Start 17 century for Russia was not best time to address foreign policy issues. In short, the country lost a strong royal power. The reign of the Rurikids ended, and the famine of the beginning of the century gave rise to peasant uprisings and unrest. Militant neighbors took advantage of this and tried to tear off its territories from Russia.
Capture of Russian lands
Russia's weakness at the beginning 17 century, ill-wishers took advantage. The Polish king Sigismund interfered in all the internal affairs of Russia. Poland recognized the impostor Tsar False Dmitry II as the legitimate ruler of Russia. And in 9 year, the seventeenth century, Polish troops invaded Russian lands. AT 10 Moscow was captured in the seventeenth century. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth forced the boyar ruling elite to place the Pole Vladislav on the Russian, royal throne. The Smolensk lands and the lands of Belarus went to Poland. It can be said that at that time Russia completely lost its independence.
A few months after the capture of Moscow, Sweden invaded the northern lands of Russia. All the Baltic coast, the coast of the Gulf of Finland began to be considered Swedish territory.
Revival of Russian independence
Russia began to restore its foreign policy importance with the coming to power of the royal dynasty of the Romanovs. The first king of this dynasty had to restore everything that the previous rulers had destroyed.
First of all, it was necessary:
Create a strong army, equip it with everything necessary and equip it with modern, firearms;
Create a state administrative apparatus of government subject to the autocratic regime.
Instead of barter, establish trade;
Create favorable conditions for the development of industry;
Restore agriculture;
Return the occupied Russian territories.
A foreign, independent policy could be pursued by solving internal, urgent problems.
Return of Russian territories
Russia 17 centuries, many years of bloody wars had to be waged, necessary for the liberation of Russian territories. With 32 on 34 the year of the seventeenth century began the Smolensk war with Poland. The tasks for this military company were grandiose, it was planned to liberate all the occupied Russian lands. All questions raised could not be resolved. Years of unrest and anarchy affected the preparation of the Russian army. There was a lack of new firearms. While in Polish army everything was in abundance. But still part of the problem was solved. At the end of the company, the Polyansky Peace was signed. According to the results of the treaty, Serpeisk and Trubchevsk retreated to Russia, and most importantly, the Poles recognized Mikhail Romanov as the Russian autocrat. Pole Vladislav no longer claimed the Russian throne.
The second military campaign with Poland began in 1654 year. By that time, peasant uprisings were taking place throughout Ukraine and Belarus. They were caused by the persecution of the Orthodox peasantry. Poland planted the Polish language and the Catholic faith on the occupied lands. Most wealthy landowners supported Catholicism. And the peasants remained true to their faith. Now they are trying to take it away. Because of this, in the vast expanses, collectives of peasants began to unite. Soon the riots will become a real war against the Commonwealth. This war will be led by the Ukrainian hetman Khmelnytsky. He will ask for military assistance from Russia. So the fire will flare up with a new war with the Poles. As a result of a military confrontation with the Polish occupiers, the commanders in chief signed the Eternal Peace. As a result of this agreement, all Smolensk land spaces were returned to their rightful owner. Left-bank Ukraine, together with Kyiv, became Russian. Throughout the Right-Bank Ukraine, the Poles remained the masters.
It became impossible to win a complete victory due to the fact that, without ending the war with Poland, the Russian military began a battle with Sweden. Scattered in two directions, the military forces failed to deliver a crushing blow. AT 1661 The Peace of Cardis was concluded. According to the document of the Russian Empire, the Baltic lands were returned.
In the second half of the seventeenth century, Russia was concerned about the capture of the Right-Bank Ukraine. AT 72 in the seventeenth century, Turkish troops attacked the Commonwealth. As a result of hostilities, the Buchach Treaty was concluded. Under the terms of which the Ukrainian lands passed to the henchman of the Turks Doroshenko. Fearing the capture of the Left-bank Ukraine, Russian troops entered into a confrontation with the Turks. This military campaign took place from 1676 on 1681 years. There were no significant victories. But the belonging of the Left-Bank Ukraine to Muscovy was no longer disputed.
Successful examples of Russian foreign policy
AT 51 year of the seventeenth century, there was an attempt to capture the Caspian lands by Persian troops. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was able to keep the borders in the same position, without major bloodshed. Although the main struggle for the coast of the Caspian Sea was ahead.
A successful example of the foreign policy of the Russian Empire was the accession of open spaces Eastern Siberia. Poyarkov and Dezhnev, who reached the banks of the Amur and the coast Pacific Ocean, attached vast expanses to Russia. This aroused the concern of the Chinese rulers. Everything ended with the peace treaty of Nerchinsk 89 of the year. An agreement was adopted on the border, passing through the center of the Amur River. This decision suited everyone.
Of great geopolitical importance is the campaign against Azov, in 1696 year. This military campaign ended in success. That made it possible for the Russian army to strengthen in the southern direction, for subsequent military campaigns.
Foreign policy Russian Empire 17 century solved the problems of the revival of the Great State. To do this, it was necessary to unite the lands of Kievan Rus around Moscow. This will increase the number of taxpayers. This means that the state will be able to maintain a strong army. Such a policy will make it possible to return the lands seized during times of unrest and anarchy.
The seventeenth century was a turning point for Russia in almost all respects. In this century, the Middle Ages ended for our country, Russia entered the New Age. This was noticeable not only by the emergence of many cultural innovations, but also by the position of Russia in relation to other countries.
The seventeenth century began with the end of the Rurik dynasty and foreign intervention. Russia as independent state could disappear, cease to exist, becoming part of some strong world power or several such powers. Nevertheless, by 1612 she managed to defend her independence, after which she began to progressive development, including in the international arena.
Main Directions of Foreign Policy
Russia in the seventeenth century faced a number of foreign policy tasks. For example, the process of uniting the lands of the former Kievan Rus around Moscow continued. In addition, Poland, Sweden, the Crimean and Siberian khanates threatened the Muscovite state from different sides. One of the burning tasks was the restoration of access to the Baltic Sea, because during the events of the Time of Troubles, the lands in this region were occupied by Sweden.
Thus, the foreign policy of Russia in the seventeenth century had to develop in two directions at once - western and eastern. At the same time, actions in the western direction were dictated mainly by the desire to return the lands that were originally Russian. But the eastern direction, associated with the conquest of Siberia and Far East, was the conquest of fundamentally new territories that could offer a lot of new economic terms. Many historians, especially Western ones, rightly consider the conquest of Siberia to be the Russian analogue of the Conquista - the Spanish campaign to conquer America in the 15th-16th centuries.
Tasks and events of Russian foreign policy in the 17th century
Get rid of attacks Crimean Tatars | Russo-Turkish War Crimean campaigns | Defeat in the war It was not possible to completely eliminate the raids of the Tatars |
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Return of Smolensk | Smolensk war | The Polish king Vladislav IV refused to further seek the Russian throne; Mikhail Romanov finally established himself on the throne; Serpeisk and Trubchevsk departed to Russia under the terms of the peace treaty, although it has not yet been possible to return Smolensk. The war showed the strong combat capability of the "regiments of the new system", and in the future the tsarist government continued to develop them. |
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Getting access to the Baltic Sea | War with Sweden | The Valiesar truce annexed the eastern part of Livonia to Russia, but the subsequent Peace of Cardis forced Russia to return the occupied lands back to Sweden. |
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Support for the Orthodox population of the Commonwealth | Russian-Polish war Russo-Turkish War | During these two wars, Smolensk finally returned to Russia; Kyiv with the adjacent lands went to her. The Zaporozhye Cossacks swore allegiance to the Russian throne. |
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Development of Siberia and the Far East | Annexation of Eastern Siberia | Throughout the 17th century | The territory of Russia has expanded significantly due to the annexation of the Siberian and Far Eastern lands. |
What has Russia achieved
Far from all of its tasks in foreign policy, Russia was able to successfully solve. One of the reasons for this was the country's technical backwardness, due to its former isolation from the developed European world. After Thirty Years' War the military art of Europe began to develop rapidly, but this process did not affect Russia. In the 17th century, the Muscovite state experienced rapid modernization in various fields, especially in the military, but it was just beginning and backwardness was still evident.
Russia is a European power
Russia of the 17th century was a kind of intermediate link between medieval Russia and Russian Empire. This was also noticeable in terms of relations with the outside world. More and more Europeans came to Russia at that time, many more ambassadors and travelers were sent from Russia to Europe than before. Russian ambassadors improved in the art of diplomacy, thanks to which they managed to achieve the adoption of decisions that were beneficial for their country. In the seventeenth century, it became clear to Russians that diplomacy plays a much larger role in international relations than forceful actions. This was also evident in relations with the inhabitants of the annexed Siberian lands - explorers who achieved submission only through negotiations, and not violence, were more successful.
Caspian question
In the 17th century, the “Caspian question”, which was painful for Russia, arose. It all started with the fact that in 1651 the Persian army invaded Dagestan and on the coast of the Caspian Sea (more precisely, the lake). Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich did everything possible to stop the offensive and keep the borders in the same state, but the enemy did not even think about giving up completely. From this moment begins a long struggle for the Caspian lands.
Modernization of the country
The failures in the battles mentioned above had, however, a positive meaning: they seemed to indicate to Russia the path along which it should go. This path of further modernization and Europeanization, especially the technological development and renewal of the army. In addition, foreign powers realized that they were facing a still weak, but quite worthy opponent.
The accession of Ukraine to Russia had a special meaning. The population of Ukrainian lands largely consisted of enlightened people, including scientists, teachers, publicists. All of them studied at European universities (most often in Krakow), they were distinguished by their European outlook and mentality, while maintaining the Orthodox faith. Thanks to the annexation of Ukraine, Russia acquired a whole galaxy of Ukrainian intellectuals who willingly came to live and work in Moscow. Ukrainian scientists, philosophers, writers, architects, composers accustomed Russia to European culture, which only strengthened the prestige of the country on the world stage. Russia was no longer perceived by foreigners as a strange outback, along the streets of which bears and people with dog heads walk. This made it possible, in particular, to include Russia in European military-political alliances.
The international recognition of Russia made it possible to deal the final blow to the positions of the zealots of antiquity - a part of Russian society (mainly the clergy), who opposed any contacts with Europe. In the end, such people became so few that they no longer had a noticeable influence on life in the country.
The 17th century in the history of Russia is a period of very difficult trials, from which our country managed to get out with dignity. The activity of the country was largely determined by the foreign policy of Russia in XVII century.
Today we will consider the main features of this policy, as well as the personalities of those figures who carried out this policy.
Russia's foreign policy in XVII century: the vague beginning of the century
The beginning of the century was marked for the Muscovite state by a series of difficult trials. On the throne was then the talented, but not yet established himself Tsar Boris from the little-known family of the Godunovs. His path to the throne was not easy, besides, the boyar families of Russia - the direct descendants of the Rurikovich - would not mind trying on themselves the Monomakh's hat.
Russia was greatly weakened by the unsuccessful and long war with Poland and Lithuania, as well as Sweden for its western outskirts. In addition, at the beginning of the century, crop failures occurred, which led to mass starvation, the flight of people to the cities.
At the same time in Poland, Western nobles, eager to get their hands on Russian lands, found a Russian youth from an impoverished family and named him miraculously saved Tsarevich Dmitry, the last son of Ivan Vasilyevich the Terrible. The impostor secretly swore allegiance to the Pope and the King of Poland, gathered a large army and moved to Moscow.
At the same time, Tsar Boris Godunov died in the capital, leaving behind a young son-heir. As a result of the invasion of the army of the impostor, Tsarevich Fyodor Godunov, together with his mother, was brutally murdered, and the impostor settled in the Kremlin, but neither he himself, nor his army, nor even his wife, the Pole Marina from the Mnishek family, did not seek to follow the centuries-old Russian customs, which led to a revolt of Muscovites and the overthrow of False Dmitry.
From that moment began the Troubles, which ended only in 1613
year with the election to the Russian throne of a young descendant of the Rurikids - Mikhail Romanov.
It can be said that during this period, Russia's foreign policy in XVII century was generally defeatist in nature. Our country lost control over all its western regions, Smolensk was captured and brutally plundered, the defenders of which held back the pressure of the enemy army for months. Russia has lost the richest Novgorod lands. In addition, as a result of the betrayal of the boyars, the Polish prince Vladislav was declared the Russian tsar (prince only in 1634
renounced claims to the Russian throne, before that he constantly threatened Russia with war, not wanting to recognize the Romanovs as tsars).
Russia's foreign policy in XVII century: an attempt at revenge
After our country recovered from troubled times, representatives of the Russian nobility began to think about the issue of returning the lost lands. Attempts to recapture Smolensk were made repeatedly under Mikhail Romanov, but they ended in defeat. With the accession to the throne of the young Alexei Mikhailovich, these issues again appeared on the agenda. As a result, in 1667
A new Russian-Polish war began, the purpose of which was not only the return of lands, but also the annexation of part of the Ukrainian and Belarusian possessions to Russia, the indigenous population of which suffered under the cruel yoke of the Commonwealth - the united Polish-Lithuanian state.
This war, which cost our country the lives of thousands and thousands of its subjects, ended successfully for Russia. The Russians recaptured Smolensk, and were also able to annex the Left-Bank Ukraine, later they bought the right to eternal possession of Kyiv.
However, it was not possible to obtain access to the Baltic Sea to expand ties with Europe. To this end, even under Alexei Mikhailovich, a bloody war began with Sweden, which, however, ended in the defeat of the Russian army.
Russia's foreign policy in XVII century: an attempt to solve the Crimean Tatar problem
Unfriendly peoples surrounded our country not only from the west. From the Crimean side, the local Tatar tribes, being tributaries of the Turkish Sultan, nevertheless, constantly raided Russian lands, taking the best people taking property. This led to the fact that the territories near the Crimean peninsula were practically uninhabited, and bore the name "Wild Field". Russian sovereigns, in order to pay off the devastating raids of the Tatars, paid tribute to the Crimean Khan, which humiliated the dignity of our ancestors.
Throughout the century, the Russian tsars tried to solve the sore Crimean issue, making attempts to drive the Tatars out of this peninsula. However, these attempts did not end with anything. The victory over the Crimea occurred only a century later under Catherine, nicknamed the Great.
Russia's foreign policy: in XVII century, Russians conquer the eastern regions of Eurasia
Russia's foreign policy in XVII century determined the expansion of our country not only to the west, but also to the east. And if it was possible to conquer the western lands with great difficulty, then the conquest of Siberia was very successful due to the fact that the Russians pursued a competent policy, conquering the peoples of the eastern region not only with a sword, but also with gold, affection and the ability to resolve controversial issues. Exactly at XVII century, Eastern Siberia was annexed to the territory of our country. The Russians also resolved territorial disputes with the Chinese by signing the Treaty of Nerchinsk with them.
Generally XVII century was a turning point in Russian history. Our country has managed not only to resist the challenges it faced at the beginning of the century, but also to solve some of them. Although in the same century it became clear that Russia was lagging behind the countries of Western Europe in material and technical progress. It was necessary to catch up in record time, otherwise the country would not have stood up to the threats of new, more powerful weapons that were already appearing in European countries. All these tasks of foreign policy were to be solved by the young Tsar Peter, who came to the throne at the very end of the century. However, Peter in the future managed to cope with this most difficult task. He turned his country into a powerful empire, which was already impossible to break.
17th century was very difficult for Russia in terms of foreign policy. Almost all of it went through long wars.
The main directions of Russia's foreign policy in the 17th century: 1) ensuring access to the Baltic and Black Seas; 2) participation in the liberation movement of the Ukrainian and Belarusian peoples; 3) achieving the security of the southern borders from the raids of the Crimean Khan.
Russia was significantly weakened at the beginning of the century by the Polish-Swedish intervention and the socio-political crisis within the country, so it did not have the opportunity to simultaneously solve all three tasks. The primary goal of Moscow in the XVII century. was the return of the lands that were torn away from Russia by the Polish-Swedish troops. Especially important for Russia was the return of Smolensk, which ensured the security of the country's western borders. A favorable environment for the struggle against the Commonwealth for the return of Smolensk developed in the 30s. At this time, the Commonwealth was at war with the Ottoman Empire and the Crimea, and the main European powers were embroiled in the Thirty Years' War.
In 1632, after the death of Sigismund III, kinglessness began in the Commonwealth. Russia took advantage of the situation and started a war with Poland for the liberation of Smolensk. But at this stage, Smolensk could not be returned. The Russian campaign was extremely slow, as the government feared an attack by the Crimean Khan on the southern counties. The siege of the city dragged on, which allowed the Poles to prepare a rebuff. The attack of the Crimean Tatars on the Ryazan and Belevsky districts in 1633 demoralized the government troops, which consisted mostly of poorly trained serfs and peasants mobilized into the army.
Under the rule of the Polish state were Ukrainian and Belarusian lands. The Cossacks who inhabited these lands were the main force of the anti-Polish uprisings. Dissatisfied with the rule of the Poles, the Cossacks organized their center - the Zaporizhzhya Sich.
In 1648–1654 went freedom movement Ukrainian people under the leadership of B. Khmelnitsky. This movement has been developed in Belarus as well. B. Khmelnitsky pinned great hopes on Russia's help. But only in 1653 The Zemsky Sobor in Moscow decided to include Ukrainian lands in Russia and declare war on Poland.
In 1654 The Ukrainian Rada took an oath of allegiance to the Russian Tsar. The Commonwealth did not accept this. From 1654 to 1657 passed a new stage Russian-Polish war. According to the new peace treaty, Left-bank Ukraine, together with Kyiv, went to Russia. Right-bank Ukraine and Belarus were under the rule of Poland.
Russia also received Smolensk, Chernigov, Seversky land. AT 1686 between Russia and Poland was concluded eternal peace, which consolidated the conquests of Russia.
The end of the war with Poland allowed Russia to repulse the aggressive policy Ottoman Empire and its vassal - the Crimean Khanate.
Russo-Turkish War (1677–1681):
1) August 3, 1677 Ottoman-Crimean troops began the siege of the Chigirin fortress, located in Right-Bank Ukraine;
2) in the battle near Buzhin, Russian-Ukrainian troops utterly defeated the Crimean-Ottoman army, the siege of the fortress was lifted;
3) in July 1678 The Ottomans laid siege to Chigirin again. Russian troops desperately resisted. After the siege and capture of the fortress, ruins remained. Russian and Ukrainian troops withdrew to the Dnieper;
4) the campaign of 1677-1678. greatly weakened the Ottomans. On January 13, 1681, the Treaty of Bakhchisaray was concluded, who established a 20-year truce.
Domestic policy of Russia in the 17th century
All R. In the 17th century, during the reign of the second Romanov, Alexei Mikhailovich the Quietest, the tax burden increased and the living conditions of peasants and townspeople worsened. This causes a deep social crisis, which resulted in numerous riots. In the 17th century there are more than 20 uprisings, for which he received the name "rebellious" age. The largest uprisings include: the "Salt Riot" of 1648, the "Copper Riot" of 1662, the Solovetsky uprising of 1668-1676, the uprising led by S. Razin.
The largest was uprising XVII in. under the leadership of S. Razin (1670-1671). The uprising forced the government to look for ways to strengthen the existing system. The power of governors in the field was strengthened, the tax system was reformed (the transition to household taxation was made), and the process of spreading serfdom to the southern regions of the country intensified.
going on further development command system. The number of orders began to reach 80 (of which 40 are permanent).
In 1648-1649. the largest Zemsky Sobor in the history of Russia. It was attended by 340 people, most of whom belonged to the nobility and the top tenants. The Zemsky Sobor adopted the "Cathedral Code", which regulated the performance of various services, the ransom of prisoners, customs policy, the position of various categories of the population, increased responsibility for speaking out against the tsar, boyars, governor, church, established an indefinite search for fugitive peasants and forbade peasant transitions from one owner to another. This meant the legal registration of the system of serfdom. The feudal order extended to the black-haired and palace peasants. In the cities, "white" settlements were included in the settlement, now all urban population had to bear the tax on the sovereign. The "Cathedral Code" was the first Russian legislative act published in a typographical way.
Since 1652, in order to strengthen the order, discipline and moral foundations of the clergy, establish the uniformity of church services, and unify church books, Patriarch Nikon has been carrying out church reform. He took Greek rules and rituals as a model. There is a split in the Russian church. Adherents of the old order - the Old Believers (schismatics) - refused to recognize Nikon's reform and advocated a return to the pre-reform order. Archpriest Avvakum stood at the head of the Old Believers. The split became one of the forms of social protest of the masses. Thousands of peasants and residents of the settlement fled to the outskirts of the country, where they founded Old Believer settlements.
Russia's foreign policy in the 17th century
In foreign policy, the main task was to return the Smolensk, Chernigov and Novgorod-Seversky lands lost during the Polish-Swedish intervention. The solution to this problem was aggravated in connection with the struggle of the Ukrainian people against Polonization and Catholicization by Poland. Bogdan Khmelnitsky became the leader of the national liberation movement in Ukraine. In 1654, the Great Rada took place in the city of Pereyaslavl, which decided to reunite Ukraine with Russia. Ukraine was granted significant autonomy within the Russian state. The Commonwealth did not recognize the reunification of Ukraine with Russia. The Russian-Polish war began (1654-1667). It was marked by the success of the Russian and Ukrainian troops. Russian troops occupied Smolensk, Belarus, Lithuania; Ukrainian troops - Lublin, a number of cities in Galicia and Volhynia. However, after the death of B. Khmelnytsky, the frequent change of hetmans led to the fact that Ukraine went over to the side of Poland, then to the side of Russia. These years in Ukraine became a time of ruin and strife. The exhausting Russian-Polish war ended with the signing of the Andrusovo truce, according to which Russia abandoned Belarus, but left behind Smolensk and Left-Bank Ukraine with the city of Kyiv.
During the Russian-Polish war, Alexei Mikhailovich spent fighting against Sweden (1656-1658). Russian troops took Dinaburg, Dorpat, laid siege to Riga. But the complicated situation in Ukraine and its transition to the side of Poland under Hetman I. Vyhovsky, forced to conclude peace with Sweden. Russia returned the conquered territories. The Baltic remained with Sweden.
Thus, during the period of the estate-representative monarchy, there was a significant expansion of the territory of Russia. The Lower and Middle Volga regions, as well as Siberia, became part of Russia. The increase in the territory of Russia in the West occurred due to the annexation of Ukraine.
Socio-economic development of Russia in the 17th century
The population of the country to the con. 17th century amounted to 10.5 million people. (4th place in Europe). Agriculture remained the leading sector of the economy.
A new phenomenon in its development was the increased connection with the market. Nobles, boyars and especially monasteries were increasingly involved in trade and fishing activities. In the 17th century there was a development of handicraft into small-scale production. It, in turn, prepared the basis for the emergence of manufactories. In the 17th century in Russia there were approx. 30 manufactories, mainly in metallurgy, leather production and salt production. A feature of Russian manufactory was that it was based not on freelance labor, as was the case in Europe, but on serf labor (peasants were either bought or assigned to the manufactory).
In the 17th century the all-Russian market begins to take shape. Great importance acquired constantly gathering fairs: Makarievskaya, Svenskaya, Irbitskaya, in Arkhangelsk, etc. Grew up international trade through Arkhangelsk and Astrakhan.
social structure Russian society was pretty complicated. The boyars were the highest class, they served the tsar and occupied leading positions in the state. The nobles made up the top layer of the sovereign's service people in the homeland. This layer of feudal lords included persons who served at the royal court (stewards, solicitors, Moscow nobles, etc.). The lower stratum of service people included service people according to the instrument - archers, gunners, coachmen, etc. The rural peasant population consisted of two categories: owner-occupied (belonged to boyars and nobles) and black-haired peasants who lived on state land and carried taxes in favor of the state. The top of the urban population were merchants. The bulk of the urban population was called townspeople. City artisans united on a professional basis in settlements and hundreds. A significant number of serfs lived in cities and rural areas. The clergy constituted a special class. There was a category of free and walking people (Cossacks, hired workers, itinerant musicians, beggars, vagabonds).