The Centuries-Long Russian Quest for Constantinople
For centuries, the city of Constantinople had occupied a special place in the Russian imperial imagination. As the former capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and the center of Orthodox Christianity, it represented both spiritual and strategic significance for Russian rulers. The idea of capturing Constantinople – which Russians romantically called “Tsargrad” (Tsar’s City) – became a recurring theme in Russian foreign policy dating back to the reign of Catherine the Great.
After defeating the Ottomans in the 1768-1774 war, Catherine first articulated Russia’s claim to the city and the surrounding straits. This ambition only grew stronger throughout the 19th century, becoming such a common topic that British music halls featured songs about Russian designs on Constantinople. The refrain “The Russians shall not have Constantinople” became particularly popular during the Russo-Turkish wars of 1829, 1853-1856 (Crimean War), and 1878.
World War I and the Promise of Tsargrad
The outbreak of World War I presented Russia with its best opportunity yet to realize this ancient dream. By March 1915, through the secret Sykes-Picot-Sazonov Agreement, Britain had consented to Russian claims on Constantinople and the straits. The only obstacle remaining was Russia’s own hesitation about launching an amphibious assault on the Bosporus.
The strategic situation appeared increasingly favorable by 1916-1917. The German battlecruiser Goeben (called Yavuz Sultan Selim by the Ottomans), which had dominated the Black Sea earlier in the war, was now effectively neutralized due to severe damage and coal shortages. Meanwhile, Russia had established naval supremacy through a series of engagements, despite losing its own dreadnought Imperatritsa Mariya to an accidental explosion in Sevastopol harbor.
The Military Situation in 1917
By early 1917, the Ottoman military position had deteriorated dramatically. The Third Army had dwindled to just 30,000 men, with units reduced to skeleton formations. The newly formed Second Army, while slightly stronger at 64,000 men, faced equally dire circumstances as brutal winter conditions caused massive casualties from frostbite, typhus, and starvation.
Russian Admiral Alexander Kolchak, commander of the Black Sea Fleet, saw an unprecedented opportunity. With Ottoman forces stretched thin and Constantinople’s defenses weakened after the Gallipoli campaign, he believed just five infantry divisions could seize both sides of the Bosporus and claim Russia’s long-coveted prize.
The February Revolution and the Tsargrad Dream
The February Revolution of 1917 and the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II might have been expected to end imperial war aims. Paradoxically, the new Provisional Government under Foreign Minister Pavel Milyukov became even more determined to capture Constantinople. As Milyukov famously declared: “It would be absurd and shameful in the name of humanitarian and international socialist principles to renounce the greatest prize of the war.”
The new government saw the conquest of Constantinople as crucial for maintaining public support. Even as revolutionary fervor spread through Russia, military preparations continued. A special Black Sea amphibious division was formed, transport ships were requisitioned, and plans were drawn up for a May offensive.
Cultural and Political Significance
The obsession with Constantinople transcended mere military strategy. For Russians, the city represented:
– The spiritual legacy of Byzantium and the “Third Rome” theory
– Strategic control of vital trade routes
– National prestige and imperial destiny
– A unifying war goal that could rally support across political factions
This symbolic importance was reflected in popular culture, with songs asking “What’s the point of war if we don’t get Constantinople?” Even as revolutionary socialism spread, the dream of Tsargrad persisted.
The Final Push and Revolutionary Collapse
Despite the revolutionary chaos, Russian naval forces remained active in the Black Sea through 1917. In March and April, reconnaissance flights and naval bombardments probed Ottoman defenses. The most dramatic moment came on July 26, when a Russian ship slipped through minefields to deliver a revolutionary manifesto in a bottle to the Turks – a bizarre combination of revolutionary internationalism and traditional Russian demands for control of the straits.
However, the Bolshevik seizure of power in October 1917 abruptly ended Russia’s imperial ambitions. Lenin’s Decree on Peace called for an immediate end to the war without annexations, marking a complete break with previous foreign policy. The dream of Tsargrad, pursued for centuries by tsars and revolutionaries alike, vanished in the revolutionary storm.
Legacy and Modern Relevance
The failed quest for Constantinople left several important legacies:
1. It demonstrated the enduring power of historical myths in shaping foreign policy
2. The secret Allied agreements about partitioning the Ottoman Empire contributed to postwar instability in the Middle East
3. The tension between revolutionary ideals and traditional geopolitics continued to influence Soviet foreign policy
4. The episode reveals how war aims can persist even as governments and ideologies change
Today, as Russia again asserts itself in the Black Sea region, the historical echoes of the Tsargrad dream remain relevant for understanding contemporary geopolitical ambitions in this strategically vital area.