The Adrianople Peace and the Growth of Russian Black Sea Trade

Abstract

The Adrianople Treaty was signed at a fortunate time for both Russia and Turkey. As late as mid-August, Turkish prevarication mystified St Petersburg, with Nesselrode observing, ‘It is ... extremely difficult to know why the Sultan, currently threatened at the heart of his power in Europe, as well as Asia, has not become more tractable.’⁴ In Adrianople itself, former Janissaries approached Russian troops, gave them a secret sign, and requested aid to help them take their revenge.⁵ Rumours were rife in the Turkish capital; a British officer at Tarabya reported that the Russians had reached the Sea of Marmora, while Dibich’s main forces were within a twenty-hour march of Constanti-nople.⁶ The British ambassador numbered Dibich’s troops at 40 000, with 25 000 reinforcements expected daily.’