Özet:

A series of wars between Russia and the Ottoman Empire began in the sixteenth century but reached enormous levels in the early eighteenth century. Especially the 19th century was politically difficult for the Ottoman Empire. Its territory losses that began in previous centuries, continued to increase in this period as well. The most important factor in the territory losses experienced in the nineteenth century was the growing trend of nationalism throughout the world, and the Empire recognized the independence of Romania, Serbia, Montenegro and Greece. During the years when the Ottoman Empire tried to strengthen itself through reforms, the wars with Russia weighed heavily on the state. The greatest struggle in this century was fought against the Russians -with the wars of 1806-1812, 1828-1829, 1853-1856 and 1877-1878. In these wars against the Ottoman Empire, Russia benefited from the Armenians as allies. One reason the Armenians fought alongside the Russians against the Ottoman Empire was religion. The Armenians saw the Russians as a savior who would liberate them from the domination of a Muslim state. Another reason was the Armenian dream of a Great Armenian State. They believed they could this dream with the help of the Russians. Therefore, the Armenians fought alongside the Russians in the wars between the Ottoman Empire and Russia during the nineteenth century, where they served the Russian forces by taking part in the wars as soldiers or agents for the Russians in the Ottoman Empire. In this study, the wars between the Ottoman and Russian Empires in the nineteenth century, the reasons for the wars and finally the role of the Armenians in the Ottoman-Russian wars of the nineteenth century will be discussed.

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