The Armenians and their role in the Ottoman-Russian War of 1877-1878 and its impact on the Armenian Question

Abstract

For centuries, Armenians lived peacefully alongside Muslims within Ottoman lands. However, Russia sought to exploit them as a tool in the 1877-1878 war. The Ottoman Empire was not in a strong position to confront Russia, which had long been preparing for war after its defeat in the Crimean War of 1853-1856. Taking advantage of the Ottoman collapse at the fortress of Filvin, the Armenians declared a rebellion against the Ottoman state. They recruited Armenian military units to fight within the Russian army and opened their homes as hospitals for wounded Russians. The Armenians' aim in this rebellion was to gain autonomy or to be placed under Russian protection. With the end of the war and the signing of the Treaties of San Stefano and Berlin, the Armenians did not achieve their desired goals. Their basic rights, which had been affirmed by Ottoman reforms, were included in Article 16 of the Treaty of San Stefano and reaffirmed in Article 16 of the Treaty of Berlin. These rights were not fully realized. The research consisted of an introduction, three sections, and a conclusion. The first section dealt with the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. The second section dealt with the role of the Armenians in supporting Russia in the war. The third section confirmed the end of the Russo-Turkish War and its impact on the Armenians