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'The Russians in Akhal' [‎27r] (5/68)

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The record is made up of 1 file (34 folios). It was created in Mar 1882. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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1832.
1834.
1836.
* “ The purpose of the expedition was to
“ define with the greatest possible precision
*‘ the littoral boundary between the Persian
“ ten itories and those occupied by the Tur-
“ comans; to survey the whole of the East
“ coast of the Caspian from Astrabad Bay to
“ Tuik-Karagan point, and to enter into com-
“ mercial relations with the Turcomans of
“ the coast.' 1 —Blaremberg’s Diary kept during
the expedition, &c. Journal of Imperial
Russian Geographical Society, Vol. TY.,
1850.
“ Russian Naval Magazine,” December
1863:—“The Astrabad station and its effect in
“ promoting the development of that region,”
by Petrichenko.
“ Russian Naval Magazine,’* No. 12, 1863.
18U.
with a view to setting the Caspian within a fram#
of Russian forts and establishments.
Accordingly, Karelin was sent out at the head of
an expedition, and as a result, in
Fort Novo-Alexandrofsk was built at Kizyl-tash
on the eastern shore of Kaidak Bay.
[In the year 1844, Fort Novo-Alexandrofsk was
replaced by Fort Novo-Petrofsk on Tuik-Karagan
point over Nicolai harbour; and in 1868, the latter
was re-christened Fort Alexandrofsk.]
This position was, however, deemed unsatisfactory
and insufficient, therefore, in
Another expedition was equipped and sent
under Karelin to re-examine the whole of the East
coast down to the Persian limits. The surveys were
this time extended to Hassan Kuli and Astrabad
bays.*
Ashurada Naval Station.
In the year 1836, a Russian merchant of As
trakhan was, under the auspices of his Government,
induced to establish a fishery in Hassan-Kuli Bay,
where he dwelt in perfect security among the
Turcomans.
The Russian Caspian flotilla was at that time
permanently stationed at the island of Sara, near
Lenkoran, and cruisers were sent hut once a year
regularly to the East coast calling at Hassan Kuli
and Astrabad Bays, and thus opening relations with
the Yomud Turcomans.
With the Persians the Russian naval authorities
entered into no relations, whereas they were even
then busy with the Turcomans.
The Turcomans had at that period an encampment
on the island of Ashurada, and the Russian Captain,
Alennikof, on anchoring, as usual, near that island,
found there a detachment of Persian troops.
The first step towards effecting a lodgment on
Ashurada was taken in
When, by order of the Commander of the Russian
forces in the Caucasus, the commanding naval
officer at Sara made an official announcement to
the effect that the station at Ashurada was to be
a permanent one, and sent the brig “ Araxes,” com
manded by Captain Fofanof, to anchor in Ashurada
Bay, <f in order to protect any Russian trading
“ vessels which might appear on those waters and
“ to guard the Persian coast from Turcoman
“ piracies.”
The first attempt to coerce the Turcomans, who
had until then given no offence to the Russians,
was signalized by the destruction of a Russian
boat’s crew by those subjects of Persia.
On the strength of this, the brig “ Araxes ” was
provided with guns, but fhe Russian sailors being
unequal to cope with the Turcomans in the smaller
craft and failing therefore to establish anything
like an authority over them, other and stronger
measures were now contemplated. The necessity
for these had been foreseen by Count Medem,
6662. B

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Content

The memorandum is divided into four parts. The first part (folios 26-41) outlines Russian activities and aims in the Trans-Caspian region from 1716-1880; it narrates the extension of Russian influence over the Turcoman [Turkmen] tribes in the region to their eventual absorption into the Russian Empire to form part of Transcaspia. As a result it includes information concerning Russian military expeditions and various efforts made by them to coerce the Turcomen tribes into becoming Russian subjects, and some of the Turcoman efforts to resist. More especially it includes details on the establishment of a Russian naval base at Ashurada and the Russian occupation of Krasnovodsk [Turkmenbashi].

The second part (folios 42-48) concerns attempts by the Turcoman tribes to seek the protection of either Afghanistan or Persia. It includes a translation of a document (folios 44v-47) sent by Adul Hassan Khan, Governor of Kuchan, to Rukn-ud-dowla, Governor of Khorassa, which concerns the submission of the Teke tribes of Atamish and Tokhtamest to Persia; a Russian take on the situation claiming that the tribes rejected the Persian offer is included alongside. The terms of an agreement between the Shah of Persia and the Merv [Mary] Teke — in which the latter become Persian subjects — is located on folios 47v-48.

The third part (folios 49-52) focuses on the attempts by the Amir of Afghanistan, Shrere-Ali-Khan [Sher Ali Khan], to seek British protection against Russian aggression; the Amir is concerned that a Russian advance on the Merv would be a prelude to an attack on Afghanistan, or that the Russians may pursue any retreating Turcoman into Afghanistan.

The fourth and final part (folios 53-58) outlines Persia's efforts to secure its northern frontier against Russian encroachment, and the interventions that the British have made to assist with this resistance. It also discusses diplomatic exchanges to affect a joint Anglo-Russian agreement to maintain the integrity of Persia.

Extent and format
1 file (34 folios)
Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at f 25, and terminates at f 58, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Pagination: the item also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

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English in Latin script
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'The Russians in Akhal' [‎27r] (5/68), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/C78, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025852016.0x000006> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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