Foreign policy events XVII century.
The foreign policy of Mikhail and Alexei Romanov can be divided into two stages:
Istage (1613-1632) - the main task is to conclude and maintain peace with Sweden and Poland in order to solve internal problems.
IIstage: (1632-1667) - the task is to reconsider the difficult conditions of the Stolbovsky peace and the Deulinsky truce, to return the lost lands.
Smolensk war1632-1634
War
with the Commonwealth
1654-1667
Russo-Swedish War 1656-1661
Russo-Turkish War 1676-1681
Causes of the war
During the Troubles, Vasily Shuisky asked for help from Sweden in 1609 to fight against False DmitryII. After the fall of Shuisky, Swedish troops occupied Novgorod (1611).
Reasons for the war:
1) the plans of the Swedish king to become the Russian Tsar
2) the capture and robbery of Russian cities by the Swedes
In 1609, the Polish king launched an intervention against Russia. The Seven Boyars, who seized power, proclaimed the son of the Polish king Vladislav the Moscow tsar. In 1612, the Poles were driven out of Moscow. Russia lost Smolensk and Seversky lands.
Reasons for the war: Polish detachments plundered Russian lands. King Sigismund refused to recognize Mikhail Romanov as Russian Tsar. He himself aimed at the Russian throne.
Russia sought to return Smolensk and the Seversk lands occupied by Poland.
Reunification of Ukraine with Russia.
The unwillingness of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich
share with Sweden the fruits of their victories in Poland.
In 1672, the Ottomans and Tatars (the Ottoman Empire and the Crimean Khanate) attacked Ukraine and Poland. Poland conceded to them southern regions Ukraine. The Ottomans could go to the Left-Bank Ukraine.
This alarmed Moscow.
Reasons for the war:
Fears of losing Left-bank Ukraine.
Main events
In 1613 the Swedes tried to capture Tikhvin.
In 1614, the Swedes captured the fortress of Gdov.
In the summer and autumn of 1615 Pskov was besieged.
In 1617, Prince Vladislav began a campaign against Moscow.
On October 1, 1618, the Polish army attacked Moscow. It was forced to retreat.
1632 - campaign against Smolensk of the Russian troops led by M.B. Shein.
Attack Crimean Tatars.
1633 siege of Smolensk.
Attack of the Crimean Tatars.
Battles with Polish troops. Encirclement of Russian troops.
In February 1634, Governor Shein signed a truce.
September 1654 - Russian troops took Smolensk.
Entry into Lithuania, the capture of Lithuanian cities. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich had plans to conquer all of Poland.
But then Sweden entered the war against Poland, which violated the plans of the king. In 1656, a truce was signed with Poland.
In 1658, the Polish-Lithuanian troops launched an offensive in Belarus.
In 1657, the new hetman of Ukraine, Vyhovsky, announced the return of Ukraine under the rule of Poland. Together with the Crimean Tatars, he tried to capture Kyiv. At the beginning of 1660, the Polish king made peace with Sweden and threw all his strength into the fight against Russia. Moscow troops were ousted from Belarus and Lithuania.
At first, the war went well. But in the autumn of 1656 they failed to take Riga by storm.
At this time hostilities resumed with Poland, which regained control over Belarus and Lithuania.
Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich decided to urgently conclude peace with Sweden.
In 1674, the Moscow regiments and Cossacks of the "Russian" hetman Samoylovich besieged the Chigirin fortress, but were forced to withdraw their troops.
In the summer of 1676, by order of the tsar, the Moscow army occupied Chigirin, the capital of the “Turkish” hetman Doroshenko.
1677, 1678 - Chigirinsky campaigns.
In the summer of 1677 - a battle with the Turks and Crimean Tatars near Chigirin. The Turks retreated.
1678 - the Turkish army took Chigirin.
Results-conditions of peace treaties
The failure near Pskov forced the Swedish king to start negotiations with the Moscow government.
1617 Stolbovsky peace (eternal peace): Novgorod, Staraya Russa and Porkhov returned to Russia for 20 thousand rubles. silver. But part of the Russian cities remained with Sweden. Russia was completely cut off from the Baltic Sea.
Peace negotiations resumed. In December 1618, the Deulino truce was concluded for a period of 14 years and 6 months. Smolensk and Seversk land went to Poland.
In the summer of 1634, the Polyanovsky Peace was signed. Smolensk and Chernigov-Seversk land remained with Poland.
1664-1667 - peace negotiations between Russia and Poland. In 1667 Andrusov peace was signed. Poland recognized Smolensk and Left-bank Ukraine, Kyiv for Russia. Zaporozhye was recognized as joint possession of Poland and Russia.
1661 Treaty of Cadiz between Sweden and Russia. All the lands conquered by the Russians were returned to Sweden.
In January 1681, the Treaty of Bakhchisarai was signed. border between Ottoman Empire and Russia was established along the Dnieper.
Historical meaning wars
Peace in the Baltics made it possible to fully concentrate on the fight against the Commonwealth.
The Deulino truce allowed Russia to focus on solving domestic political problems
The Polish King Vladislav renounced his claims to the Russian throne.
Russia returned Smolensk.
The heroic defense of Chigirin saved Left-bank Ukraine from the Ottoman invasion.
Convinced of the high fighting qualities of the Russian troops, the Ottomans began peace negotiations with Russia.
Test.
1. What tasks in foreign policy faced Russia
in the first years of the reign of the new Romanov dynasty?
1) Return lost during the Livonian War and
Time of Troubles of the territory;
2) Focus on resolving acute domestic political
problems
3) Achieve access to the Baltic Sea
2. Who commanded the Russian troops during the Smolensk War?
1) Yu.A. Dolgorukov 2) A.N. Trubetskoy 3) M.B. Shein
3. What was the result of the Deulino truce?
1) Loss of Smolensk by Russia
2) Accession to Russia Courland
3) the creation of an anti-Swedish coalition
4. What was the result of the Andrusovo truce?
1) Loss of Smolensk by Russia
2) Accession to Russia of Left-bank Ukraine
3) Accession to Russia of Azov
5. As a result of which war did the Polish king Vladislav renounce his claims to Russian throne?
1) Smolensk War of 1632-1634
2) Russo-Swedish War 1656-1661
3) Russian-Turkish war of 1676-1681
6. As a result of which peace treaty did Sweden return Novgorod to Russia?
1) Peace of Cadiz 1661
2) Stolbovsky Peace of 1617
3) Polyanovsky Peace of 1634
7. What tasks in foreign policy faced Russia in 1632-1667?
1) Strengthen in the Black Sea region
2) Defeat the Commonwealth
3) Reconsider the difficult conditions of the Deulinsky truce and the Stolbovsky peace.
8. The reunification of Ukraine with Russia took place in
1) 1634 2) 1654 3) 1667
Answers:
Answer No.
Over the years, Russian foreign policy in the 17th century was subordinated to several key goals. The first Romanovs sought to return as much of the East Slavic lands taken by Poland as possible and get access to the Baltic (which was controlled by Sweden). It was also during this period that the first wars against Turkey began. This confrontation was at an early stage and reached its climax in the next century. Other regions where Russia sought to maintain its interests were the Caucasus and the Far East.
Troubles and war with Poland
The 17th century began tragically for Russia. The Rurik dynasty that ruled the country was cut short. The brother-in-law of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich Boris Godunov was in power. His rights to the throne remained controversial and numerous opponents of the monarch took advantage of this. In 1604, an army under the command of the impostor False Dmitry invaded Russia from Poland. The pretender to the throne found all kinds of support in the Commonwealth. From this episode, the Russian-Polish war began, which ended only by 1618.
The conflict between the two old neighbors had deep historical roots. Therefore, the entire foreign policy of Russia in the 17th century was based on confrontation with Poland. The rivalry escalated into a series of wars. The first of them in the 17th century turned out to be unsuccessful for Russia. Although False Dmitry was overthrown and killed, later the Poles occupied Moscow on their own and controlled the Kremlin from 1610 to 1612.
It was only possible to expel the invaders people's militia collected by national heroes Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky. Then a Zemsky Sobor took place, at which Mikhail Romanov was elected the legitimate tsar. The new dynasty stabilized the situation in the country. Nevertheless, many border lands remained in the hands of the Poles, including Smolensk. Therefore, all further foreign policy of Russia in the 17th century was aimed at the return of primordially Russian cities.
Loss of the Baltic coast
Even Vasily Shuisky, fighting against the Poles, made an alliance with Sweden. In the Battle of Klushino in 1610, this coalition was defeated. Russia was paralyzed. The Swedes took advantage of the situation and themselves began to capture its cities near their border. They took control of Ivangorod, Korela, Yam, Gdov, Koporye and, finally, Novgorod.
Swedish expansion stopped under the walls of Pskov and Tikhvin. The sieges of these fortresses ended in fiasco for the Scandinavians. Then the Russian army drove them out of their lands, although some of the fortresses remained in the hands of foreigners. The war with Sweden ended in 1617 with the signing of the Stolbovsky Peace. According to it, Russia lost access to the Baltic Sea and paid its neighbor a large indemnity of 20 thousand rubles. At the same time, the Swedes retook Novgorod. The consequence of the Stolbovsky peace was that the foreign policy of Russia in the 17th century acquired another the most important goal. Having recovered from the horrors of the Time of Troubles, the country began the struggle to return to the shores of the Baltic.
Smolensk war
During the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich (1613 - 1645) there was only one major armed clash with another country. It turned out to be the Smolensk War (1632 - 1634) against Poland. This campaign was led by commanders Mikhail Shein, Semyon Prozorovsky and Artemy Izmailov.
Before the war, Moscow diplomats tried to win over Sweden and the Ottoman Empire. The anti-Polish coalition never took shape. As a result, I had to fight alone. Nevertheless, the goals of Russia in the foreign policy of the 17th century remained the same. The key task (the return of Smolensk) was not completed. The months-long siege of the city ended with the capitulation of Shein. The parties ended the war with the Polyanovsky peace. The Polish king Vladislav IV returned Trubchevsk and Serpeysk to Russia, and also renounced claims to the Russian throne (which had been preserved since the Time of Troubles). For the Romanovs, this was an intermediate success. Further struggle was postponed to the future.
Conflict with Persia
The heir of Mikhail Fedorovich Alexei was more active than his father in the international arena. And although his main interests were in the west, he had to face challenges in other regions. So, in 1651, a conflict broke out with Persia.
Foreign policy In the 17th century, Russia, in short, began to come into contact with many states with which the Rurikovichs had not yet dealt. In the Caucasus such new country turned out to be Persia. The troops of her dynasty, the Safavids, attacked the lands controlled by the Russian kingdom. The main struggle was for Dagestan and the Caspian. The trips ended in nothing. Alexei Mikhailovich did not want the conflict to escalate. He sent an embassy to Shah Abbas II and in 1653 the war was stopped, and the status quo was restored on the border. Nevertheless, the Caspian issue remained. In the future, Peter I led the offensive here in the 18th century.
Accession of Smolensk, Left-bank Ukraine and Kyiv
The main success of Alexei Mikhailovich in foreign policy was another war with Poland (1654 - 1667). The first stage of the campaign turned into an unconditional defeat of the Commonwealth. Zaporozhye and Moscow troops entered Ukraine and thus actually reunited the lands of the Eastern Slavs.
In 1656, a temporary Vilna truce was concluded between the parties. It was caused by the Swedish invasion of Poland and the simultaneous outbreak of war between the Swedes and Russians. In 1660, the Poles tried to launch a counteroffensive, but it ended in failure. The war finally ended in 1667 after the signing of the Andrusovo truce. According to that agreement, the Smolensk region, Kyiv and the entire Left-Bank Ukraine were annexed to Moscow. So Alexei Mikhailovich successfully completed the task to which the foreign policy of Russia was subordinated in the 17th century. A short truce could still be interrupted by war again, so the conflict required further negotiations, which ended already under Princess Sophia.
Fight with Sweden
As mentioned above, having achieved success in Ukraine, Alexei Mikhailovich decided to try his luck in the Baltic. The long overdue war of revenge with Sweden began in 1656. She was two years old. The fighting engulfed Livonia, Finland, Ingria and Karelia.
The foreign policy of Russia in the 17th - 18th centuries, in short, set as its goal access to the western seas, since this would make it possible to establish better ties with Europe. This is exactly what Alexei Mikhailovich wanted to achieve. In 1658, the Valiesar truce was concluded, according to which Russia retained part of the land in Livonia. However, three years later, Moscow diplomats had to agree to the restoration of the former borders in order to avoid a war on two fronts against Sweden and Poland at the same time. This order was consolidated by the Treaty of Cardis. The Baltic ports were never received.
War with Turkey
At the end of the Russian-Polish confrontation, the Ottoman Empire intervened in it, which sought to conquer the Right-Bank Ukraine. In the spring of 1672, a 300,000-strong army invaded there. She defeated the Poles. In the future, the Turks and Crimean Tatars also fought against Russia. In particular, the Belgorod defensive line was attacked.
The main directions of Russian foreign policy in the 17th century turned out to be in many ways a logical prologue to foreign policy. XVIII centuries. This pattern is especially traced in the example of the struggle for hegemony in the Black Sea. In the era of Alexei Mikhailovich and his son Fyodor, the Turks in last time tried to expand their possessions in Ukraine. That war ended in 1681. Turkey and Russia drew borders along the Dnieper. The Zaporozhian Sich was also declared independent of Moscow.
Eternal peace with the Commonwealth
All domestic and foreign policy of Russia in the 17th century depended heavily on relations with Poland. Periods of war and peace influenced the economy, the social situation and the mood of the population. Relations between the two powers were finally settled in 1682. That spring, the countries concluded the Eternal Peace.
The articles of the treaty stipulated the division of the Hetmanate. The Commonwealth abandoned the protectorate that had long existed over the Zaporozhian Sich. The provisions of the Andrusovo truce were confirmed. Kyiv was recognized as an "eternal" part of Russia - for this Moscow paid compensation in the amount of 146 thousand rubles. In the future, the agreement allowed the formation of an anti-Swedish coalition during the Great Northern War. Also thanks to the Eternal Peace, Russia and Poland joined forces with the rest of Europe in the fight against the Ottoman Empire.
Nerchinsk Treaty
Even during the time of Ivan the Terrible, Russia began the colonization of Siberia. Gradually, brave peasants, Cossacks, hunters and industrialists moved further and further east. In the 17th century they reached Pacific Ocean. Here, the tasks of Russian foreign policy in the 17th century were to establish friendly relations with China.
For a long time, the border between the two states was not marked, which led to various incidents and conflicts. To put an end to misunderstandings, a delegation of diplomats headed by Fyodor Golovin went to the Far East. Russian and Chinese representatives met in Nerchinsk. In 1689, they signed an agreement, according to which the border between the powers was established along the banks of the Argun River. Russia lost the Amur region and Albazin. The treaty turned out to be a diplomatic defeat for the government of Sofya Alekseevna.
Crimean campaigns
After reconciliation with Poland, Russia's foreign policy at the end of the 17th century was directed towards the Black Sea and Turkey. For a long time, the country was haunted by the raids of the Crimean Khanate - a state that was in vassal relations with the Ottoman Empire. The campaign against the dangerous neighbor was led by Prince Vasily Golitsyn, the favorite of Princess Sofya Alekseevna.
In total, two Crimean campaigns took place (in 1687 and 1689). They weren't particularly successful. Golitsyn did not capture foreign fortresses. Nevertheless, Russia diverted significant forces of the Crimeans and Turks, which helped its European allies in the general anti-Ottoman war. Thanks to this, the Romanovs significantly increased their international prestige.
Azov campaigns
Sofya Alekseevna was deprived of power by her younger brother Peter, who grew up and did not want to share powers with the regent. The young tsar continued Golitsyn's work. His first military experience was connected precisely with the confrontation with Turkey.
In 1695 and 1696 Peter led two campaigns against Azov. On the second attempt, the Turkish fortress was captured. Nearby, the monarch ordered the founding of Taganrog. For the success near Azov, voivode Alexei Shein received the title of generalissimo. So, two directions of Russia's foreign policy in the 17th century (southern and "Polish") were marked by success. Now Peter turned his attention to the Baltic. In 1700 he started the Northern War against Sweden, which immortalized his name. But that was already history XVIII centuries.
Results
The 17th century for Russia was rich in foreign policy events (both successes and failures). The result of the Time of Troubles at the beginning of the century was the loss of many territories, including the Baltic coast and the Smolensk region. The reigning dynasty of the Romanovs set about correcting the mistakes of their predecessors.
The peculiarities of Russia's foreign policy in the 17th century turned out to be such that the greatest success awaited it in the Polish direction. Not only was Smolensk returned, but also Kyiv and the Left-Bank Ukraine. So Moscow for the first time began to control all the key lands of the Old Russian state.
More controversial were the results in two other areas: the Baltic and the Black Sea. In the north, an attempt at revenge with Sweden failed, and this task fell on the shoulders of Peter I, who, together with his country, entered into new XVIII century. The same situation has developed with the southern seas. And if at the end XVII century Peter occupied Azov, then he later lost it, and the task of expansion in this region was completed only under Catherine II. Finally, under the first Romanovs, the colonization of Siberia continued, and the first contacts with China were established in the Far East.
Main directions:
1. Northwestern (Return of access to the Baltic Sea)
2. Southwestern (Accession of Ukraine to Russia)
3. South (Fighting the Crimea and Turkey)
4. Eastern (Development of Siberia)
Smolensk war. (1632-1634)
Purpose: to return the Russian lands captured by Poland during the Time of Troubles
The course of the war:
In 1632 Russian troops under the command of the boyar Shein began an 8-month siege of Smolensk, but failed to take the city.
In 1633 The main forces approached Smolensk Polish army led by the new king Vladislav, and the Russian troops were surrounded
In 1634 Russian troops, without waiting for help from Moscow, capitulated, leaving the Poles all the artillery and banners. Later, the commander of the Russian army, Shein, was accused of treason and executed.
Having eliminated the main Russian forces near Smolensk, Vladislav set off on a campaign against Moscow. On his way stood a small fortress Belaya, the stubborn defense of which in February-March 1634. Stopped the Polish offensive.
In 1634 The Polyanovsky peace treaty was signed, according to which Poland retained the Smolensk lands, but renounced its claims to the Russian throne.
Accession of Ukraine to Russia:
liberation war Ukrainian people with the Commonwealth for the creation of Ukrainian statehood.
The peoples living in the territories that were formerly part of Old Russian state, experienced social, national and religious oppression in the Commonwealth. In 1648, the Cossacks, led by Khmelnitsky, began a liberation struggle with Poland, in which Ukrainian and Belarusian peasants took part. Cossacks in 1648 achieved a number of victories and occupied Kyiv. In 1649 They concluded the Zborovsky peace, according to which the Cossacks received independent public administration headed by Hetman Khmelnytsky in Kiev, Chernigov and Wroclaw provinces.
The peace turned out to be fragile, and hostilities resumed, but were unsuccessful for the Khmelnitsky Cossacks. They suffered in 1651. A heavy defeat near Berestechko and were forced to conclude in December 1651. A new peace treaty in Bila Tserkva, according to which the power of the hetman was preserved only in Kyiv.
Khmelnytsky appealed to the Russian government with a request to accept Ukraine into its composition. 1653 - The Zemsky Sobor decided to include Ukraine in Russia and declare war on Poland. In 1654, in the city of Pereyaslavl, the Rada, which gathered elected representatives from all classes of the Ukrainian population, unanimously spoke in favor of joining Ukraine.
Russian-Polish war (1654-1667)
1654 - the capture of Smolensk, Polotsk and Vitebsk by Russian troops
1655 - capture of the cities of Minsk and Vilna
1656 - The conclusion of a truce between Russia and Poland in view of the military threat to both countries from Sweden.
1657 - the resumption of the Russian-Polish war.
1660-1662 - a number of significant defeats of the Russian troops.
1665 - The victory of Russian troops near Korsun and Belaya Tserkov
1667 The signing of the Andrusovo Permistice, according to which Russia received the Smolensk and Chernigov-Seversk lands, as well as the Left-Bank Ukraine with Kiev.
Russian - Swedish war (1656-1661)
Russia's desire to take possession of the Baltic lands and gain access to the Baltic Sea.
Opposition to Swedish expansion in Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine.
The course of the war:
1656 Successful military operations of Russian troops in the Baltic States - the capture of the fortresses of Noteburg, Nienschanz, Dinaburg, Derpt.
August-October 1656 Swedes oust Russian troops from Karelia and Livonia.
1658 The capture of Yamburg by the Russian army and the failure of the siege of Narva. Conclusion of a truce in Valslesar for 3 years.
1661 Cardis world. Russia abandoned the lands conquered in the Baltics earlier in this war.
Fighting Crimea and Turkey
Tensions between Russia and the Crimean Khanate.
The construction by Russia of the notch line on the southern borders for defense against the raids of the Crimean Tatars.
Russian-Turkish war (1677-1681)
Military action for control of southern Ukraine
In 1677 Russian troops captured the Chigirin fortress
August 1677 The steadfast defense of the Chegirin fortress by the Russian-Ukrainian garrison and the defeat of the Russian-Ukrainian army under the command of Romadanovsky and Hetman Samoylovich.
July-August 1678 New Russian-Ukrainian-Turkish battle for Chigirin. The ruin of the city by the Turks and the withdrawal of Russian troops.
January 1681 - the conclusion of the Bakhchisarai peace treaty, according to which Turkey and Crimea recognized the entry of the Left-Bank Ukraine with Kiev into Russia, and the Right-Bank Ukraine remained with the Ottoman Empire.
Development of Siberia
During the 17th century, Russian explorers advanced from Western Siberia to the Pacific Ocean. As we advanced, strongholds were created: Krasnoyarsk, Bratsk, Yakut prisons, Irkutsk winter quarters, etc. From the local population they collected yasak - a fur tax.
At the same time, peasant colonization of the arable lands of southern Siberia began. By the end of the 17th century Russian population region was 150 thousand people.
In the history of our country, the 17th century is a very significant milestone, since at that time there were many events that influenced the entire subsequent development of the state. Foreign policy was especially important, since at that time it was very difficult to fight off numerous enemies, while at the same time preserving strength for domestic work.
What determined the political mood?
In general, the needs of a cultural, economic and military nature determined all the subsequent development of our country in those centuries. Accordingly, the foreign policy of Russia in the 17th century was completely dependent on the tasks that faced statesmen in those difficult times.
Main tasks
First, it was necessary to urgently return all the lands that were lost as a result of the Troubles. Secondly, the rulers of the country were faced with the task of annexing back all those territories that were once part of another Kievan Rus. Of course, in many respects they were guided not only by the ideas of reunification of once divided peoples, but also by the desire to increase the share of arable land and the number of taxpayers. Simply put, the foreign policy of Russia in the 17th century was aimed at restoring the integrity of the country.
The turmoil had an extremely hard impact on the country: the treasury was empty, many peasants became so impoverished that it was simply impossible to take taxes from them. The acquisition of new lands, not plundered by the Poles, would not only restore the political prestige of Russia, but also replenish its treasury. In general, this was the main foreign policy of Russia in the 17th century. The table (the 10th grade of the school should know it perfectly), given later in the article, reflects its most global goals.
Access to the sea
For their implementation, it was extremely important to have access to the Black and Baltic Seas. Firstly, the existence of these routes would make it possible to easily strengthen economic ties with Europe, establishing the supply of not only rare goods, but also technologies, literature, and other things that could help eliminate the country's lag in the industrial sphere.
Finally, it was time to decide something with the Crimean Khan: undignified major country at that time, suffer from the raids of some "small-grass" allies of the Turkish Sultan. However, do not forget about the old army adage about papers and ravines ... There were a lot of difficulties along the way.
Advance to the East
We should also not forget that Russia's foreign policy in the 17th century largely pursued the goal of expanding the country to the East in order to further develop and exploit those lands.
In particular, export required great amount sable furs, which were in incredible demand in the world. The only problem was that in the European part of the country these valuable animals were knocked out a long time ago. Finally, it was urgently required to reach the Pacific Ocean and establish a natural border along it. And further. There were enough “violent heads” in the country, which it was a pity to cut. It was decided to deport the most active, but restless people to Siberia.
So two tasks were solved at once: the center of the state got rid of "undesirable elements", and the border was under reliable protection. This is what Russia's foreign policy was like in the 17th century. The table will show you the main tasks that had to be solved then.
Main tasks | Consequences, solution methods |
The return of the Smolensk land, which was lost during the Time of Troubles | In 1632-1634, the Smolensk War was fought, as a result of which he was recognized by the Commonwealth as the legitimate ruler of Russia |
Patronage of the Orthodox population of the Commonwealth loyal to Russia | This led to the Russo-Polish War of 1654-1667 and also contributed to the Russo-Turkish War of 1676-1681. As a result, Smolensk land was finally recaptured, Kyiv and the surrounding territories became part of Russia. |
Solving the problem with the Crimean Khan | Two wars at once: the aforementioned Russian-Turkish war of 1676-1681, as well as the first 1687 and 1689. Alas, the raids continued |
Land development Far East | Was attached Eastern Siberia. Treaty of Nerchinsk signed with China |
Gaining passage to the Baltic | The war with Sweden in 1656-1658, as a result of which it was not possible to return access to the sea |
Russia's foreign policy in the 17th century was complex. The table clearly demonstrates that not a single decade has been without wars, while success has not always accompanied our state.
What hindered the solution of the most important tasks?
The main one was not even the activities of "eternal friends" in the person of Great Britain and France, but their own technological backwardness. Europe during the next, Thirty Years' War, managed to completely rethink the theory of weapons and the organization of troops on the battlefield, as well as the tactics of their use. So, the main striking force again became the infantry, which from the end of the Roman Empire was in the lead roles. Regimental artillery, which was intensively developing at that time, became a means of strengthening it.
Backwardness in military affairs
And here the foreign policy of Russia stalled in the 17th century. The table (grade 7 should know its basic provisions) is not able to show this, but the army was extremely weak. The fact is that in our country the backbone of the armed forces has so far been noble cavalry. She could successfully fight the remnants of the once powerful Horde, but if she met the army of the same France, she would certainly have faced serious losses.
Thus, Russia's foreign policy in the 17th century (briefly) was aimed mainly at creating a normal military, commercial, administrative and diplomatic apparatus.
About weapon problems
The vast country was heavily dependent on arms imports. The backwardness in tactics and weapons was planned to be eliminated by intensive import of weapons from European manufactories, as well as by recruiting officers. All this resulted not only in dependence on the leading powers of that period, but also cost the country very dearly.
Thus, the foreign policy of Russia in the 17th century (the main directions of which we have described) was based on paradoxes: on the one hand, no one doubted the need for war with the Europeans. On the other hand, it was from them that expensive weapons and ammunition were bought, which increased the military and economic power of the powers of the Old World, but greatly weakened Russia, already bled dry by the Time of Troubles.
So, on the eve of the Russo-Polish war mentioned in the table, a lot of gold had to be spent. At least 40,000 muskets and 20,000 pounds of selected gunpowder were purchased from Holland and Sweden. This amount was at least 2/3 of the total number of infantry weapons. At the same time, tension continues to grow on the part of Sweden, which not only blocks access to the Baltic, but also continues to lay claim to a large part of Russian lands.
Attitude towards the country in the international arena
The fact that in the West Russia was perceived only as an extremely backward, “barbarian” country, the territory of which was subject to mandatory expansion, and the population was planned to be partially assimilated, had a very bad effect. Otherwise, everyone was destined for the sad fate of the Indians of North America.
Thus, a strong Russian foreign policy in the 17th century was more important than ever. Its main tasks were aimed at "cutting through the window", which Peter later did. Economic and military backwardness was largely due to banal territorial isolation, since a powerful Turkish-Polish-Swedish barrier stood in the way of establishing normal relations.
We do not forget about the constant intrigues of the English merchants, who did not at all smile at getting a powerful competitor in trade affairs. All these contradictions could be resolved only by creating powerful army and breaking through the trade and economic blockade.
Here is the main foreign policy of Russia in the 17th century. In short, the most important tasks lay in the West, from where the military threat was increasingly felt.
Wars in the West
All this led to the fact that in 1632, immediately after his death, a war began to revise the Deulin agreements. Our country was the instigator. Unfortunately, the forces were clearly unequal. In general, the foreign policy of Russia in the 17th century ( summary which we have already discussed) largely failed due to the extreme imperfection of the administrative, military and
Let us give the most obvious and annoying example of this. Due to extremely bad diplomacy Polish king Vladislav managed to establish contact with the Crimean Tatars. slow Russian army, which was headed by M. Shein, consisted of service people. When they learned that the Tatars began regular sorties inland, they simply left the army, leaving to protect their own estates. All this ended with the signing of the Polyanovsky Peace.
Poland had to return all the lands conquered at the beginning of the war, but King Vladislav completely renounces any claims to Russian lands and the throne. The governor M. Shein and A. Izmailov were declared guilty of the defeat, and their heads were subsequently cut off. Thus, the foreign policy of Russia in the 17th century is not developing in a particularly successful way for us.
The territory of present-day Ukraine
At the same time, it broke out on the territory of present-day Ukraine. In 1648, another uprising broke out in those parts, which was caused by intolerable conditions for Orthodox population who lived on the territory of the Commonwealth.
The culprits were Zaporozhian Cossacks. In general, they led a quite good life: guarding the borders of Poland from the raids of the same Crimean Tatars, they received a decent reward (not counting military booty). But the Poles were not very happy with the fact that the Cossacks accepted any runaway serf into their ranks and never gave him back. A methodical "crackdown" began, the reduction of the Cossack freemen. Bohdan Khmelnytsky led the immediately flared uprising.
Successes and failures of the rebels
Already in December 1648, his troops occupied Kyiv. In August of the following year, settlement agreements were signed. They provided for an increase in the number of "official" Cossacks, to whom the authorities had no claims, but the list of achievements ended there.
Khmelnitsky understood that he would not be able to correct the injustice without outside help. Russia was the only candidate for allied relations, but its authorities were no longer too eager to fight, as time was needed to completely reform the army. Meanwhile, the Poles did not tolerate a shameful peace; already in 1653, the rebels were under the threat of complete extermination.
Russia could not allow this. In December 1653, an agreement was concluded on the reunification of Ukrainian lands with Russia. Of course, immediately after this, the country was drawn into a new war, but its results were much better than before.
This is what characterized the foreign policy of Russia in the 17th century. You will find the main directions, tasks, results of it in this article.
The seventeenth century was a turning point for Russia in almost all respects. In this century, the Middle Ages ended for our country, Russia entered the New Age. This was noticeable not only by the emergence of many cultural innovations, but also by the position of Russia in relation to other countries.
The seventeenth century began with the end of the Rurik dynasty and foreign intervention. Russia as independent state could disappear, cease to exist, becoming part of some strong world power or several such powers. Nevertheless, by 1612 she managed to defend her independence, after which she began to progressive development, including in the international arena.
Main Directions of Foreign Policy
Russia in the seventeenth century faced a number of foreign policy tasks. For example, the process of uniting the lands of the former Kievan Rus around Moscow continued. In addition, with different parties The Muscovite state was threatened by Poland, Sweden, the Crimean and Siberian khanates. One of the burning tasks was the restoration of access to the Baltic Sea, because during the events of the Time of Troubles, the lands in this region were occupied by Sweden.
Thus, the foreign policy of Russia in the seventeenth century had to develop in two directions at once - western and eastern. At the same time, actions in the western direction were dictated mainly by the desire to return the lands that were originally Russian. But the eastern direction, associated with the conquest of Siberia and the Far East, was the conquest of fundamentally new territories that could offer a lot of new economic terms. Many historians, especially Western ones, rightly consider the conquest of Siberia to be the Russian analogue of the Conquista - the Spanish campaign to conquer America in the 15th-16th centuries.
Tasks and events of Russian foreign policy in the 17th century
Get rid of the attacks of the Crimean Tatars | Russo-Turkish War Crimean campaigns | Defeat in the war It was not possible to completely eliminate the raids of the Tatars |
|
Return of Smolensk | Smolensk war | The Polish king Vladislav IV refused to further seek the Russian throne; Mikhail Romanov finally established himself on the throne; Serpeisk and Trubchevsk departed to Russia under the terms of the peace treaty, although it has not yet been possible to return Smolensk. The war showed the strong combat capability of the "regiments of the new system", and in the future the tsarist government continued to develop them. |
|
Getting access to the Baltic Sea | War with Sweden | The Valiesar truce annexed the eastern part of Livonia to Russia, but the subsequent Peace of Cardis forced Russia to return the occupied lands back to Sweden. |
|
Support for the Orthodox population of the Commonwealth | Russian-Polish war Russo-Turkish War | During these two wars, Smolensk finally returned to Russia; Kyiv with the adjacent lands went to her. The Zaporozhye Cossacks swore allegiance to the Russian throne. |
|
Development of Siberia and the Far East | Annexation of Eastern Siberia | Throughout the 17th century | The territory of Russia has expanded significantly due to the annexation of the Siberian and Far Eastern lands. |
What has Russia achieved
Far from all of its tasks in foreign policy, Russia was able to successfully solve. One of the reasons for this was the country's technical backwardness, due to its former isolation from the developed European world. After the Thirty Years' War, the military art of Europe began to develop rapidly, but this process did not affect Russia. In the 17th century, the Muscovite state experienced rapid modernization in various areas, especially in the military, but it was just beginning and backwardness was still evident.
Russia is a European power
Russia of the 17th century was a kind of intermediate link between medieval Russia and Russian Empire. This was also noticeable in terms of relations with outside world. More and more Europeans came to Russia at that time, many more ambassadors and travelers were sent from Russia to Europe than before. Russian ambassadors improved in the art of diplomacy, thanks to which they managed to achieve the adoption of decisions that were beneficial for their country. In the seventeenth century, it became clear to Russians that diplomacy plays a much larger role in international relations than forceful actions. This was also evident in relations with the inhabitants of the annexed Siberian lands - explorers who achieved submission only through negotiations, and not violence, were more successful.
Caspian question
In the 17th century, the “Caspian question”, which was painful for Russia, arose. It all started with the fact that in 1651 the Persian army invaded Dagestan and on the coast of the Caspian Sea (more precisely, the lake). Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich did everything possible to stop the offensive and keep the borders in the same state, but the enemy did not even think about giving up completely. From this moment begins a long struggle for the Caspian lands.
Modernization of the country
The failures in the battles mentioned above, however, also had a positive meaning: they, as it were, indicated to Russia the path along which it should go. This path of further modernization and Europeanization, especially the technological development and renewal of the army. In addition, foreign powers realized that they were facing a still weak, but quite worthy opponent.
The accession of Ukraine to Russia had a special meaning. The population of Ukrainian lands largely consisted of enlightened people, including scientists, teachers, publicists. They all studied at European universities(most often in Krakow), differed by European outlook and mentality, while maintaining the Orthodox faith. Thanks to the annexation of Ukraine, Russia acquired a whole galaxy of Ukrainian intellectuals who willingly came to live and work in Moscow. Ukrainian scientists, philosophers, writers, architects, composers accustomed Russia to European culture, which only strengthened the prestige of the country on the world stage. Russia was no longer perceived by foreigners as a strange outback, along the streets of which bears and people with dog heads walk. This made it possible, in particular, to include Russia in European military-political alliances.
The international recognition of Russia made it possible to deal the final blow to the positions of the zealots of antiquity - a part of Russian society (mainly the clergy), who opposed any contacts with Europe. In the end, such people became so few that they no longer had a noticeable influence on life in the country.
