The Russo-Turkish War of 1735–1739: A Costly Struggle for Black Sea Access
Russia and the Ottoman Empire clashed in a brutal four-year conflict, later joined by the Habsburg monarchy. While Russian forces achieved significant battlefield victories, the war was defined by devastating epidemics and supply shortages that claimed far more lives than combat, ultimately leading to a stalemate and negotiated peace.
The conflict originated from ongoing Crimean Tatar raids on the Cossack Hetmanate and Russia's strategic ambition to secure access to the Black Sea. Russia entered the war after securing a favorable international climate, having signed treaties with Iran and supported Augustus III for the Polish throne. Austria, Russia's ally since 1726, joined the hostilities in 1737, hoping to expand its Balkan territories while the Ottomans were distracted.
Military operations were marked by intense, if often inconclusive, campaigns. Russian Field Marshal Burkhard Christoph von Münnich led multiple invasions into the Crimean Peninsula, capturing Bakhchysarai and the fortress at Azov. Simultaneously, Peter Lacy conducted aggressive maneuvers in Crimea. However, these successes were consistently undermined by logistical failures. Soldiers faced extreme shortages of food, water, and fodder, and the entire theater was ravaged by plague, which decimated armies on all sides.
The war reached a turning point in 1739. While Münnich achieved a decisive victory at the Battle of Stavuchany and occupied Khotyn and Iași, the Habsburgs suffered a strategic defeat at the Battle of Grocka. Isolated and facing a potential Swedish invasion, Russia accepted French-mediated peace terms. The final Treaty of Niš in October 1739 saw Russia abandon claims to Crimea and Moldova, while Azov was demolished and neutralized. For Austria, the war resulted in the loss of Belgrade and central Serbia, marking a significant diplomatic and military setback.
Source: Russo-Turkish War (1735–1739)
