"I need not fear my enemies because the most they can do is attack me. I need not fear my friends because the most they can do is betray me. But I have much to fear from people who are indifferent." Russian Proverb
The Guardian of Orthodox Christians : Russia
The Siege of Varna 1828
At the end of 18th century, on the European table the meal was "Eastern Question". The decay of the Ottoman Empire was talked beyond the locked doors.For sure the Ottomans were suffering from financial problems and late advancements in industrial, military sectors.It was a state between entire Middle-east, eastern Europe and north Africa. They replaced the empire with Byzantines where the domain of Orthodox Christians lived. Under the consultation everyone had right to perform their beliefs according to their religion.Most of the Balkans were colonized with Muslim families and minor part of Balkan Christians converted to Islam. But still the major part was Christian and they were prospering on trading in the empire. Europe wanted to give them their independence for their interests and an alliance would be the best way to agree on partition of the Ottoman Empire.Suddenly the western idea comes-up to mind "Divide and Conquer!"
After the first of the wars between 1768-1774, Russian victory ended with the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca which provided Russia to be protector of Orthodox Christians under the sovereignity of the Sultan.Then Russia kept going on her war prays over the Ottomans.The new war came with a new treaty : Treaty of Jassy in 1792, for this time Russia grew up her dominance in the Black Sea. She was dreaming to secure her sea-way through the Mediterranean and she wanted full authority of Black Sea. Europe was anxious regarding "Eastern Question", their christian brother Russia was ahead of them. An ally needed to Russia for Europe to get a satisfactory ration from the Ottomans. Napoleon Bonaparte secured his own domination in the Europe and he established an alliance with Russia. However the other countries of Europe such as UK, Austria was disagree about the complete Russian rule in the south-eastern Europe. After the alliance dissolved in 1812.
The 19th century started with uprisings of Serbians and Greeks for Independence. Balkans were boiling and the Great Powers were supporters. There were other bad news to Sultan Mahmud II. ; The Naval Battle of Navarino. The Ottoman Armada with imperial warships from Tunis, Algiers and Egypt was destroyed by France,Russia and UK. It was a pivot-point for the Ottoman history which they lost their entire naval forces. Sultan ordered to close Dardanelles and Russia attacked from north to Wallachia-Moldavia. Emperor Nicholas I. moved towards to Danube and besieged Shumla(today Shumen), Varna and Silistra. Varna was first to be taken due to its coastal location on Black Sea. And with the help of Russian fleet the City was captured on 29th September,1828. Then Silistra on 19th June,1829. Shumla was protected under 40,000-strong Ottoman garrison. Russia was not thinking to stop until Constantinople aka Tsarigrad. They captured Burgas on 31st July. The Russian armies were just 68 km away from the Ottoman Capital which caused an alarming panic in the City. The Russian armies were harsh and they were more destructive on their march.Meanwhile from the east Ivan Paskevich captured the cities : Ahiski, Yerevan, Ardahan and Erzurum.Sultan had no choice, he had to offer a peace, and the Treaty of Adrianople was enforced. Russia gained most of the eastern shore of Black Sea with the mouth of Danube, Georgia and northwest part of Armenia.
Compiled and Written by Kigarian
Copyright © 2013-Varna1444 All Rights Reserved
After the first of the wars between 1768-1774, Russian victory ended with the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca which provided Russia to be protector of Orthodox Christians under the sovereignity of the Sultan.Then Russia kept going on her war prays over the Ottomans.The new war came with a new treaty : Treaty of Jassy in 1792, for this time Russia grew up her dominance in the Black Sea. She was dreaming to secure her sea-way through the Mediterranean and she wanted full authority of Black Sea. Europe was anxious regarding "Eastern Question", their christian brother Russia was ahead of them. An ally needed to Russia for Europe to get a satisfactory ration from the Ottomans. Napoleon Bonaparte secured his own domination in the Europe and he established an alliance with Russia. However the other countries of Europe such as UK, Austria was disagree about the complete Russian rule in the south-eastern Europe. After the alliance dissolved in 1812.
The 19th century started with uprisings of Serbians and Greeks for Independence. Balkans were boiling and the Great Powers were supporters. There were other bad news to Sultan Mahmud II. ; The Naval Battle of Navarino. The Ottoman Armada with imperial warships from Tunis, Algiers and Egypt was destroyed by France,Russia and UK. It was a pivot-point for the Ottoman history which they lost their entire naval forces. Sultan ordered to close Dardanelles and Russia attacked from north to Wallachia-Moldavia. Emperor Nicholas I. moved towards to Danube and besieged Shumla(today Shumen), Varna and Silistra. Varna was first to be taken due to its coastal location on Black Sea. And with the help of Russian fleet the City was captured on 29th September,1828. Then Silistra on 19th June,1829. Shumla was protected under 40,000-strong Ottoman garrison. Russia was not thinking to stop until Constantinople aka Tsarigrad. They captured Burgas on 31st July. The Russian armies were just 68 km away from the Ottoman Capital which caused an alarming panic in the City. The Russian armies were harsh and they were more destructive on their march.Meanwhile from the east Ivan Paskevich captured the cities : Ahiski, Yerevan, Ardahan and Erzurum.Sultan had no choice, he had to offer a peace, and the Treaty of Adrianople was enforced. Russia gained most of the eastern shore of Black Sea with the mouth of Danube, Georgia and northwest part of Armenia.
Compiled and Written by Kigarian
Copyright © 2013-Varna1444 All Rights Reserved
The Bittersweet Happiness of Varna : Hayriye Mosque
Hayriye Mosque-Varna 2000s
After the withdrawal of Russian armies from Balkans. At least there was a bittersweet happiness for Muslims and native public of Varna. As we mentioned, Russian armies were destructive and sadly Varna couldn't change its fate about this. Varna was a township of Sanjak of Silistra with its 4 castles which were Mehmed Pasha Castle, Yanikkale and Toprak Kale(Castle) in the cape of Galata. By the help of these strong castles, it resisted to Russian fleet bombardments from July to September in 1828. According to Nikolay Savov, the Bulgarian historian-author; these bombardments resulted with annihilation of hundreds of Turkish houses, mosques and warehouses.Then the collapse of fortress' walls. The city ran down. Russians left also another gift for the city after withdrawal : Cholera. Most of the people immigrated to inland and left Varna as a deserted city for a while. In 1832 re-construction of the city started which was lasted in 7 years .More people were coming from Izmail, Odessa, Crimea, Galati, Braila due to Russian occupation. Dilaver Pasha who was the legal guardian of Varna in 1834, took in part re-construction of the city. He ordered to build a Mosque and a Madrasah to Tabanata where today the streets of Tsaribrod and Dunav meets.Nearly 70-80 years ago it was possible to see the Hayriye Mosque with a madrasah and its foundation buildings around it. Fortunately the Mosque survives but need an immediate assistance of restroration.It is open only on Friday prayers.
Above the enterance of the mosque a commemorative tablet gives important information about its built , written in Ottoman Turkish and Arabic as follows.
"I seek refuge in God from accursed Satan, In the name of God,the compassionate, the merciful
Enter it in peace and safe Quran 15:46
Built in Hijri 1251(1835) by Pasha Dilaver
Property of Sultan, Hayriye Djamia"
Compiled and Written by Kigarian
© Varna1444 All Rights Reserved
Above the enterance of the mosque a commemorative tablet gives important information about its built , written in Ottoman Turkish and Arabic as follows.
"I seek refuge in God from accursed Satan, In the name of God,the compassionate, the merciful
Enter it in peace and safe Quran 15:46
Built in Hijri 1251(1835) by Pasha Dilaver
Property of Sultan, Hayriye Djamia"
Compiled and Written by Kigarian
© Varna1444 All Rights Reserved