Genel Türk Tarihi Araştırmaları Dergisi

Öz

Due to its strategically pivotal location, Erzurum functioned as a critical nexus in the geopolitical struggle between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire. For the Russians, it served as a forward outpost facilitating their advance into Ottoman territories, while for the Ottomans, it represented a key stronghold for safeguarding their eastern frontiers. Owing to its position as a gateway to both the Caucasus and Anatolia, Erzurum emerged as a principal target during the Russo-Turkish wars of the 19th century, prompting the reinforcement of Erzurum Fortress and its surrounding fortifications. Despite these defensive measures, the city fell under Russian occupation three times within less than a century: initially in 1828–1829, subsequently in 1877–1878, and finally in 1916. In the existing body of literature, the 1829 occupation has been examined primarily through the lens of Alexander Pushkin’s journey to Erzurum, while recent scholarly endeavors have shed light on the 1916 occupation. However, there remains a conspicuous gap in academic studies concerning the 1878 occupation, particularly those grounded in both Turkish and Russian primary sources. During the 1877–78 Russo-Turkish War, the Ottoman military and the civilian population of Erzurum mounted considerable resistance against the Russian forces, effectively halting their advance. Nonetheless, the Russian army’s progression towards Istanbul posed an imminent threat to the Ottoman capital, leading to the inclusion of Erzurum’s surrender as a stipulation in the Edirne Armistice. This development resulted in a Russian occupation of Erzurum that persisted for approximately seven months. The objective of this study is to analyze the occupation period through a comprehensive examination of archival documents and diverse sources, with particular emphasis on the memoirs of Erzurum’s Military Governor Sergey Mikhailovich Duhovsky, his wife Varvara Fyodorovna Duhovskaya, and Red Cross officials. Within this framework, the study investigates the circumstances surrounding the city’s surrender, the structure of the Russian administrative apparatus, the dynamics of governance and local population interaction, and the broader social relations during the occupation. Moreover, it explores how the Russians construed this period as both a propagandistic tool and a preparatory phase for prospective future occupations.