Seven territories that could be ours, like Crimea
It happened in history that Russia missed territories that could potentially be included in its composition. And it’s not even about events such as the demise of the Russian Empire or the collapse of the Soviet Union (this is a separate issue). Of course, the first thing I remember is lost Alaska. But there are others that are spoken of infrequently.
For example, the south of the Caspian coast. After Peter I defeated the Swedes and, as Pushkin wrote, “cut a window to Europe”, he tried to “cut another window”, only in a southerly direction. Namely, to India. In the years 1722-1723. the Russian army undertook campaigns on the territory of Persia, which suffered from internecine hostility. As a result, it was possible to capture the south and west of the Caspian coast. But to keep these territories failed. To the constant robbery attacks from the highlanders, epidemics also added. This reduced the number of Russian troops in the area by half. In 1732, this territory was returned to Persia.
Currently, Kaliningrad (formerly German Koenigsberg), along with some other territories of East Prussia, is part of our country. This happened after the victory in the Great Patriotic War. However, there was a period in history when East Prussia was subordinate to Russia without it. This was during the Seven Years War of 1756-1763. In 1758, Russian soldiers managed to enter this region. After that, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna turned him into a Russian governor-general, and the local population was invited to accept Russian citizenship. One of the most famous people who thus became Russian subjects is the outstanding philosopher Immanuel Kant. Unfortunately, after the death of Elizabeth, Peter III came to power. He had sympathy for the Prussian king Frederick, and indeed for Prussia himself, and returned all these territories to her. Even Catherine II, who overthrew her predecessor, did not change this decision, but only confirmed it.
And we could go to the Mediterranean Sea, as to our own resorts. At least to Malta. In 1798, Napoleon defeated her when he was on his way to Egypt. Malta was under the rule of the Order of Hospitallers. After what happened, the knights of this Order (which originated during the Crusades) began to seek protection from the Russian Emperor Paul I and even declared him their Grand Master. And the emblem of the Order became part of the Russian coat of arms. However, in 1800, the British captured Malta.
And Russia could have power over the Ionian Islands. In 1800, the great naval commander Nikolai Ushakov, who commanded the Russian-Turkish squadron, recaptured the island of Corfu from the French. After that, the Republic of Seven Islands was created. And although formally it was a Turkish protectorate, it was actually under the control of Russia. Alas, the islands were ceded to Napoleon according to the Tilsit peace (in 1807).
In 1807, during the Russo-Turkish war, Romania came under Russian power. Then it consisted of two separate principalities: Moldova and Wallachia. But then the war with Napoleon followed. And Russia had to make peace with Turkey as soon as possible, leaving only the eastern part of Moldova (Bessarabia). Our country also had another chance to leave Romania under its control. In 1828-29, during another Russian-Turkish war, the Russian troops again found themselves in Moldova and Wallachia. Emperor Nicholas I even tried to give them something similar to the Constitution (although in another territory he suppressed all "sedition"). But the Russians had to leave these territories under pressure from France, England and Austria, and the subsequent Crimean War completely led to the loss of Russian influence in this corner of the globe.
In 1877, the Russian army captured Kars. This happened during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. Together with Batumi, Kars moved to Russia. This territory began to be populated by Russians. Russian architects also worked in Kars, which can be seen even now when this city belongs to Turkey (and was transferred to it after the revolution).
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Russia owned Manchuria. In 1896, China allowed the Russians to build the Sino-Eastern Railway and to lease the adjacent territories. But in fact, control of Russia was established over Manchuria. Numerous Russian immigrants appeared there. Authorities, the army, the police were created. The Russian Empire seriously intended to finally include Manchuria in its composition and give it the name "Yellow Russia". The Russo-Japanese War crossed out these plans. The south of Manchuria came under Japanese rule. And after the revolution - in 1920 - China seized all Russian objects on the Sino-Eastern Railway and thus “buried” Zheltorossiya.
Another lost territory in the Far East is Port Arthur. This land has long been a bone of contention between China, Russia and Japan. In 1898, Russia leased Port Arthur from China under a naval base for 25 years. However, as a result of the Russo-Japanese War, control over it was lost. In 1945, after the end of World War II, by agreement with China, Port Arthur was transferred to the USSR for 30 years. But the Korean War prevented the implementation of this treaty, after which Beijing asked Moscow to withdraw Soviet troops from this territory. Which was done on May 24, 1955.
For example, the south of the Caspian coast. After Peter I defeated the Swedes and, as Pushkin wrote, “cut a window to Europe”, he tried to “cut another window”, only in a southerly direction. Namely, to India. In the years 1722-1723. the Russian army undertook campaigns on the territory of Persia, which suffered from internecine hostility. As a result, it was possible to capture the south and west of the Caspian coast. But to keep these territories failed. To the constant robbery attacks from the highlanders, epidemics also added. This reduced the number of Russian troops in the area by half. In 1732, this territory was returned to Persia.
Currently, Kaliningrad (formerly German Koenigsberg), along with some other territories of East Prussia, is part of our country. This happened after the victory in the Great Patriotic War. However, there was a period in history when East Prussia was subordinate to Russia without it. This was during the Seven Years War of 1756-1763. In 1758, Russian soldiers managed to enter this region. After that, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna turned him into a Russian governor-general, and the local population was invited to accept Russian citizenship. One of the most famous people who thus became Russian subjects is the outstanding philosopher Immanuel Kant. Unfortunately, after the death of Elizabeth, Peter III came to power. He had sympathy for the Prussian king Frederick, and indeed for Prussia himself, and returned all these territories to her. Even Catherine II, who overthrew her predecessor, did not change this decision, but only confirmed it.
And we could go to the Mediterranean Sea, as to our own resorts. At least to Malta. In 1798, Napoleon defeated her when he was on his way to Egypt. Malta was under the rule of the Order of Hospitallers. After what happened, the knights of this Order (which originated during the Crusades) began to seek protection from the Russian Emperor Paul I and even declared him their Grand Master. And the emblem of the Order became part of the Russian coat of arms. However, in 1800, the British captured Malta.
And Russia could have power over the Ionian Islands. In 1800, the great naval commander Nikolai Ushakov, who commanded the Russian-Turkish squadron, recaptured the island of Corfu from the French. After that, the Republic of Seven Islands was created. And although formally it was a Turkish protectorate, it was actually under the control of Russia. Alas, the islands were ceded to Napoleon according to the Tilsit peace (in 1807).
In 1807, during the Russo-Turkish war, Romania came under Russian power. Then it consisted of two separate principalities: Moldova and Wallachia. But then the war with Napoleon followed. And Russia had to make peace with Turkey as soon as possible, leaving only the eastern part of Moldova (Bessarabia). Our country also had another chance to leave Romania under its control. In 1828-29, during another Russian-Turkish war, the Russian troops again found themselves in Moldova and Wallachia. Emperor Nicholas I even tried to give them something similar to the Constitution (although in another territory he suppressed all "sedition"). But the Russians had to leave these territories under pressure from France, England and Austria, and the subsequent Crimean War completely led to the loss of Russian influence in this corner of the globe.
In 1877, the Russian army captured Kars. This happened during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. Together with Batumi, Kars moved to Russia. This territory began to be populated by Russians. Russian architects also worked in Kars, which can be seen even now when this city belongs to Turkey (and was transferred to it after the revolution).
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Russia owned Manchuria. In 1896, China allowed the Russians to build the Sino-Eastern Railway and to lease the adjacent territories. But in fact, control of Russia was established over Manchuria. Numerous Russian immigrants appeared there. Authorities, the army, the police were created. The Russian Empire seriously intended to finally include Manchuria in its composition and give it the name "Yellow Russia". The Russo-Japanese War crossed out these plans. The south of Manchuria came under Japanese rule. And after the revolution - in 1920 - China seized all Russian objects on the Sino-Eastern Railway and thus “buried” Zheltorossiya.
Another lost territory in the Far East is Port Arthur. This land has long been a bone of contention between China, Russia and Japan. In 1898, Russia leased Port Arthur from China under a naval base for 25 years. However, as a result of the Russo-Japanese War, control over it was lost. In 1945, after the end of World War II, by agreement with China, Port Arthur was transferred to the USSR for 30 years. But the Korean War prevented the implementation of this treaty, after which Beijing asked Moscow to withdraw Soviet troops from this territory. Which was done on May 24, 1955.
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