from the troops of Suvorov, the Confederates find nothing better than to turn to Turkey (the reward for the help of the Ottomans is Volhynia and Podolia).
…In May 1764, the Empress, after consulting with the scientist M. Lomonosov, dispatches an expedition to the North Pole. The commander of six ships equipped with perfect equipment of that time was Captain V. Chichagov. The expedition stops northwest of Spitsbergen (Grumant Island), reaching a latitude of 80 degrees and five minutes, in front of insurmountable ice. The second campaign wins over the North by only one geographic minute. Thus, Lomonosov’s hope that «the ice will disperse» and the Russian ships will reach the shores of North America is not justified.
…Using some pretext, the Turkish authorities imprison the Russian ambassador Obreskov in the Seven-Tower Castle. This, according to Ottoman custom, means the beginning of a full-scale war. In response, on November 29, 1768, Catherine also declared war. The Russian fleet is sent to the Mediterranean Sea under the control of the favorites, the Orlov brothers. Its main goal is to incite anti-Turkish uprisings among the Christian peoples conquered by the Ottomans. Crimean Tatars cross the Russian border and attack Novorossiya. The wheel of war is turning. The Russian detachment occupies Azov and Taganrog. The clatter of axes and the grinding of saws marks the revival of the Azov flotilla. On the other side of the theater of military operations, Prince Golitsyn provokes the Turks, departs, and waits for two months for the booty to come to him by itself. Indeed, the Turks come, but because of the corruption that reigns now in Ottoman society, they are worn out, hungry and demoralized. In 1770 a series of fierce battles will take place. We should especially note the battle near the Cahul River, in the south of modern Moldova. The forces of the sides: the Russian army – 32 thousand, 118 guns, the Turkish army – 150 thousand with 140 guns. A detachment of Tatars, 80 thousand soldiers is preparing to attack Rumyantsev’s carts. The commander withdraws part of the troops to protect them. Only 17 thousand people remain for the general battle. On the night of August 1, soldiers line up in squares of 800 soldiers and move at an accelerated pace towards the Ottoman army. It is difficult for the Turkish cavalry, like cavalry in general, to attack the cadre infantry prepared for battle. Russian guns are effective. Confusion is caused by ten thousand janissaries who have appeared on the flank. After the intervention of officers, the square continues the offensive. A detachment of Kurds as part of the Ottoman army, instead of helping the Turks, is taken to plunder them. The next day, a Russian detachment attacks the Danube crossing. Here, on 300 ships, the remnants of the Turkish army are trying to evacuate. Losses of the parties. The Turkish army has 8 thousand soldiers, 140 cannons, 4 thousand prisoners «on a moderate basis». Russian army – 364 people.
Further, almost without resistance, Russian troops for the first time capture the strategically important fortress of Izmail. Problems with the delivery of provisions, the establishment of comprehensive relations with allies are a thing of the past. Catherine’s army remains to spend the winter in Moldavia and Wallachia.
The Russian fleet moves from the Baltic to the Mediterranean, losing 40% of the materiel due to leaks and other incidents. For the occupation of Turkish fortified points, together with the Greek rebels, amphibious assault forces are landed. At first, things are successful, but after the Greeks brutally dealt with the prisoners of war – no longer. In addition, there are two admirals at the head of the fleet, which cannot but cause some friction. Favorite of Catherine II, Alexei Orlov acts as a powerful arbiter. After a warm-up clash in the Chios Strait, where the losses of the parties are approximately equal, the Battle of Chesme takes place. It develops simply. After a serious artillery barrage, the Russian ships release four fire-ships against the Turkish fleet huddled in the bay. With two such oared torpedoes, the crew is evacuated in boats too early. The third ship runs aground near the coastal battery, preventing it from conducting aimed fire. The fourth «torpedo» interlocks with the battleship, ignites it and, a few minutes after the team leaves the fire-ship, explodes.
Debris falls on other Turkish ships, causing a firestorm. 14 Turkish battleships, 6 frigates and an uncountable number of small ships are burning, sinking. Out of 15 thousand Turkish sailors, 4 thousand are saved. The Russian fleet controls the entire Aegean Sea. The blockade of the Dardanelles begins – a number of straits between the islands off the western coast of Turkey. The main goal, in the future, is the capture of Constantinople. Russian citizenship is accepted by 27 islands of the Aegean Archipelago. The fleet numbers up to 50 pennants. In August 1773, a Russian squadron begins the siege of Beirut (then Syrian). Two months later, the city capitulates. It is passed on to the allies who have accepted the patronage of Russia. At the same time, 200,000 piastres of indemnity, according to the Naval Regulations (not the usual correct war for the Russians), are distributed among the ship’s crews.
In July 1774, the parties to the conflict signed the Kuchuk-Kainardzhiyskiy (place in modern Bulgaria) peace treaty. In comparison with the successes of the Russian army and the funds spent, he is modest. Russia acquires Kerch and a part of the northern coast of Crimea, with the right of navigation in the Black and Mediterranean Seas (unhindered passage through the Straits), also 4.5 million rubles in indemnity. The Crimean Khanate becomes independent from Turkey. A number of territories, including Ochakov, remain in the possession of the Port. The population of the Dardanelles who have taken Russian citizenship has to be transported by ships to Kerch and St. Petersburg. In 1778, Alexander Suvorov organized the resettlement of 30 thousand Christians persecuted from the Crimea to the Azov region.
The funds allocated for the military expedition are truly enormous. Catherine II, for the first time in the history of the Russian state, turns to foreign loans. The external debt, which exceeds the annual budget at times, is swelling. Inflating territories, which is not a bad thing in itself, and increasing international prestige, does not improve the life of the population of Central Russia. The cost of bread increases 4—6 times. Farmers often starve and slowly but surely turn into slaves.
In 1769, the first Russian paper money came into circulation. This is an obligation-receipt for receiving a coin (if copper nickels, 20 kilograms for 20 rubles). Very popular banknotes are in circulation until 1843. A cow and a horse cost a ruble and a half, the same tithe of land (a little more than a hectare). Sermyaga (simple clothes) – 20—40 kopecks, an ax 7 kopecks, a pood of rye – 5 kopecks. The most popular among the people are dimes. Gold coins are used for international payments. A foreman at a state plant receives 120 rubles a year (33 kopecks a day), while a freelance worker gets 20 rubles.
Under Catherine II, the market for people was finally formed. At the prices of 1782, the standard inventory of the estate: «… In the courtyard of courtyard people: Leonty Nikitin is 40 years old, according to an estimate of 30 rubles. His wife Marina Stepanova is 25 years old, estimated at 10 rubles. Efim Osipov 23 years old, according to the estimate of 40 rubles. His wife Marina Dementieva is 30 years old, estimated at 8 rubles. They have children – a son Guryan 4 years old, 5 rubles, the daughter of a girl Vasilisa 9 years old, according to the estimate of 3 r., Matryona is one year old, according to an estimate of 50 k. «A good village «girl» can be bought by a landowner for 200 rubles. Pedigree puppies are more expensive – up to 10,000 rubles.
…On the Don, there is a stratification of the Cossacks into «old», serving the state, and fugitives. The latter have serious financial problems. In addition, in conditions of peace, they desire to gain fame. Siberia and the Urals are a huge cauldron of war. The uprising of the peasants under Catherine II has a historical basis.
…In 1667, the Cossack Stepan Razin became the leader of free warriors: Cossacks, Tatars, Bashkirs, Kalmyks, Nogays. Thieves’ campaigns are made to the lower Volga and across the Caspian Sea to Persia. The fleet of Stepan Timofeevich launches the ship of Admiral Mamed Khan to the bottom, seizes other vessels that have lost their
