Russia's Manifest Destiny
19th Century Expansion

Russian Campaigns During
Their Southern and Eastward Expansion
Including Events of their Siberian Advance

by Rudy Scott Nelson



(This is not a complete Chronology. Only a summary of key events.)

1640-1740. Russo-Chukchian War. Fought in northeastern Siberia between Russian settlers + soldiers and the local native tribes. The Russians recognized Chukchi autonomy after failing to defeat them.

1654-1658 RUSSIAN-MANCHURIAN CONFLICT. Korean auxiliary troops are assist the Manchus combat intrusions by Russians along the Amur River. A treaty establishes a common Russian-Manchu border1685-9. Russo-Chinese Conflict. Russians established fortified bases in the Amur River valley of Manchuria. Several skirmishes were fought. The Manchus received aid from the Koreans and captured the Russian fort at Albazin. A treaty was signed in 1689 that established a border and a sphere of influence between powers

1710-11 Ottoman-Russian War. Russians lose at the Battle of Pruth.

1717 Russian expedition (4,000 men) to Khiva is destroyed.

1722-23 Russian Expeditions enter Persian provinces along the Caspian Sea, in Georgia and Azerbajain, Resistance is minimal and Russian garrisons are posted.

1735-39 Austro-Russo vs Ottoman War. Russian Campaign against Ottoman controlled Crimean Khanate with other actions in the Ukraine & Balkans.

1759 Manchu China armies defeat Jungar and their Muslim allies of the Tarim Basin. They establish control and forts up to Lake Balkhash. This blocks any Russian plans to advance further to the South in that region.

1761-66. ALEUTS vs Russia. Fought mainly as skirmishes between Aleuts and Russian landing parties from Russian trading ships. After the Russian traders obtained cannon for their ships, they bombarded the Aleuts villages until the Aleuts surrendered. After the surrender, the Russians used the Aleuts as scouts in their attacks on other Alaskan tribes

1768-83 Russo-Ottoman Wars. Russian Invasion and Annexation of the Crimean Khanate. The Turks lost Bucharest in 1771 and the Port of Azov in 1774.

1787-92 Russo-Ottoman War. Russians make modest gains in several areas.

1802-67. Russo-Tlingit War. Fought mainly with the Sitka tribe of the Tinglits.

1802. Tlingit war parties capture the Russian garrison at Fort Archangel

1804 Russian counterattack recaptures Fort Archangel from the Tinglits.

1804-13 Russo-Persian War. Persians cede Georgia and Baku to the Russians.

1805-67. Skirmishes between the Tinglits and Russian traders during the entire era

1826-28 Russo-Persian War.

1830 Kokand invades Manchu China territory around Lake Tarim. It had limited success but ensured that the Manchu would not protest later Russian attacks against Kokand.

1839 Russian Expedition (5000) to Khiva failed to reach the city.

1847-60 Russia advances its frontier in Turkestan against primarily the forces of Bokhara and Kokand. Initial operations were a slow series of forts progressing forward. Aggressive operations against Kokand captured Tashkent in 1865. Later operations subdued Bokara by 1873.

1854-57 Crimean War. Russians fight a combined Turkish-British-French- Sardinian army. The war is a virtual stalemate with few concessions being Made by the Russians after their Port of Sevastapol is captured.

1858 & 1860. Treaty of Aigun. A treaty between the Chinese and Russians. It ceded all land north of the Amur River to the Russians. In 1860 the treaty was modified to cede all of the land east of the Ussuri River to the Russian which gave them control of all of the pacific coast north of Korea. The Chinese signed such a generous treaty because they had just been defeated by an Anglo-French expedition and their country was torn with revolts. The Chinese did not feel that they could successfully halt any Russian expansion into those remote areas.

1873-76 Russian Expedition against the Khanate of Khiva and Kokand rebels.

1877-78 Russo-Turkish War. A Russian victory resulted in independence for Roumanian and Bulgarian provinces in the Balkans.

1877 Russian attacks strongholds of the Turmomans

1900 Russian troops enter Chinese territory as part of the Joint European Expedition to end the Boxer Revolt.

Russia's Manifest Destiny 19th Century Expansion


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© Copyright 2003 by Rudy Scott Nelson
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