The deterioration of the Ottoman administration in the light of the Ottoman-Russian war of 1768-1774

Abstract

Continuing victories and absolute belief in the invincibility of their armies are the most important parameters for the Ottomans proving the superiority and perfection of their state traditions and institutions. The Ottomans believed in that their domains were divinely protected as it is reflected in their widely used title of Memalik-i Mahruse. After the serial defeats of the Ottoman armies and the Ottoman loss of the Crimea they understood that something must be changed in the structure of the Ottoman State, primarily in the military structure of the Empire. In this study I investigate the reasons of the Ottoman defeat in the Ottoman Russian War of 1768-1774 as the indicators of the corruption and dissolution of the Ottoman State system. I also seek for the answer of the questions why the Ottomans changed their mind and what force them to make reforms. In this study for a better understanding of the reasons and results of the war, political, economic and military situation of the Ottoman Empire and Europe is also examined comparatively. A detailed investigation on the state of affairs of the Ottoman Russian war is especially important to understand which elements of the Ottoman State system required changing.