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Revisiting the Second Russo-Iranian War (1826–28): Causes and Perceptions
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 January 2022
Abstract
This paper re-examines the causes of outbreak of Second Russo-Iranian War and the factors that played a role in its escalation into fully fledged war. The paper challenges the common perception that Qajar Iran played a major role in the outbreak of the war and proposes that the Qajar court took a defensive posture vis-à-vis aggressive Russian provocation originated in Tiflis and was merely reacting to it. The paper then examines policy differences between Tiflis and the court of St Petersburg as a contributing factor in the outbreak of the war. Finally, the paper examines two different and contradictory views of imperial Russia and its internal politics and military capabilities among Qajar Iran's decision makers during 1825–28. It is argued that the two perceptions eventually translated into two factions, each lobbying the shah for and against escalation of hostilities with Russia.
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References
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7 Ibid., 115; Nafisi's work is valuable in that it has extensive translation of a Russian book (in French) which includes translation of documents and letters related to the conflict. See Le General Prince Stcherbatow, Le Feld Marechal Prince Paskevich (St Petersburg, 1890).Google Scholar This document is primarily the writings of Paskevich in two volumes and it includes other primary sources.
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26 As translated in Nafisi, Tarikh-e ejtema'I va siyasi Iran, 95.
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36 Ibid., 121–22. Atkin describes this territory as having an unpleasant climate which the Russians found lethal, see Atkin, Russia and Iran, 153.
37 Yermolov's letter to Mirza Abd al-Hasan Khan, the Ilchi, Iranian Foreign Minister, was translated and dispatched by Willock: FO 60/27, p. 71.
38 Qa'em Maqam, Nameh-haye parakandeh-ye, 72.
39 FO/60/27 Willock to Canning (dispatch #1, Tehran, 13 January 1826).
40 Nafisi, Tarikh-e ejtema'I va siyasi Iran, 73.
41 For example he reported that Yermolov was defeated in Daghestan and lost many guns, see FO 60/27 Willock to Canning (Dispatch #1, Tehran, 13 January 1826).
42 FO/60/27 Willock to Canning (Tehran, 20 May 1826).
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46 FO/60/27 Extracts from Mr. Willock's Journal, 3 July 1826.
47 Monteith, Kars and Erzeroum, 125.
48 FO/60/27, Willock to Canning (Dispatch #2, 17 February 1826).
49 FO/60/27 Willock copying from Colonel MacNeill's Journal, 10 July 1826, p. 177.
50 For a discussion of the immigrant khans see Mirza, Tarikh-e no, 6–7.
51 FO/60/27 Willock to Canning (Camp Sultanieh, 27 June 1826), 126.
52 There is summary of the hawks’ line of argument in Willock's Journal, FO/60/27 Extracts from Mr. Willock's Journal (23 July 1826), 164.
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57 Fath Ali Shah's letter to Abbas Mirza, FO/60/27 Extracts from Mr. Willock's Journal (9 July 1826), 171.
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63 FO/60/27 Extracts from Mr. Willock's Journal (9 July 1826), 173.
64 Nafisi, Tarikh-e ejtema'I va siyasi Iran, 122–23.
65 FO/60/27 Extracts from Mr. Willock's Journal (8 July 1826), 167.
66 Monteith, Kars and Erzeroum, 122, Nafisi, Tarikh-e ejtema'I va siyasi Iran, 119–23.
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68 Throughout the rest of the nineteenth century, the Qajar ruling class would try all three paths and would eventually settle for what it could hold on to by trying to play various world powers against each other.
69 FO/60/27 Minutes of conversation at Sir Henry Willock's presentation to the Emperor Nicolas, 28 (16) October 1827, St Petersburg.
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