ISSN: 1308-6200 | Publisher: Kültür Ajans 

Karadeniz International Scientific Journal

This is an internationally refereed social science journal that is published every three months (quarterly) in electronic-based and print-based since 2009. The journal publishes four issues each year (March, June, September, and December).

The publication language of this journal is Turkish, English, or Russian.

This is an open-access journal. Therefore, all issues and articles published so far can be accessed free of charge from the journal's website.

 

Issue 64
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THE ANALYSIS THE WAR OF 1828-29 IN THE CONTEXT OF OTTOMAN DEFENSE AND LOGISTICS SYSTEMS

Levent KÜÇÜK

The decisive factor in the Ottoman-Russian wars of the 19th century was not only the failure of the Ottoman armies to modernize and renew their military technologies. The improvement of the Russian armies in terms of technical, tactical, and psychological warfare elements also played a significant role. Russian interest in the Black Sea and Caucasus regions gradually evolved into a strategic approach, particularly after the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca signed following the 1768-74 war. The advantages they gained on the eastern shores of the Black Sea made it inevitable for Russia to assume a more dominant role in Caucasian politics. Strengthening their position as the dominant actor in the region, they achieved this particularly through two critical victories over Iran and the Ottoman Empire, two Muslim states in the South Caucasus. The 1828-29 war further consolidated Russian dominance in the southern Caucasus.

This study evaluates the 1828-29 war within the framework of Ottoman defense and logistics systems as part of military history studies. During this period, as the Ottoman understanding of defense was undergoing transformation, efforts to enhance the defensive capabilities of fortified castles and positions became significant. However, the wars of the subsequent period highlighted how directing military expenditures toward logistics and supply elements shaped the outcomes of conflicts.

This research criticizes the prevalent thesis in existing literature that emphasizes the Russian army's superiority over the Ottoman forces through strategic advantage and correct tactics. The study examines the strategic validity of the Russians' reliance on rapid and raid-style maneuvers due to the challenges of defending the Kur and Aras valleys with existing castles and fixed positions. Furthermore, to uncover the logistic capabilities of the Ottoman side during the war, reconnaissance records prepared for the repair and equipment of Akhaltsikhe Castle and surrounding fortifications prior to the 1828 war will be analyzed. The strategies formulated by Ottoman decision-makers to retain these valleys, which serve as gateways to Anatolia, will also be revealed.

Key Words: South Caucasus, Akhaltsikhe, Castle Repair, Defense and Logistics

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