nekrasov Cossacks. It was urgently necessary to strengthen the southern borders of the Russian Empire. Important role A.V. played in this Suvorov, under whose leadership the construction of Russian defensive fortifications in the Kuban began. He is also considered the founding father of the city of Ekaterinodar (Krasnodar), which was founded in 1793 on the site of a fortress erected by order of A.V. Suvorov.
An important role in the fate of the Cossacks was played by the main “culprit” of Crimea’s entry into the Russian Empire, gr. G.A. Potemkin. On his initiative, the Black Sea was created in 1787 from the remnants of the former Zaporizhian Cossacks Cossack army, which earned itself this name for its brilliant victories on the Black Sea during the Russian-Turkish War of 1787-1791.
The entry of Crimea into the Russian Empire is brilliant victory Russian diplomacy, as a result of which the threat of constant invasion or betrayal by the Crimean Khanate was removed.
Russia was regaining the lands where the legendary Tmutarakan principality once stretched. In many ways, the intensification of Russian politics on Wed. XVIII century This region was facilitated by concern for Christian brothers, whose position under the rule of the Muslim Crimea was very difficult. According to the memoirs of Archpriest Trifillius, the closest assistant to the Got[f]o-Kefai Metropolitans Gideon and Ignatius, the life of the Orthodox in these places was extremely difficult: “We suffered great fears from the Tatars; they hid wherever they could, in houses and closets themselves. I hid the Metropolitan in secret places known to me. And the Tatars were looking for us; If they had found it, they would have cut it into pieces.” The burning of the entire Christian village of Rusokhat by the Tatars also testifies to the tragedy of Christians. Acts of oppression of the Greek Christian population were recorded in 1770, 1772, 1774.
In 1778 it was organized mass exodus Christians from Crimea. Until now, there is no consensus among studies as to why this happened. Some see this as an attempt by the Russian autocracy to remove the Christian population of Crimea from the influence of the Patriarch of Constantinople, others believe that by providing assistance and land on the territory of the Russian Empire, Catherine II sought, first of all, to economically weaken the Crimean Khanate. In a rescript to Rumyantsev dated March 19, 1778, Catherine II, regarding the issue of resettlement in the Novorossiysk and Azov provinces, wrote that there “under Our protection they will find the quietest life and possible prosperity"22. Prince Potemkin and Count Rumyantsev were ordered to take all measures to provide new subjects with food, supply them with everything they needed locally, as well as privileges. Management of the resettlement process was entrusted to A.V. Suvorov.
As a result of these events, the Christian population in Crimea declined sharply. According to the statistical report compiled for Prince Potemkin, in 1783 there were 80 Orthodox churches in Crimea, including only 33 that were not destroyed. Only 27,412 Christians lived on the peninsula. After Crimea became part of the Russian Empire, reverse process restoration of Christianity in this region, but it was carried out at a very slow pace. On this occasion, Archbishop Innocent wrote in a report in a report Holy Synod(1851) “...according to the current Code of Laws, it is much more profitable for Mohammedans to remain Muslim than to convert to Christianity; for along with this transition he is immediately subjected to various duties that are new to him, such as recruitment, payment of large taxes, etc. The dignity of the prevailing faith, the most just and sound policy would require the removal of this obstacle, at least to the extent that a Mohammedan, upon conversion to Christianity, if he did not enjoy new rights, would retain the old ones, albeit for life. If Christianity is opened through this door, the benefit of the state itself is obvious: for a Muslim, until he enters the temple, will always turn his eyes and heart to Mecca and consider the foreign Padishah the head of his faith and all devout Muslims.”
Today Crimea is perceived primarily as a resort region. But in the past it was fought over as a strategic foothold of special importance. For this reason, in the century, the smartest figures in Russia spoke out in favor of including the peninsula into its composition. The annexation of Crimea to the Russian Empire took place in an unusual way - peacefully, but as a result of wars.
Long history of the association
From the end of the 15th century. the mountainous Crimea and the coast belonged to Turkey, and the rest to the Crimean Khanate. The latter, throughout its existence, was to one degree or another dependent on the Porte.
Relations between Crimea and Russia have not been easy. Southern lands were subjected to Tatar raids (remember: “The Crimean Khan is outrageous on the Izyum Road”), Rus' even had to pay tribute to the khans. At the end XVII century Prince Vasily Golitsyn committed two unsuccessful attempts military conquest of the khan's lands.
With the advent of the fleet, the significance of Crimea for Russia changed. Now the possibility of passage through was important; it was necessary to resist Turkish attempts to again turn the Black Sea into their “internal lake”.
In the 18th century, Russia fought several wars with Turkey. In all, success was on our side, although varying degrees. Crimea, dependent on the Turks, could no longer resist the empire on equal terms, having turned into a bargaining chip. In particular, the Karasubazar Treaty of 1772 demanded the restoration of complete independence of the Khanate from the Ottomans. In fact, it turned out that Tauris was unable to take advantage of its independence. There was a crisis of power there.
Rich in throne changes. Studying the lists of ruling khans allows us to establish: many of them ascended the throne twice, or even three times. This happened due to the precariousness of the ruler’s power, who could not resist the influence of the clergy and groups of the nobility.
Failed Europeanization in history
It was started by the Crimean Tatar ruler, serving as one of the prerequisites for the annexation of Crimea to Russia in 1783. Shahin-Girey, who previously ruled the Kuban, was appointed as a leader on the peninsula in 1776, not without the help of imperial support. It was cultural educated person, who lived in Europe for a long time. He wanted to create a system similar to the European one in his country. 
But Shahin-Girey miscalculated. His steps to nationalize the estates of the clergy, reform the army and ensure equal rights for followers of all religions were perceived by the Tatars as heresy and high treason. A revolt began against him.
In 1777 and 1781 Russian soldiers helped suppress uprisings supported and inspired by the Turks. At the same time, Grigory Potemkin (not yet Tavrichesky at that time) specifically pointed out to army commanders A.V. Suvorov and Count de Balmain should treat the locals who were not directly involved in the uprisings as gently as possible. The ability to execute was transferred to the local leadership.
And the educated Europeanizer took advantage of this right so zealously that all hope of forcing his subjects to submit to him voluntarily disappeared.
Briefly about the annexation of Crimea to Russia in 1783.
Potemkin correctly assessed the state of affairs and at the end of 1782 he turned to Tsarina Catherine II with a proposal to include Crimea into Russia. He referred to both clear military benefits and the existence of “generally accepted world practice,” citing specific examples annexations and colonial conquests. 
The Empress heeded the prince, who was the main figure in the annexation of the Black Sea region that had already taken place. He received a secret order from her to prepare for the annexation of Crimea, but in such a way that the residents were ready to express such a wish themselves. On April 8, 1783, the queen signed a corresponding decree and at the same time the troops moved to Kuban and Taurida itself. This date is officially considered the day of the annexation of Crimea.
Potemkin, Suvorov and Count de Balmain carried out the order. The troops demonstrated goodwill towards the residents, while at the same time preventing them from uniting to counter the Russians. Shahin Giray abdicated the throne. The Crimean Tatars were promised the preservation of freedom of religion and traditional way of life.
On July 9, the royal manifesto was published before the Crimeans and the oath of allegiance to the empress was taken. From this moment on, Crimea is part of the empire de jure. There were no protests - Potemkin recalled to everyone who tried to object their own colonial appetites.
Protection of new subjects of the Russian Empire
Did Crimea benefit from its annexation to Russia? Most likely yes. The only downside is significant demographic losses. But they were the result not only of emigration among the Tatars, but also of epidemics, wars, and uprisings that took place before 1783. 
If we briefly list the positive factors, the list will be impressive:
- The empire kept its word - the population could freely practice Islam, retained property holdings and traditional way of life.
- The Tatar nobility received the rights of the nobility of Russia, except for one thing - to own serfs. But there were no serfs among the poor either - they were considered state peasants.
- Russia invested in the development of the peninsula. The most important achievement is called construction, which stimulated trade and crafts.
- Several cities received open status. As they would say now, this caused an influx of foreign investment.
- Annexation to Russia caused an influx of foreigners and compatriots to Crimea, but they did not have any special preferences compared to the Tatars.
In general, Russia fulfilled its promise - the new subjects were treated no worse, if not better, than the original ones.
In the past, political values were different from today, so everyone considered the annexation of Crimea to the Russian Empire in 1783 as a normal and rather positive phenomenon. At that time, states recognized that methods acceptable to them could be used by others. But it did not become a powerless colony, turning into a province - no worse than others. In conclusion, we offer a video about the above historical event in the life of the Crimean peninsula, enjoy watching!
Why was Crimea annexed to Russia? Events developed so rapidly that many Russians did not even have time to blink an eye when the Russian Federation was replenished with two subjects: Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, which has a unique status.
The suddenness and speed of the process caused a mixed reaction from the Russian population. Most Russians to this day have no idea about true reasons, which prompted Russian government take this step. What motives were it guided by, and why did Russia decide to regain Crimean peninsula, deliberately going into open confrontation with the majority of countries in the world community (the answer to the question: “why did Khrushchev give up Crimea” is no less interesting)?
History of the peninsula
First, you should look deeper into history to understand the full significance of this peninsula.
The history of the conquest of the peninsula begins in mid-16th century century. Target Crimean campaigns was to ensure the security of the southern borders of the Russian kingdom and access to the Black Sea.
The Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774 ended with the conquest of the peninsula and the signing of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace Treaty, according to which the Crimean Khanate, having left Ottoman influence, came under the protectorate of the Russian Empire. Russia received the fortresses of Kinburn, Yenikape and Kerch.
The annexation of Crimea to Russia (completely bloodless) occurred in 1783, after the signing of a historical act between Turkey and Russia. This meant the end of the independence of the Crimean Khanate. The fortresses of Sudzhuk-Kale and Ochakov passed to the Turkish side.
Joining the Russian Empire brought peace to the land, which was the object of continuous armed clashes and strife. Very short time were built big cities(such as Sevastopol and Yevpatoria), trade began to flourish, culture began to develop, and the Black Sea Fleet was founded.
In 1784, the peninsula entered the Tauride region, the center of which was Simferopol.
The next Russian-Turkish war, which ended with the signing of the Iasi Peace Treaty, reaffirmed the Russian ownership of the Crimean Peninsula. The entire territory of the northern Black Sea region was assigned to Russia.
Since 1802, Crimea was part of the Tauride province, which existed until the beginning of civil war(1917-23).
When did the merger take place?
The process of annexing the peninsula was preceded by an all-Crimean referendum on April 16, 2014, the results of which eloquently testified to the desire of the overwhelming majority of the local population to become citizens of Russia.
After the completion of the referendum Krymsky The Supreme Council proclaimed the formation of the independent Republic of Crimea on April 17, 2014. The next day, the peninsula (as an independent Republic with the right to personally decide the future of its own territory) became part of the Russian Federation.
How did the general Crimean vote take place?
Higher representative body Crimean autonomy did not initially plan for the Republic to secede from Ukraine. It was only intended to discuss the issue of improving the status of autonomy and some expansion of its powers.
However, due to the fact that the unrest in Ukraine became unpredictable, it was decided to speed up the referendum. The general Crimean vote took place on March 16, 2014.
In the first days of March, the results of secret opinion polls showed that almost the entire population of Crimea advocates the annexation of the autonomy to Russia. It was this fact that finally convinced Russian President V. Putin of the need to return the peninsula.
Two days before the announced vote (March 14), the Ukrainian Constitutional Court declared that the voting results could not have legal force. Thus, the resolution legislature Crimea, voting was outlawed.
Active opposition from the Ukrainian government failed to disrupt the vote. Almost 97% of referendum participants voted for the reunification of Crimea and Russia. Turnout was approximately 83-85% of total number officially registered persons on the territory of the peninsula who have the right to vote in a referendum based on their age.
How did the Crimean Republic become a subject of Russia?
The day after the voting results were summed up, Crimea was given the status of an independent state and renamed the Republic of Crimea.
The State Council of the Republic approached the Russian government with a proposal for the new state to join Russia as a full-fledged entity while maintaining its republican status.
The decree recognizing the new sovereign state was signed by the head of the Russian Federation V. Putin on March 17, 2014.
Legal basis
The next day (March 18) after the signing of the decree recognizing the Crimean Republic Russian President turned to Federal Assembly. After this speech, an interstate agreement was signed on the admission of the Republic to the Federation.
On March 18, the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, on behalf of V. Putin, began checking the concluded interstate agreement for its compliance with the Constitution. The inspection was completed the next day and found the agreement to be in compliance with the basic law of the Russian Federation.
On March 21, the President of the Russian Federation signed two laws at once: one ratified the adoption of the treaty on the accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation, and the other prescribed the details of the procedure for the entry of new entities into the Federation and the features of the transition stage in the integration process.
On the same day, the establishment of the Crimean Federal District was announced.
Why is a transition period necessary?
All details of the gradual integration period are discussed in the relevant legal documents.
The transition period will be in effect until January 1, 2015. During this time, new entities must undergo a gradual entry into all government agencies RF.
During the transition phase, all aspects of carrying military service and conscription in Russian army from annexed territories.
What explains the speed of the process of incorporating Crimea?
Few people know that in the spring of 2014 the world was on the verge of the third world war. The reunification of Crimea and the Russian Federation stopped the process of its occupation by NATO troops.
As a result of the actions of the puppet government of Ukraine, the peninsula could turn into a central NATO military base. These are precisely the plans hatched by the American military, which secretly controls political unrest, which led to the outbreak of unrest in Ukraine.
Already in May 2014, Crimea was supposed to be at the disposal of NATO troops. Repair work at many sites intended to accommodate infrastructure and personnel military units American troops, were in full swing.
On May 15, the Ukrainian government represented by Yatsenyuk was supposed to announce the termination of the lease agreement for the Sevastopol base (where the Black Sea Fleet Russia), concluded between Russia and Ukraine in April 2010 for a period of 25 years.
If this treaty were to be denounced, Russia would be forced to withdraw its fleet from the Crimean region. This would mean the irretrievable loss of a strategically important facility.
Creation of a large military base right next door to the Russian Federation would mean a constant source of political tension, fraught with many interethnic conflicts.
The actions of the Russian government thwarted the plans of the American military and pushed back the threat of a global military catastrophe.
Reaction of the world community
The opinions of world powers regarding the annexation of the peninsula are divided: some countries respect the right of the local population to freedom of expression and support the actions of the Russian government. Another part considers such behavior a violation of international norms.
In 1441, on the territory of the Crimean peninsula after the collapse of the Golden Horde, the Crimean Khanate arose, which, in addition to the steppe and foothill parts of Crimea, also occupied the lands between the Danube and the Dnieper, the Azov region and most modern Krasnodar region Russia. In 1478, after the Turkish military expedition The Crimean Khanate was subjugated Ottoman Empire. After the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774, under the terms of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace of 1774, Crimea became an independent state and remained so until 1783.
All this time, the Crimean Tatars repeatedly raided Russian lands; in the 16th-17th centuries this happened almost every year.
The Tatars drove people into slavery, stole horses and cattle, and committed robberies. The dependence of Crimea on the Ottoman Empire aggravated the situation - if earlier the income of the Crimean Khanate consisted of payments from the Genoese colonies and Greek cities for permission and protection of their trade and agricultural production, then with the arrival of the Ottomans, the existing distribution of roles was disrupted, the grain trade came to naught, and the Khanate had to look for new sources of income. The slave trade turned out to be in great demand and became the main way of earning money. Crimean Tatars. In total, according to historians, more than 3 million people were taken into slavery.
The historian wrote: “During the 16th century. from year to year thousands of the border population disappeared for the country, and tens of thousands best people countries moved to the southern border to protect the inhabitants of the central regions from captivity and ruin. If you imagine how much time and material and spiritual effort was lost in this monotonous and rough, painful pursuit of the crafty steppe predator, hardly anyone will ask what people were doing of Eastern Europe“When did Western Europe achieve its successes in industry and trade, in society, in the sciences and arts?”
In an attempt to resist the Tatars, Russia created “ military border", building abatis - defensive lines, which interfered with the Crimean cavalry. In addition, the state supported the Cossacks as a counterweight to the Crimean troops.
During Livonian War in 1571 the Tatars completely burned Moscow. A year later, Khan Devlet-Girey tried to repeat the success. But 45 km from Moscow, near the village of Molodi, his army was stopped and defeated by the army of Mikhail Vorotynsky. As a result of this defeat, Crimea abandoned its claims to the Volga khanates - Kazan and Astrakhan. After the defeat at Molodi, the Tatars no longer undertook such large raids on Russian lands.
Meanwhile, the Russian kingdom continued to expand, annexing new territories.
In addition to Kazan and Astrakhan Khanates it to XVIII century included Khanate of Siberia, Bashkiria, Tyumen, lands of the Piebald Horde (now - Krasnoyarsk region, Tomsk, Kemerovo region), Zaporozhye, Southern Urals, the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk and many other lands. Under Peter I, Russia had another goal besides ensuring the security of its territories - to gain access to the Black Sea.
By that time, shipping had become an important tool of trade and the main method of delivering goods. Russia had virtually no access to the seas. At the end of the 17th century, during another conflict, Russia conquered Azov, and with it access to Sea of Azov, but already in 1711 lost it after the next Russian-Turkish War.
The Russian-Turkish War of 1735-1739 was a disaster for Crimea.
In 1736, the army of General Burchard Christoph von Minich completely destroyed Kezlev (now Yevpatoria) and Bakhchisarai, the cities were burned, and all the inhabitants who did not have time to escape were killed. The army moved to the east of Crimea, but due to the abundance of decomposing corpses, a cholera epidemic began. Some of the troops died, the survivors had to retreat.
IN next year eastern part Crimea was ravaged by the army of General Peter Lassi. The troops burned Karasubazar (now Belogorsk), also dealing with the population of the city. In 1738 it was planned new trip, but it was canceled because the army could no longer feed itself - there was simply no food in the devastated Crimea and hunger reigned.
The Crimean Khanate finally fell to Russian-Turkish War 1768-1774, which was unleashed by Khan Kyrym Geray. Bakhchisarai lay in ruins, villages were burned, people were killed civilians. On July 10, 1774, the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace was concluded, which also implied the independence of the Crimean Khanate from both the Ottoman Empire and Russia.
Thanks to the treaty, Russian subjects received the right to enjoy the same benefits within Turkey as the peoples allied to the Turks, Russian ships sailed freely in Turkish waters, Turkey stopped taking taxes from Georgia and Megrelia (region of Western Georgia) and recognized the freedom of religion of Balkan Christians.
The Ottoman Empire was at a disadvantage.
The treaty weakened its influence in the Caucasus and the Balkan Peninsula, thereby allowing Russia to strengthen its position. However, Turkey continually acted in circumvention of the agreement - it carried out campaigning in Crimea, did not allow Russian ships into the Black Sea, and did not pay Russia the imposed indemnity.
Crimea ended up in difficult situation. Although the Ottoman Empire agreed to recognize his independence, it was preparing for a new war. The threat of reprisals hung over the Christian population of the peninsula.
In 1776, Russia created the Dnieper line - a series of border fortresses to protect their southern borders from the Crimean Tatars. There were seven fortresses - they stretched from the Dnieper to the Sea of Azov.
The last Khan of Crimea was Russian protégé Shahin Giray. He ruled without regard for the locals national customs, tried to carry out reforms in the state and reorganize governance according to the European model, to equalize the rights of the Muslim and non-Muslim population of Crimea. Very soon the people began to consider him an apostate and a traitor. In 1777, an uprising broke out and was suppressed by Russian troops.
Prince Grigory Potemkin in 1778-1779 organized the resettlement of almost all Christians from Crimea - mainly Armenians and Greeks, who made up the bulk of artisans and traders. This greatly undermined the economy of the Khanate.
In 1781, a new uprising broke out in Crimea, which by the summer of 1782 had engulfed the entire peninsula.
Khan was forced to flee.
Although with the help Russian troops and this uprising was suppressed, the position of Shahin Giray remained extremely precarious.
Empress Catherine II counted on the annexation of Crimea to Russia - it had great military-political and economic significance. Potemkin shared the same opinion. “The acquisition of Crimea can neither strengthen nor enrich you, but will only bring you peace,” he convinced the empress in 1782. “Believe me, with this acquisition you will receive immortal glory such as no other sovereign in Russia has ever had.” This glory will pave the way to another and greater glory: with Crimea we will also gain dominance in the Black Sea.”
In the Archive foreign policy Russia has preserved his voluminous note “On Crimea” with detailed arguments in favor of annexing the peninsula: “...Imagine this place in your hands. You will suddenly see a happy change for your state. The border will not be torn between two neighbors that are forever at war with us by another third, and which, simply put, is almost in our bosom...”
“Now suppose that Crimea is yours and that this wart on your nose is no longer there - suddenly the position of the borders is excellent...” wrote Potemkin. — The power of attorney of the residents in the Novorossiysk province will then be beyond doubt. Navigation in the Black Sea is free. Otherwise, if you please, consider that it is difficult for your ships to leave, and even more difficult to enter.”
In December 1782, Catherine expressed her will to Potemkin “to appropriate the peninsula and annex it to the Russian Empire.”
“Meanwhile, we are convinced that you, bringing and tilting affairs there to the state we desire and to our direct goal, will not fail to use all the ways to establish close connections among the Tatar peoples, instill in them goodwill and trust in our side, and, when It will be necessary to persuade them to bring us a request to accept them as our subjects,” she wrote.
By order of the Empress, Potemkin had to personally lead the annexation of the Crimean Khanate to Russia. On April 19, 1783, she signed the manifesto prepared by Potemkin on the annexation of Crimea to Russia. In this document, the Crimean residents were promised “holy and unshakably for themselves and the successors of our throne to support them on an equal basis with our natural subjects, to protect and defend their persons, property, temples and their natural faith...”
On the same day, Potemkin went to the south of Crimea, and on the way he received news that Shahin Giray had renounced the Khanate due to the hatred of his subjects. This event only contributed to the annexation of Crimea to Russia.
The manifesto was kept secret - Catherine II feared that the annexation of Crimea would not only cause new war with Turkey, but also the intervention of European states.
Therefore, the manifesto was kept for some time in a wooden box lined with iron.
In the following months, Potemkin distributed so-called “sworn papers” throughout Crimea, which indicated that the residents of this or that settlement swear allegiance to Russia. Only after Potemkin collected responses from the bulk of the population of Crimea that they wanted to become part of the Russian Empire, the manifesto was made public.
This happened on July 9 during the solemn oath of the Crimean nobility, which Potemkin personally took. The celebrations were accompanied by refreshments, games, horse races and a cannon salute.
In February 1784, the Empress officially approved the borders of the Tauride region, of which Potemkin was appointed head. The region included the entire peninsula and Taman. The decree stated the following: “... the entire Crimea and the land located between Perekop and the Ekaterinoslav province becomes a region, which should be called Tauride. Its management is entrusted to Prince Potemkin, who earned this responsible post with his deeds and exploits. He is commanded to delimit the newly formed region into counties and cities and organize on the land of this economic activity, to which to attract the local nobility. “He is instructed to put all matters in order this year, after which he will come to St. Petersburg and present a detailed report to us and our Senate.”
Having received the title of Prince of Tauride, Potemkin had to directly deal with the new lands: build new cities, ports on the coast, and develop economic activities.
Also in the winter of 1784, Catherine II ordered that the highest Crimean Tatar class be elevated to the rank of Russian nobility.
This made it possible for the local nobility, on an equal basis with the Russian nobles, to enjoy all the benefits and rights they were entitled to.
Potemkin organized a special group consisting of Russian and Tatar officials, which was engaged in asserting the rights of the Crimean nobles. More than 300 upper-class Crimean Tatars received official papers with the imperial seal, which allowed them to retain their ancestral land ownership.
When Russia officially notified the European powers of the annexation of Crimea, only France protested. In response to the French notes, the President of the College of Foreign Affairs, Ivan Osterman, reminded the French envoy that Catherine II at one time turned a blind eye to the seizure of Corsica by France, which occurred in 1768.
Instructions
The history of Crimea stands out for its diversity even against the global background. He was also the center of a powerful dispute with Rome, Bosporan Kingdom, and the home of many barbarian tribes, and a distant province of Orthodox Byzantium, and then of the Muslim Ottoman Empire. The name Crimea was given to it by the Cumans, who captured the Crimean peninsula in the 12th century. The ancient Greeks and the Genoese left a bright mark on the history of Crimea. Both founded trading posts and colonies, which later developed into cities that still exist today.
Crimea first appeared in the Russian orbit in the 9th century, while still a Byzantine possession: one of the authors was sent into exile here Slavic alphabet Kirill. The mutual significance of Crimea and Rus' becomes clearly visible in the 10th century: it was here, in Chersonesos, that Vladimir the Great was baptized in 988, from whom the Russian land was baptized. Later, in the 11th century, Crimea for some time became part of the Russian Principality of Tmutarakan, its center was the city of Korchev, now Kerch. Thus, Kerch is the first Russian city of Crimea, but it was founded back in Ancient World. Then Kerch was the Cimmerian Bosporus, the capital of the Bosporan kingdom.
Mongol invasion permanently separated Crimea from Rus' in politically. However economic ties remained. Russian merchants regularly visited Crimea, and in Cafe (Feodosia) with short breaks There was a permanent Russian colony. In the last quarter of the 15th century, Afanasy Nikitin, returning from his “Walking across the Three Seas” completely ruined, robbed and sick, borrowed gold in Trabzon (Trebizond) to cross the Black Sea, so that later “he could give it to the Cafe.” The first European to see India did not have the slightest doubt that his fellow countrymen would not come from Kafa anywhere and would help out their relative in trouble.
Russia's first attempts to firmly establish itself in Crimea date back to the beginning of the reign of Peter the Great ( Azov campaign). But a much more important one was brewing. North War, which immediately opened a window to Europe, and after rather sluggish negotiations in Istanbul on Crimea, an agreement was concluded on the basis of: “we will destroy the Dnieper towns (strongholds of the Russian army), as agreed, but in return we will be around Azov on Russian soil for ten days of riding.” . Crimea did not fall into this zone, and the Turks soon ceased to comply with the terms of the agreement.
Crimea finally became part of Russia only during the reign of Catherine II: Suvorov, figuratively speaking, gave the Ottomans such a hard time that they were ready to give even more just to get rid of these crazy Russians. But it is incorrect to consider the date of the conclusion of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace Treaty (1774) as the time of its accession. According to it, an independent khanate was formed in Crimea under the patronage of Russia.
Judging by what follows, new Crimean khans turned out to be independent even from simple common sense: already in 1776 Suvorov personally had to lead military operation to save Orthodox Christians and Greeks living in Crimea from the tyranny of Muslims. Finally, on April 19, 1783, Catherine, who had lost all patience, expressed herself, according to Trediakovsky’s memoirs, “in a completely Horse Guards manner,” and finally signed the Manifesto on the annexation of Crimea and Taman to Russia.
Turkey did not like this, and Suvorov had to smash the infidels again. The war dragged on until 1791, but Turkey was defeated, and in the same year, according to the Treaty of Jassy, it recognized the annexation of Crimea by Russia. Main principles international law took shape long before the 18th century, and Europe had no choice but to also recognize Crimea as Russian, since both the most interested parties came to an agreement on this issue. It was from this day, December 29, 1791 (January 9, 1792), that Crimea became Russian de jure and de facto.
Russian Crimea became part of the Tauride province. Back in the 70s of the last century Western historians did not hesitate to write that the inclusion of Crimea into Russia turned out to be beneficial for him and was accepted local population with enthusiasm. At least our compatriots did not impale people for the slightest offense and did not break into the houses of citizens to determine whether they adhered to Sharia law or not. And, no less important, winemaking, pig farming and fishing from fishing vessels on the high seas were not prohibited. Yes and Orthodox Church, unlike Islam and Catholicism, has never imposed mandatory taxes on parishioners in a strictly established amount.
A contribution that is difficult to overestimate was made to the development of Taurida by Catherine’s favorite (and her last real love) Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin, for which he was elevated to princely dignity with the addition of the title Tauride. Insertions into his titles “brightest”, “magnificent”, etc. - the fruit of the servility of court sycophants, not officially confirmed in any way. Suffice it to say that under his leadership such cities as Ekaterinoslav (Dnepropetrovsk), Nikolaev, Kherson, Pavlovsk (Mariupol) were founded, and under his successor, Count Vorontsov, Odessa.
The “Tauride miracle” amazed the world, and not only poor settlers, but also well-born aristocrats with European names flocked to Novorossiya from abroad. Russian Taurida turned into blooming land: Vorontsov skillfully continued Potemkin’s work. In particular, thanks to his efforts, the resort glory of the Crimea was born and strengthened, starting with Yalta. Remember Odessa? Duke de Richelieu, relative of the famous cardinal ruler, Marquis de Langeron and General Baron de Ribas. The revolution drove them out of France, but they moved not to England, which was gathering an army and navy of the royalists, but to Novorossiya. Probably because they wanted to stand and prosper, and not kill their compatriots.
One way or another, the decree of February 19, 1954 was just an internal state document that did not and does not have any international significance. Abandonment Autonomous Republic Crimea as part of Ukraine during the collapse of the USSR was solely an act good will Russian Federation, as well as the fact that it assumed all external debts Soviet Union. Therefore, the people of Crimea, having encountered attempts to surreptitiously destroy their autonomy and reduce the Constitution of the Republic of Crimea to the level of a meaningless piece of paper, had every legal and moral right to hold a referendum on secession from Ukraine and return to Russia.