When was the Gulustan peace concluded?

The history of the Caucasus is rich in dramatic events and shocks caused by the Arab-Iranian expansion, the purpose of which was the forcible seizure of the territories of this vast region. She was crowned with the signing of the Gulustan peace, a treaty concluded between the government of Russia and Persia (Iran) in 1813. He initiated a new period in the life of the Caucasian peoples and for many years saved them from encroachments by aggressive neighbors.

Russian fortresses on the Terek River

To fully understand the importance that the Gulistan world had (1813), one should turn to history and trace the incessant series of invasions of Iran and Turkey to the territory of the Caucasus. It began in the 16th century, when in Russia, after the accession of the Astrakhan and Kazan khanates, the process of the formation of a centralized state was completed.

Despite all the difficulties of that period, in 1567, Tsar Ivan the Terrible found the opportunity to build on the Terek several fortresses that blocked the path to the Turkish and Persian conquerors. This was the beginning of the process of establishing friendly relations between Russia and the peoples of the Caucasus, one of whose links was the Gulustan peace signed two and a half centuries later.

Meanwhile, the construction of fortresses on the Terek was the reason for the tensions that arose between Russia, Iran and especially Turkey, which planned to spread its expansion throughout the entire North Caucasus. Russia, in turn, was also interested in consolidating its positions in this strategically important region, and repeatedly reflected the offensive of the Ottoman troops.

Appeals for help to the northern neighbor

In the ensuing 18th century, tensions intensified further, as a result of tough competition between Iran and Turkey, which tried to attract the local khans to their side and thus gain priority.

In such a situation, the population of the Caucasus, and especially the Dagestanis, had a very difficult time, and they repeatedly appealed to the Russian authorities during the 18th and 19th centuries to come to their aid. In the future this served as a factor, thanks to which the Gulustan peace was signed.

The aspiration of the Caucasian rulers under the scepter of the Russian tsars

Proceeding from the wishes of the residents of Dagestan, the founder of the Romanov Dynasty, Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, within a year after his accession to the throne, he accepted the Russian jurisdiction of the Avar, Erpilin, Kazikumukh and Kumyk khans along with the territories under their jurisdiction.

Later, throughout the XVII century, several more khans followed their example, which contributed to an additional strengthening of Russia's positions in the Caucasus. All the local rulers who voluntarily entered the scepter of the Moscow Tsar, assumed the obligation to protect Russian merchants, and to supplement the ranks of the regular army with their compatriots. Subject to these requirements, they received from the treasury salaries, otherwise they were outlawed.

Turkish aggression under the guise of a religious war

The peace thus established in the Caucasus turned out to be short-lived. Already in the next 18th century, Turkey, which activated its actions, brought discord. At this time, the reason for the expansion were available, according to the statements of its rulers, the retreats of a number of Caucasian peoples, and especially residents of Dagestan, from Sharia law. Declaring them a holy war of jihad, the Turks launched an open aggression.

In fact, at the beginning of active military operations, Turkey was pushed by the weakening of Iran (Persia) observed during that period, which was the result of the prolonged economic crisis in it. Since this state was considered by Istanbul as its main competitor, this moment seemed to the sultan the most favorable for the cardinal solution of territorial disputes.

Territorial disputes of the XVIII century

However, the plans of the Illustrious Port (as it was often called Turkey) were prevented by the same Russia headed by Peter I. By carrying out the Caspian campaign in 1722 and signing a peace treaty with Persia, he annexed the Baku, Derbent, Resht, As well as a number of provinces claimed by Turkey.

At the same time the sovereign accepted the citizenship of several Dagestani feudal lords. Even though the Ottomans managed to devastate Armenia, Georgia and a significant part of Azerbaijan, the sultan was forced to recognize Russia's rights to acquire it in the Caspian region. However, the concluded diplomatic agreements could not put an end to the incessant wars that tore the Caucasus throughout the 18th century.

The signing of a peace treaty with Turkey

Contrary to the fact that in the first decade of the 19th century the whole of Dagestan and the eastern part of Georgia were officially under the jurisdiction of Russian tsars, both the Turks and the Iranians reactivated their actions, wishing to take advantage of the complexities that Russia was experiencing at that time.

However, in spite of everything, representatives of the diplomatic corps of Alexander I in 1812 managed to conclude a peace treaty with the Ottoman Empire, which put an end to the Russian-Turkish war, which lasted for the last six years. The signing of this document for some time caused the Turks to abandon active operations in the Caucasus. It remained to resolve all the issues with Persia (Iran), and such a case soon appeared.

The agreement signed in Gulustan

The following year ended the Russian-Persian war, which lasted for the last nine years, in which the Persians suffered a crushing defeat, and their commander-in-chief, heir to the throne, barely escaped captivity. Such deplorable results of the military campaign demoralized both the population of the country and the ruling elite.

As a result, Russian diplomats were given the opportunity to conclude the Gulustan peace treaty (1813) on favorable terms for Moscow. Russia signed this document with Iran on September 12 in the small Garabagh village of Gulistan, which gave it its name and thus entered the history.

The role of the mediator in the talks was made by British diplomat Sir Horus Ousli. On the Russian side, the Gulistan world, whose terms were formulated in 11 articles, was signed by Lieutenant-General N. Rtishchev, and from the Persian one - by Abul-Hasan Khan.

The agreement was greeted with joy by all the peoples of the Caucasus. This is not surprising, since the military actions that preceded it severely undermined their economy, which was restored by the Gulustan peace treaty. Briefly state its essence can be, focusing on the main provisions contained in it.

What brought with him the next treaty with Persia

First of all, it provided for the cessation of mutual hostilities and the establishment of peace between Russia and Persia. Further, the document clearly defined the boundaries separating the two previously opposing sides, and listed territories that had departed to the Russian Empire, including Abkhazia, Imeretia, Kakheti, Dagestan, Guria, Megrelia, Kartli, and a significant part of modern Azerbaijan. In turn, Russia, signing the Gulustan peace, assumed the obligation to provide all-round assistance to Persia.

In addition, the agreement reached provided for the right of each party to free navigation throughout the water area of the Caspian Sea and exchange of prisoners captured during the last war. In the sphere of further diplomatic relations between Russia and the Persian state, the status of ambassadors and ministers was clearly defined.

Establishment of legal norms in the field of trade

Of the eleven articles of the treaty, three were trade rules between the two countries, also included in the Gulustan peace treaty. The terms of the agreement provided for the freedom of commercial activity of merchants of both parties in the territories of both states. In addition, the volume of levied duties was determined, as well as issues related to foreign trade.

Despite the fact that the Gulustan peace clearly and clearly established legal norms that allowed us to hope for a rapid increase in trade between the two states, in fact it came with a great delay, the cause of which was bureaucratic delays.

Due to the fault of the Russian officials, at the customs of Astrakhan and Baku for another five years, a duty was levied for long obsolete "The Forbidden Tariff of 1755" and implying payment of 23% of the cost of the imported goods.

Consequences of the conclusion of the Gulustan Treaty

The current situation was normalized only after the Gulustan peace treaty was officially promulgated in 1815. The conditions briefly listed in the previous sections of the article created a legal framework for establishing peaceful relations, which ultimately led to positive changes in the commercial sphere. As a result, the whole economy won.

Despite the fact that the Gulistan peace was concluded primarily with the aim of normalizing relations between Russia and Persia, it had a number of side effects, both positive and negative. On the one hand, he saved the peoples of Transcaucasia from invasions of Persian and Turkish invaders, contributed to the elimination of the centuries-old feudal disunity and the rise of the economy, and hence, the standard of living to a new height. But on the other hand, the rapprochement between the Russians and the people of the Caucasus caused by them often caused conflict between them on ethnic and religious grounds.

The new war and the next peace treaty

Moreover, the world that was established as a result of the conclusion of the Gulistan Treaty proved to be fragile. Already in 1826 Persia, instigated by Britain, violating the agreement reached earlier, unleashed a new Russian-Persian war, which lasted two years and ended with its next rout.

When the guns fell silent, and the initiative passed from the military to the diplomats, a peace treaty was signed, called Turkmanchay. According to his articles, Russia retained all the territories that had come to her as a result of the Gulistan Agreement, signed 13 years ago. Moreover, it received under its jurisdiction Nakhchivan and Erivan khanates, as well as the territory of Eastern Armenia. It is known that an outstanding Russian poet, playwright and diplomat Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov took part in working out the terms of this treaty.