Latest / The Romanov Dynasty: Rise, Power, and Bloody End — Fexingo History / The Romanovs and the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78
Transcript
- Lucas: For anyone coming with us through these conversations about the Romanovs, you'll remember Alexander II — the Tsar Liberator who freed the serfs and then got blown up by the People's Will. But there's a whole other side to his reign that we haven't touched yet: the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78. Luna: I know his domestic reforms got all the attention, but this war was huge, wasn't it? Lucas: Massive. Russia fought the Ottoman Empire to liberate the Balkan Slavs — Bulgarians, Serbs, Romanians — who were still under Ottoman rule. The war was driven by Pan-Slavism, a movement that said Russia had a duty to protect fellow Orthodox Slavs. It was also a chance to reassert Russian prestige after the Crimean War humiliation. Luna: So Alexander II was trying to reclaim Russia's place in Europe. Lucas: Exactly. And the war started after the Ottomans brutally suppressed a rebellion in Bulgaria in 1876 — the 'Bulgarian Horrors' as the Western press called them. Public opinion in Russia was inflamed. The government declared war in April 1877. Luna: How did it go at first? Lucas: The plan was to cross the Danube and race to Constantinople. But the Ottomans had a brilliant commander, Osman Pasha, who fortified the town of Plevna — today Pleven in Bulgaria. The Russian army, under Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich, laid siege. And it became a disaster. Luna: I remember reading about Plevna — it was like a Russian Verdun. Lucas: Exactly. Three major assaults failed with enormous casualties. The Russians had to dig in for a long siege. It lasted from July to December 1877. Meanwhile, another Russian force held the Shipka Pass in the Balkan Mountains against desperate Ottoman counterattacks. The defense of Shipka became legendary — soldiers freezing in the snow, fighting off wave after wave. Luna: Both sieges — Plevna and Shipka — became symbols of Russian endurance. Lucas: They did. Finally, Plevna fell in December after Osman Pasha ran out of supplies. He surrendered with honor — Alexander II returned his sword. Then the Russians pushed through the Balkans, took Sofia, and by January 1878 they were at the gates of Constantinople. The Ottomans sued for peace. Luna: So Russia won decisively. What happened? Lucas: The Treaty of San Stefano in March 1878 created a 'Big Bulgaria' — a large autonomous Bulgarian state under Russian influence, stretching to the Aegean. That alarmed the other Great Powers, especially Britain and Austria-Hungary. They forced a revision at the Congress of Berlin in July 1878, chaired by Bismarck. Luna: So Russia's victory was cut down by diplomacy. Lucas: Completely. The Congress of Berlin drastically reduced Bulgaria's size, returned some territory to the Ottomans, and gave Austria-Hungary administration of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Russia got some territory in the Caucasus and southern Bessarabia — but the Pan-Slavic dream was betrayed. Many Russians felt humiliated. It bred a deep resentment against the Western powers. Luna: And the war wasn't cheap. The cost in lives and money must have been enormous. Lucas: Over 200,000 Russian casualties, mostly from disease. The war exposed massive logistical failures, corruption, and incompetence in the army. It discredited the military establishment and fueled revolutionary sentiment. People asked: why did our soldiers die for a Bulgaria that was then cut in half? Lucas: There's a quick honest thing here. A handful of listeners chip in monthly through buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo, and that's literally what funds making this many of these episodes. It keeps the show ad-free and allows us to dig into these detailed stories. Luna: Yeah, it's true. Every little bit helps us keep this going without corporate interruptions. Lucas: And that independence is what lets us explore obscure battles like Plevna or the politics of the Congress of Berlin. So thank you to anyone who's part of that. Lucas: Back to the war — one of its most celebrated heroes was General Mikhail Skobelev, known as the 'White General' for his white uniform and horse. He was dashing, fearless, and loved by his men. He led the final assault on Plevna and was instrumental in the advance on Constantinople. Luna: He sounds like a celebrity soldier, almost a mythic figure. Lucas: He was. But Skobelev was also a fierce Pan-Slavist who criticized the Congress of Berlin and called for the liberation of all Slavs, even those under Austrian rule. He died suddenly in 1882 at age 38 — possibly poisoned? — and his funeral was a massive public event. He became a symbol of Russian nationalism and military glory. Luna: So the war created heroes, but also deepened Russia's sense of grievance. Lucas: Right. The war's aftermath poisoned Russian relations with Austria-Hungary and Germany. The Three Emperors' League fell apart. And it set the stage for the Balkan conflicts that would eventually lead to World War I. The Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78 was a pivotal moment — a victory that felt like a defeat. Luna: And all of this under the Tsar Liberator, who would be assassinated three years later. Lucas: Exactly. The war drained resources that could have gone to reform, and the disillusionment fed the revolutionary movements that killed him. It's a stark reminder that foreign adventures have domestic consequences.