The Pruth Campaign of 1711 - Military and Political Miscalculation or Personal Surrender of Peter I?

Abstract

The paper discusses the new monograph, published in 2019 by V. A. Artamonov, well-known researcher of the Petrine epoch. His book is dedicated to studying the military conflict between Russia and Ottoman empire in 1710-1713. The author shows clearly that Ottoman Sultan Ahmed III and his commander in chief Mehmed Pasha had no plan of any invasions to Russia, but wanted just return to the borders before 1696 in the Priazovye region. Peter I, planning his expedition to Moldavia in 1711, did not take to consideration the experience of Austrian and Polish campaigns against Ottomans in the end of the 17th century. This led to encirclement and blockade of the Russian army by the Ottoman forces on the Pruth river (July 9-12, 1711). Under these conditions Peter I could not make a decision to fight, but preferred to negotiate peace, although Russian army was quite able to defeat enemy. The Ottoman side willingly agreed to make peace, which was supported by giving almost 300.000 Rubles to commander in chief Mehmed Pasha and his staff. After that Russia lost some fortresses in the Priazovye region and political influence on the Christian peoples under Ottoman rule in the Balkans. This monograph could be highly recommended for academic scholars, teachers and students of higher education institutions.