ÇAR I. PETRO DÖNEMİNDE RUSYA’NIN BALKAN POLİTİKASI (1689-1725)
THE BALKAN POLICY OF RUSSIA DURING THE PERIOD OF TSAR PETRO I (1689-1725)

Summary/Abstract: The Balkan peoples occupied a significant place in Russia’s policy toward the Ottoman Empire. Tsar Peter I regarded the Balkan populations as a potential source of military support that could be employed against the Ottomans, and he sought to establish diplomatic contact with them while cultivating religious and political affinities. In turn, the Balkan communities viewed the Russians as potential liberators who could free them from Ottoman domination, and they likewise initiated contact with Russia. These mutual interests fostered closer relations and eventually led to joint action against the Ottoman Empire during the Prut War (1711). However, the expectations of neither side were fully met in the course of this conflict. This study aims to examine how Tsar Peter I’s Balkan policy shaped the relations between Russia and the Ottoman Empire. The article explores the religious, political, and military ties that Russia developed with Balkan populations during the reign of Peter I, with particular emphasis on the roles played by the Montenegrins, Wallachians, and Moldavians in the Prut War. Furthermore, the study seeks to demonstrate how Tsar Peter attempted to use the Balkan peoples as a strategic instrument in his struggle against the Ottoman Empire in order to transform Russia into a Black Sea power and expand Russian borders and influence toward the Balkans. Understanding these dynamics is essential for assessing the policies through which Peter sought to gain superiority over the Ottoman Empire. This research also reveals that the Balkan peoples, in their efforts to escape Ottoman rule, were actively seeking a protector.

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