The Russo-Turkish War of 1828-1829 which ended with the battle of Adrianople was a significant conflict between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire that had important consequences, not only for the Balkans, but also for the Greek War of Independence.
Following the death of Czar Alexander I of Russia in 1825, his successor Czar Nicholas saw an opportunity to weaken Russia’s long-time rival, the Ottoman Empire, and support the Greek cause, which resonated with Russian national interests due to religious and cultural ties. The war began after the Ottoman Empire failed to meet Russia’s demands regarding the status of Greece and the Balkans, and Russia formally declared war on the Ottomans in 1828.
The Russian Empire did not directly intervene in the early stages of the Greek revolt. It was initially negative about any revolution because of its compliance to the counter-revolutionary principles of the ”Holy Alliance.” However, the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-1829 gave Russian forces a critical opportunity. The Russians would strike at the Ottoman Empire while weakening its military strength and political authority. The war ended with a decisive Russian victory.
The Battle of Adrianople in 1829 was the decisive engagement that effectively ended the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-1829. It took place near the Ottoman city of Adrianople (modern-day Edirne in Turkey). It was here that Russian forces decisively defeated the Ottoman army. The Russian victory at Adrianople forced the Ottoman Empire to the negotiating table.
The Russian forces, led by Field Marshal Hans Karl von Diebitsch, advanced deep into Ottoman territory. They targeted Edirne (Adrianople), one of the most important cities in the Ottoman Balkans. It was a key strategic point on the road to Constantinople.
Diebitsch had successfully conducted a campaign that bypassed many Ottoman fortifications, relying on rapid movements and outmaneuvering the Ottoman forces. The Ottoman army, demoralized by previous defeats, lacked the logistical capabilities to stop the Russian advance. By the time Diebitsch reached Adrianople, the Ottoman forces weren’t able to resist a determined Russian assault.
The battle itself did not see intense fighting. The Russians quickly outflanked the Ottoman defenses, forcing them into a retreat. Seeing no alternative, Reşid Mehmed Pasha capitulated, and the Ottomans agreed to negotiate peace. Historian A. J. P. Taylor notes, “Paskevich’s rapid and methodical campaign broke the Ottoman resistance in the Balkans, leaving Constantinople vulnerable and forcing the Sultan to negotiate peace.” The Russian forces entered Adrianople unopposed, signaling the effective end of Ottoman resistance.
The fall of Adrianople was a major shock to the Ottoman leadership, as it left Constantinople vulnerable to a potential Russian advance. The Ottoman Sultan, Mahmud II, had no choice but to sue for peace.
The Treaty of Adrianople was a turning point in the relationship between the Ottoman Empire and its vassals in the Balkans, particularly Greece. The treaty imposed harsh terms on the Ottoman Empire, which ceded significant territories to Russia, including parts of the Danubian Principalities. It also granted autonomy to Serbia and Moldavia, two regions that were historically under Ottoman suzerainty. The treaty also granted Russia a dominant role in the future of the Balkans.
For Greece, the Treaty of Adrianople had indirect but significant consequences. Russia, as a result of its victory over the Ottomans, emerged as the dominant European power in the Balkans. By extension, it also became dominant in the Greek struggle for independence. Although the treaty did not immediately grant Greek independence, it set the stage for greater Russian involvement in Greek affairs. The defeat of the Ottomans in Adrianople signaled a clear weakening of their ability to suppress revolts in their territories. This provided a window of opportunity for the Greeks to continue their rebellion.
The Treaty of Adrianople, following the battle of 1829, also facilitated the diplomatic environment that led to the London Protocol of 1830. This Protocol eventually recognized Greek independence. The treaty of London of 1827 only recognised autonomy but not independence, an autonomy which included the right of the Sultan to intervene in Greek affairs. The defeat of the Ottoman Empire in 1829 was a key factor in the Great Powers (Russia, Britain and France) being more willing to support the establishment of a Greek state.
While the Battle of Navarino is often credited with ensuring Greek independence due to the naval intervention of Britain, France and Russia, the role of the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-1829 and the Battle of Adrianople is often overlooked. It is crucial to recognize that the Russian victory at Adrianople not only weakened the Ottoman Empire’s military and territorial integrity but also reinforced the Greek position. It enabled further support from Russia and created favorable conditions for the eventual creation of the modern Greek state.
In contrast to the dramatic and widely recognized Navarino victory—which was a naval battle that sealed the fate of the Ottoman Egyptian fleet—the Battle of Adrianople and the Russo-Turkish War were essential in breaking the back of Ottoman power in the Balkans and creating a more favorable environment for the Greeks. This critical turning point in the Russo-Turkish War laid the groundwork for subsequent diplomatic moves which would result in the independence of Greece.
The Battle of Adrianople and the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-1829 were crucial in the ultimate success of the Greek War of Independence. Their significance is often forgotten in favor of more dramatic events, particularly the Battle of Navarino. Navarino was a symbolic moment of international intervention that hastened Greek independence. However, Adrianople was the battle that decisively weakened the Ottoman Empire. It paved the way for the actual independence of a Greek state. As the British historian David Brewer states, “The Greek cause, long a matter of great-power diplomacy, was settled not just at Navarino but in the corridors of power following Adrianople. The Russian victory ensured the Ottomans could no longer reverse Greek gains.”
The victory at Adrianople and its aftermath were essential in the weakening of Ottoman control over Greece and ultimately contributed to the creation of the modern Greek state. As such, the Battle of Adrianople deserves to be recognized as a critical, yet often forgotten, moment in Greek history.
