Cataloged from PDF version of article.In this work, the Ottoman policy regarding the Circassians, the indigenous
inhabitants of the North-western Caucasus, and in that respect the Russo-Ottoman
relations will be analyzed. This study will cover the period from 1830 to 1864 when
a sanguinary war between Russia and the Circassian tribes took place, ending with
the expulsion of the overwhelming majority of the local population and the
establishment of the complete Russian control over Circassia.
At that time, the Sublime Porte aimed to preserve the peaceful relations with
Russia. Various internal problems of the Ottoman Empire resulted in a somewhat
passive policy of the Porte towards the Caucasus, with the only exception of the
Crimean War period. However, the deep-rooted Ottoman-Circassian relations,
especially the slave trade, never stopped throughout the Russo-Circassian war despite
all the preventive attempts of the Russian Empire. Besides, the activities of the
Circassians, the English and the Poles in favor of Circassian resistance were
conducted mainly through the Ottoman territories, which meant that the Ottoman
Empire had a more important place for the Circassian resistance when compared with
its own policies concerning Circassia.Köremezli, İbrahimM.S
