What territories did the Russian Empire lose? Territories that Russia lost (6 photos)

Everyone knows that Russia once included Alaska, Poland, and Finland. In addition to these territories, there were, of course, others. Even if they were not so large in size, they were still important. Malta, Kars, Manchuria, Moldova, Wallachia, Port Arthur - all these territories were lost by Russia due to various reasons. Some were given away as a result of diplomatic games, some were used as bargaining chips.

In 1986, Russia agreed with China on the construction railway, which would connect Siberia with Far East through Manchuria. This is how the epoch-making project of the CER, the Chinese Eastern Railway, appeared.
Since Russia received the right to lease territory from China on both sides of the CER line, Manchuria soon became a dependent territory. The Russian administration, army, police and even courts appeared there. Of course, settlers moved there. Therefore, it is not surprising that the empire began to consider Manchuria as a territory potentially part of Russia. Even appeared special term- “Zheltorossiya”.

They wanted to rename Manchuria to Zheltorossiya

But the defeat in the war with the Japanese put an end to the ambitious plan. This territory fell into the sphere of influence of the Country rising sun. During the revolution in Russia, many of those dissatisfied with the new government settled in Manchuria. Therefore, in fact, the young Soviet Union had no leverage there. Well, China put the finishing touches on it. In 1920, the troops of the Celestial Empire occupied Harbin and the Chinese Eastern Railway. The Zheltorossiya project was closed.

In 1877, during the war with Ottoman Empire Kars was captured by Russian troops. And only a year later, when the Turks admitted defeat, this city, together with Batum, became part of the Russian Empire.

Kars was returned to Turkey in 1918

A stream of Russian immigrants poured into the newly formed Kara region. And the city itself began to be actively built up. Moreover, this was done not in a chaotic manner, but according to a plan developed by Russian architects.
The Kars region was given to Turkey by the Bolsheviks in 1918.

Before the defeat in the war with Japan, this city belonged to the Russian Empire. And the history of its defense has become legendary thanks to the bravery of Russian soldiers.
But then, 40 years later, the city again became part of Russia, only not imperial, but communist. After the surrender of Japan in 1945, Port Arthur, under an agreement with China, was leased to the Soviet Union for a period of 30 years. A Soviet naval base was located there.

Port Arthur was part of the Russian Empire before the war with Japan

But Port Arthur remained “red” for a short time - until 1952. By mutual agreement, the USSR returned the city to China. But the Soviet military nevertheless stayed there until 1955.

The principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia came under the rule of the Russian Empire at the beginning of the 19th century during another war with the Turks. The local population took an oath and was directly subordinate to Russian rule.
But because of the war with Napoleon, Alexander I was forced to hastily “make friends” with the Turks. As a result of the peace treaty, only the eastern part of Moldova – Bessarabia – was ceded to Russia.

After the defeat in Crimean War Russia abandoned Moldova and Wallachia

At the end of the 20s of the 19th century, the Russian Empire established its power in Moldavia and Wallachia for the second time. And again thanks to the war with the Turks. And Nicholas I even gave “organic regulations” to the new territories.
The Russian Empire finally lost influence in those lands after the Crimean War.

Moving to Egypt, Napoleon along the way defeated Malta, where the nest of the Knights of the Hospitaller Order was located. Moreover, the French emperor did this thanks to the cunning and weakness of the Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Boleym. The latter surrendered to Napoleon, declaring that the order's charter prohibited knights from fighting Christians.
After such a serious blow, the order was never able to recover. It decreased significantly in size and continued to exist by inertia. Of course, the knights tried to correct the situation. They understood that they could not do without an influential patron. And Emperor Paul I was best suited for this role. He was elected Grand Master. The emblem of the Order “settled” in the state emblem of the Russian Empire. This, in fact, was the end of the signs that Malta had come under the rule of the Russian emperor.

Paul I was Grand Master of the Order of Hospitallers

Soon Malta came under British rule. And after the death of Paul in Russia, no one remembered the distant knights.
As for the Ionian Islands, the power of the Russian Empire over them was more obvious. In 1800, naval commander Ushakov managed to capture the island of Corfu. And although the newly formed Republic of the Seven Islands was formally considered a Turkish protectorate, in reality Russia took on the role of manager there. But 7 years later, Alexander I ceded the islands to Napoleon following the Peace of Tilsit.

If we do not take into account the collapse of the Russian Empire and the collapse of the USSR, then the most famous (and largest) territorial loss of Russia is Alaska. But our country also lost other territories. These losses are rarely remembered today.

1. Southern coast of the Caspian Sea (1723-1732)

Having opened a “window to Europe” as a result of the victory over the Swedes, Peter I began to cut a window to India. For this purpose, he undertook in 1722-1723. campaigns in Persia, torn apart by civil strife. As a result of these campaigns, the entire western and southern coast of the Caspian Sea came under Russian rule.

But Transcaucasia is not the Baltic states. Conquering these territories turned out to be much easier than the Baltic possessions of Sweden, but maintaining them was more difficult. Due to epidemics and constant attacks by mountaineers, Russian troops were reduced by half.

Russia, exhausted by the wars and reforms of Peter, could not hold onto such a costly acquisition and in 1732 these lands were returned to Persia.

2. East Prussia (1758-1762)

As a result of the Second World War, part of East Prussia and Koenigsberg went to the USSR - now it is Kaliningrad with the region of the same name. But once these lands were already under Russian citizenship.

During the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), Russian troops occupied Königsberg and all of East Prussia in 1758. By decree of Empress Elizabeth, the region was turned into a Russian governor-general, and the Prussian population was sworn to Russian citizenship. The famous German philosopher Kant also became a Russian subject. A letter has been preserved in which Immanuel Kant, a loyal subject of the Russian crown, asks Empress Elizabeth Petrovna for the position of ordinary professor.

Sudden death Elizaveta Petrovna (1761) changed everything. The Russian throne was taken by Peter III, known for his sympathies for Prussia and King Frederick. He returned to Prussia all the Russian conquests in this war and turned his arms against his former allies. Catherine II, who overthrew Peter III and also sympathized with Frederick, confirmed peace and, in particular, the return of East Prussia.

3. Mediterranean: Malta (1798-1800) and Ionian Islands (1800-1807)

In 1798, Napoleon, on his way to Egypt, destroyed Malta, which was owned by the Knights of the Hospitaller Order, founded during the Crusades. Having recovered from the pogrom, the knights elected Russian Emperor Paul I as Grand Master of the Order of Malta. The emblem of the Order was included in National emblem Russia. This, perhaps, was the extent of the visible signs that the island was under Russian rule. In 1800, Malta was captured by the British.

In contrast to the formal possession of Malta, Russia's control over the Ionian Islands off the coast of Greece was more real.

In 1800, a Russian-Turkish squadron under the command of the famous naval commander Ushakov captured the island of Corfu, heavily fortified by the French. The Republic of the Seven Islands was established, formally as a Turkish protectorate, but in fact, under Russian control. According to the Treaty of Tilsit (1807), Emperor Alexander I secretly ceded the islands to Napoleon.

4. Romania (1807-1812, 1828-1834)

For the first time, Romania, or rather then two more separate principalities - Moldavia and Wallachia - came under Russian rule in 1807, during the next Russian-Turkish war(1806-1812). The population of the principalities was sworn to allegiance to the Russian Emperor, direct Russian rule was introduced throughout the entire territory. But Napoleon's invasion in 1812 forced Russia to conclude a speedy peace with Turkey, instead of two principalities being content with only the eastern part of the Principality of Moldavia (Bessarabia, modern Moldova).

The second time Russia established its power in the principalities during the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-29. At the end of the war, Russian troops did not leave; the principalities continued to be governed by the Russian administration. Moreover, Nicholas I, who suppressed any sprouts of freedom within Russia, gives his new territories a Constitution! True, it was called “organic regulations”, since for Nicholas I the word “constitution” was too seditious.

Russia would have willingly turned Moldavia and Wallachia, which it actually owned, into its de jure possessions, but England, France and Austria intervened in the matter. As a result, in 1834 the Russian army was withdrawn from the principalities. Russia finally lost its influence in the principalities after its defeat in the Crimean War.

5. Kars (1877-1918)

In 1877, during the Russian-Turkish War (1877-1878), Kars was taken by Russian troops. According to the peace treaty, Kars, together with Batumi, went to Russia.

The Kara region began to be actively populated by Russian settlers. Kars was built according to a plan developed by Russian architects. Even now Kars, with its strictly parallel and perpendicular streets, typically Russian houses, built in con. XIX - early XX centuries, sharply contrasts with the chaotic development of other Turkish cities. But it is very reminiscent of old Russian cities.

After the revolution, the Bolsheviks gave the Kars region to Turkey.

6. Manchuria (1896-1920)

In 1896, Russia received from China the right to build a railway through Manchuria to connect Siberia with Vladivostok - the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER). The Russians had the right to lease a narrow territory on both sides of the CER line. However, in fact, the construction of the road led to the transformation of Manchuria into a territory dependent on Russia, with a Russian administration, army, police and courts. Russian settlers poured there. The Russian government began to consider a project to incorporate Manchuria into the empire under the name “Zheltorossiya”.

As a result of Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, the southern part of Manchuria fell into the Japanese sphere of influence. After the revolution, Russian influence in Manchuria began to wane. Finally, in 1920, Chinese troops occupied Russian targets, including Harbin and the Chinese Eastern Railway, finally closing the Zheltorossiya project.

Thanks to the heroic defense of Port Arthur, many know that this city belonged to the Russian Empire before its defeat in the Russo-Japanese War. But a lesser known fact is that at one time Port Arthur was part of the USSR.

After the defeat of the Japanese Kwantung Army in 1945, Port Arthur was transferred under an agreement with China Soviet Union for a period of 30 years as a naval base. Later, the USSR and China agreed to return the city in 1952. At the request of the Chinese side, due to the difficult international situation (Korean War), the Soviet armed forces stayed in Port Arthur until 1955.

If we do not take into account the collapse of the Russian Empire, and then the USSR, then the most famous (and largest) territorial loss of Russia is Alaska. But our country also lost other territories. These losses are rarely remembered today.

Southern coast of the Caspian Sea (1723-1732)

Having cut a “window to Europe” as a result of the victory over the Swedes, Peter I began to cut a window to India. For this purpose, he undertook in 1722-1723. campaigns in Persia, torn apart by civil strife. As a result of these campaigns, the entire western and southern coast of the Caspian Sea came under Russian rule. It turned out to be much easier to conquer these territories than the Baltic possessions of Sweden, but more difficult to maintain. Due to epidemics and constant attacks by mountaineers, Russian troops were reduced by half. Russia, exhausted by the wars and reforms of Peter, could not hold onto such a costly acquisition and in 1732 these lands were returned to Persia.
East Prussia

As a result of the Second World War, part of East Prussia and Koenigsberg went to the USSR - now it is Kaliningrad with the region of the same name. But once these lands were already under Russian citizenship. During the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), Russian troops occupied Königsberg and all of East Prussia in 1758. By decree of Empress Elizabeth, the region was turned into a Russian governor-general, and the Prussian population was sworn to Russian citizenship. The famous German philosopher Kant also became a Russian subject. A letter has been preserved in which Immanuel Kant, a loyal subject of the Russian crown, asks Empress Elizaveta Petrovna for the position of ordinary professor. The sudden death of Elizaveta Petrovna (1761) changed everything. The Russian throne was taken by Peter III, known for his sympathies for Prussia and King Frederick. He returned to Prussia all the Russian conquests in this war and turned his arms against his former allies. Catherine II, who overthrew Peter III and also sympathized with Frederick, confirmed peace and, in particular, the return of East Prussia.
Malta and the Ionian Islands

In 1798, Napoleon, on his way to Egypt, destroyed Malta, which was owned by the Knights of the Hospitaller Order, founded during the Crusades. Having recovered from the pogrom, the knights elected Russian Emperor Paul I as Grand Master of the Order of Malta. The emblem of the Order was included in the State Emblem of Russia. This, perhaps, was the extent of the visible signs that the island was under Russian rule. In 1800, Malta was captured by the British. In contrast to the formal possession of Malta, Russia's control over the Ionian Islands off the coast of Greece was more real. In 1800, a Russian-Turkish squadron under the command of the famous naval commander Ushakov captured the island of Corfu, heavily fortified by the French. The Republic of the Seven Islands was established, formally as a Turkish protectorate, but in fact, under Russian control. According to the Treaty of Tilsit (1807), Emperor Alexander I secretly ceded the islands to Napoleon.
Romania

The first time Romania, or rather then two more separate principalities - Moldavia and Wallachia - came under Russian rule in 1807, during the next Russian-Turkish war (1806-1812). The population of the principalities was sworn to allegiance to the Russian emperor, and direct Russian rule was introduced throughout the entire territory. But Napoleon's invasion in 1812 forced Russia to conclude a speedy peace with Turkey, instead of two principalities being content with only the eastern part of the Principality of Moldavia (Bessarabia, modern Moldova). The second time Russia established its power in the principalities during the Russian-Turkish War of 1828-29. At the end of the war, Russian troops did not leave, the Russian administration continued to govern the principalities. Moreover, Nicholas I, who suppressed any sprouts of freedom within Russia, gives his new territories a Constitution! True, it was called “organic regulations”, since for Nicholas I the word “constitution” was too seditious. Russia would have willingly turned Moldavia and Wallachia, which it actually owned, into its de jure possessions, but England, France and Austria intervened in the matter. As a result, in 1834 the Russian army was withdrawn from the principalities. Russia finally lost its influence in the principalities after its defeat in the Crimean War.
Kars

In 1877, during the Russian-Turkish War (1877-1878), Kars was taken by Russian troops. According to the peace treaty, Kars, together with Batumi, went to Russia. The Kara region began to be actively populated by Russian settlers. Kars was built according to a plan developed by Russian architects. Even now Kars, with its strictly parallel and perpendicular streets, typically Russian houses, built in con. XIX - early XX centuries, sharply contrasts with the chaotic development of other Turkish cities. But it is very reminiscent of old Russian cities. After the revolution, the Bolsheviks gave the Kars region to Turkey.
Manchuria

In 1896, Russia received from China the right to build a railway through Manchuria to connect Siberia with Vladivostok - the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER). The Russians had the right to lease a narrow territory on both sides of the CER line. However, in fact, the construction of the road led to the transformation of Manchuria into a territory dependent on Russia, with a Russian administration, army, police and courts. Russian settlers poured there. The Russian government began to consider a project to incorporate Manchuria into the empire under the name "Zheltorossiya". As a result of Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, the southern part of Manchuria fell into the Japanese sphere of influence. After the revolution, Russian influence in Manchuria began to wane. Finally, in 1920, Chinese troops occupied Russian targets, including Harbin and the Chinese Eastern Railway, finally closing the Zheltorossiya project.
Soviet Port Arthur

Thanks to the heroic defense of Port Arthur, many know that this city belonged to the Russian Empire before its defeat in the Russo-Japanese War. But a lesser known fact is that at one time Port Arthur was part of the USSR. After the defeat of the Japanese Kwantung Army in 1945, Port Arthur, under an agreement with China, was transferred to the Soviet Union for a period of 30 years as a naval base. Later, the USSR and China agreed to return the city in 1952. At the request of the Chinese side, due to the difficult international situation (Korean War), the Soviet armed forces stayed in Port Arthur until 1955.
Andrey Dubrovsky http://nethistory.su/blog/43160378387/POTERYANNYIE-TERRITORII?utm_campaign=transit&utm_source=main&utm_medium=page_6&domain=mirtesen.ru&paid=1&pad=1

If we do not take into account the collapse of the Russian Empire and the collapse of the USSR, then the most famous (and largest) territorial loss of Russia is Alaska. But our country also lost other territories. These losses are rarely remembered today.

Southern coast of the Caspian Sea (1723-1732)

Having opened a “window to Europe” as a result of the victory over the Swedes, Peter I began to cut a window to India. For this purpose, he undertook in 1722-1723. campaigns in Persia, torn apart by civil strife. As a result of these campaigns, the entire western and southern coast of the Caspian Sea came under Russian rule.

But Transcaucasia is not the Baltic states. It turned out to be much easier to conquer these territories than the Baltic possessions of Sweden, but more difficult to maintain. Due to epidemics and constant attacks by mountaineers, Russian troops were reduced by half.

Russia, exhausted by the wars and reforms of Peter, could not hold onto such a costly acquisition and in 1732 these lands were returned to Persia.

Mediterranean: Malta (1798-1800) and Ionian Islands (1800-1807)

In 1798, Napoleon, on his way to Egypt, destroyed Malta, which was owned by the Knights of the Hospitaller Order, founded during the Crusades. Having recovered from the pogrom, the knights elected Russian Emperor Paul I as Grand Master of the Order of Malta. The emblem of the Order was included in the State Emblem of Russia. This, perhaps, was the extent of the visible signs that the island was under Russian rule. In 1800, Malta was captured by the British.

In contrast to the formal possession of Malta, Russia's control over the Ionian Islands off the coast of Greece was more real.
In 1800, a Russian-Turkish squadron under the command of the famous naval commander Ushakov captured the island of Corfu, heavily fortified by the French. The Republic of the Seven Islands was established, formally as a Turkish protectorate, but in fact, under Russian control. According to the Treaty of Tilsit (1807), Emperor Alexander I secretly ceded the islands to Napoleon.

Romania (1807-1812, 1828-1834)

The first time Romania (more precisely, two separate principalities - Moldavia and Wallachia) came under Russian rule was in 1807 - during the next Russian-Turkish war (1806-1812). The population of the principalities was sworn to allegiance to the Russian emperor; Direct Russian rule was introduced throughout the territory. But Napoleon’s invasion in 1812 forced Russia to conclude a speedy peace with Turkey, according to which only the eastern part of the Principality of Moldavia (Bessarabia, modern Moldova) was given to the Russians.

The second time Russia established its power in the principalities during the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-29. At the end of the war, Russian troops did not leave; the principalities continued to be governed by the Russian administration. Moreover, Nicholas I, who suppressed any sprouts of freedom within Russia, gives his new territories a Constitution! True, it was called “organic regulations”, since for Nicholas I the word “constitution” was too seditious.
Russia would have willingly turned Moldavia and Wallachia, which it actually owned, into its de jure possessions, but England, France and Austria intervened in the matter. As a result, in 1834 the Russian army was withdrawn from the principalities. Russia finally lost its influence in the principalities after its defeat in the Crimean War.

Kars (1877-1918)

In 1877, during the Russian-Turkish War (1877-1878), Kars was taken by Russian troops. According to the peace treaty, Kars together with Batum went to Russia.
The Kara region began to be actively populated by Russian settlers. Kars was built according to a plan developed by Russian architects. Even now Kars, with its strictly parallel and perpendicular streets, typically Russian houses, built in con. XIX - early XX centuries, sharply contrasts with the chaotic development of other Turkish cities. But it is very reminiscent of old Russian cities.
After the revolution, the Bolsheviks gave the Kars region to Turkey.

Manchuria (1896-1920)

In 1896, Russia received from China the right to build a railway through Manchuria to connect Siberia with Vladivostok - the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER). The Russians had the right to lease a narrow territory on both sides of the CER line. However, in fact, the construction of the road led to the transformation of Manchuria into a territory dependent on Russia, with a Russian administration, army, police and courts. Russian settlers poured there. The Russian government began to consider a project to incorporate Manchuria into the empire under the name “Zheltorossiya”.
As a result of Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, the southern part of Manchuria fell into the Japanese sphere of influence. After the revolution, Russian influence in Manchuria began to wane. Finally, in 1920, Chinese troops occupied Russian targets, including Harbin and the Chinese Eastern Railway, finally ending the Zheltorossiya project.

Thanks to the heroic defense of Port Arthur, many know that this city belonged to the Russian Empire before its defeat in the Russo-Japanese War. But a lesser known fact is that at one time Port Arthur was part of the USSR.
After the defeat of the Japanese Kwantung Army in 1945, Port Arthur, under an agreement with China, was transferred to the Soviet Union for a period of 30 years as a naval base. Later, the USSR and China agreed to return the city in 1952. At the request of the Chinese side, due to the difficult international situation (Korean War), the Soviet armed forces stayed in Port Arthur until 1955.

In chapter

Recent events have prompted many to turn to historical chronicles, remembering the lands over which the Russian flag once flew. And now more and more often there are conversations: they say, Alaska was once overshadowed by the tricolor, and Russia owned part of what is now California back in the days when there was no smell of the United States in those places.

And if history had turned out a little differently, today the territory of the Russian Federation could well include overseas colonies. In fact, there could be many more. And among them are the Hawaiian Islands, New Guinea and even Kuwait.

Surely, when looking at world maps of the 18th–19th centuries, many people had a question: how did it happen that almost a good half globe found itself divided between three or four European states, while Russia was able to annex only part of Central Asia? Are there really no skilled sailors in the empire? Obviously not so - back in 1728, Vitus Bering discovered the strait between the Arctic and Pacific oceans, and in 1803, Kruzenshtern and Lisyansky made the first trip around the world. Maybe they were late for the division? And this is unlikely - although there are almost no blank spots left on the map, a significant part of the land in the Pacific Ocean still remained unoccupied. Alas, the explanation turns out to be simple - the reasons that Russia refused to establish overseas colonies were simple laziness in entering into new projects and the sluggishness of domestic diplomacy.

The Russian province is close to the United States

It was Krusenstern and Lisyansky who became the first Russians to visit the Hawaiian Islands. And it was they who first heard the proposal to transfer the native inhabitants to Russian citizenship. This idea was voiced by King Kaumualii, who headed one of the two tribes. By that time, he had already despaired of fighting the king of the second tribe, Kamehameha, and therefore decided that in exchange for loyalty, the “big white chief” would protect him. Kaumualiya's trick, however, went unnoticed at the time - first, he was advised to establish trade in food products with Russian America.

Kaumualii swore allegiance to Emperor Alexander I and asked him to take Hawaii under his protection.

In 1816, Kaumualii, in a solemn ceremony, through a representative of the Russian-American Company, Schaeffer, swore allegiance to Emperor Alexander I and asked him to take Hawaii under his protection. At the same time, the king transferred 500 soldiers to the Russians to conquer the islands of Oahu, Lanai and Moloka, as well as workers to build fortresses. Local leaders received Russian surnames: one of them became Platov, and the second Vorontsov. The local river Hanapepe was renamed Don by Schaeffer.

The news that a new territorial entity had appeared within the Russian Empire reached St. Petersburg only a year later. There they were horrified by her. As it turned out, no one gave Sheffer permission to negotiate, much less to make such decisions. Alexander I was generally firmly convinced that an attempt to annex Hawaii could push England to seize the Spanish colonies. In addition, the emperor was afraid of ruining relations with the United States.

Kaumualiya waited in vain for several years for the promised help. Finally his patience ran out, and he hinted to Schaeffer that he had nothing to do on the island. In 1818, the Russians were forced to leave Hawaii.

The land of Miklouho-Maclay went to the Germans

However, if the situation with Hawaii can still be considered a misunderstanding, then in another case the imperial government deliberately chose to do nothing.

On September 20, 1871, the Russian traveler Nikolai Miklouho-Maclay set foot on the soil of New Guinea. The island itself had been discovered by Europeans for 250 years already, but during this time they had not created any settlements there and its territory was considered no one’s. Therefore, in accordance with the existing rules, the Russian explorer named the territory the Maclay Coast.

It is noteworthy that the wild Papuans, who initially shunned the guest, soon changed their attitude towards the stranger. Which was not surprising - unlike the British and Dutch, the “man from the moon,” as the natives called him, did not shoot at them with a “fire stick,” but treated them and taught them agriculture. As a result, they proclaimed the guest Tamo-boro-boro - that is, the highest boss, recognizing his right to dispose of the land. And the thought occurred to the traveler: the territory of New Guinea he had explored should come under Russian protectorate.

Maclay literally bombarded St. Petersburg with letters describing his idea. In a message to Grand Duke Alexei, the traveler described that England, France and Germany were dividing up territories in Pacific Ocean. “Will Russia really not want to participate in this general undertaking? Will she really not retain a single island for a sea station in the Pacific Ocean? - he asked. And why Russian government does not recognize his rights to the plots he acquired on the Maclay Coast and the Palau Islands? Since there is no money in the treasury for the organization of a sea station yet, then we must at least stake out the land for ourselves.

Alas, in St. Petersburg the traveler’s zeal was assessed differently. The head of the Naval Ministry, Admiral Shestakov, openly said: they say, Maclay simply decided to become king on the island! The commission sent to New Guinea also considered that the island did not present any prospects for trade and navigation, on the basis of which Emperor Alexander II decided to close the issue. True, Britain and Germany, apparently, had a different opinion, since they immediately divided the territory between themselves. According to this agreement, the Maclay coast went to the Kaiser.

Nicholas II “leaked” oil to the British crown

And yet, the loss of New Guinea looks completely trivial compared to another failure, as a result of which Kuwait, one of the main oil reserves in the world, was lost to Russia.

IN late XIX century, Kuwait became a point of intersection of the interests of Britain, Germany and Russia. Berlin and St. Petersburg cherished plans for a railway that would help them gain a foothold in the Middle East. London, in turn, on the contrary, jealously ensured that its dominance in the Persian Gulf remained unshakable. However, maintaining the status quo was not easy - the situation in Arab countries has traditionally not been stable. So in Kuwait, the younger prince Mubarak killed his older brother, proclaiming himself a sheikh.

This situation forced the Foreign Ministries of the three countries to take a fresh look at the Kuwait issue. In St. Petersburg, it was decided to send agents to the sheikh, and at the same time Russian warships were sent to Kuwait. The British traditionally preferred to use gold instead of steel - in exchange for an annual salary, Mubarak promised that he would not conduct policy without taking into account the opinion of London. But the East, as you know, is a delicate matter. After being in the pay of the Foreign Office for two years, the Kuwaiti sheikh decided that the British began to feel too at ease in his country. As a result, in April 1901, Mubarak secretly handed over to the Russian consul Kruglov - he was ready to become a Russian protectorate. Well, if not, then no - let the British continue to command everything.

Over the course of a month, the Winter Palace decided what to do. On the one hand, it was extremely tempting to gain a foothold in the Persian Gulf. On the other hand, there was a fear: what if Türkiye gets offended and goes to war? In the end, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lamzdorf, wrote off the dispatch: “Please convey to Kruglov that any intervention in the Kuwaiti matter is undesirable due to the uncertainty of the situation on the ground, which threatens complications.”

Having received the answer, Sheikh Mubarak believed that everything was the will of Allah, and remained faithful to the British. The war, which was so feared in St. Petersburg, never began - the British conveyed to Istanbul that Kuwait was now their territory, and the Sultan immediately recalled the troops. In return, London received from Mubarak the right to open a postal service, build a railway and conduct oil exploration. For the transfer of rights to develop the richest deposits, the sheikh asked only 4 thousand pounds sterling.

During the 18th–19th centuries, the Russian Empire, as they say, “fought across the globe,” not stopping at occupying the territories it needed. Thus, during the next Russian-Turkish war in 1770, Russian troops captured the Cyclades Islands, and in 1773 they recaptured Beirut from the Turks - for almost a year it was officially under the jurisdiction of Russia.

During the war with France in 1798–1799, the Ionian Islands and the Greek city of Parga were captured.

Attempts to establish colonies were also made privately. In 1889, an adventurer

Nikolai Ashinov established a settlement on the territory of present-day Djibouti, calling it New Moscow. However, since the territory formally belonged to France, Paris sent a squadron to the settlement, which bombarded New Moscow and forced the Russians to surrender.