Russian consuls and the Greek war of independence (1821–31).

GREEK War of Independence, 1821-1832; WAR & society -- History; ORTHODOX Christianity; RUSSIAN diplomatic & consular service; EASTERN question (Middle East); RUSSIA -- Foreign relations -- 1801-1917; OTTOMAN Empire; HISTORY of the Balkan Peninsula -- 19th century; NINETEENTH century

Russian consular dispatches contain vivid descriptions of life in the nineteenth-century Ottoman Balkans. Besides war and diplomacy, Russian archival materials provide historians with insight on nationalism, religion, and society. The long-lasting struggle for Greek independence (1821–31) created unprecedented challenges for Russian officials in Ottoman domains. Tsarist envoys played a mediating role in issues over territories, prisoners of war, religious conversions, and refugee relief. In the context of Russian–Ottoman nineteenth-century relations, this article shows that Russian agents worked to protect the rights of Orthodox Christians and promote commercial, cultural, and political connections. It reveals the sometimes contradictory nature of tsarist policy, based on legitimism and reactionary conservatism, yet supportive of movements for independence among Orthodox Christians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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