Timeline of the
"Great Game" in Asia
(1816-1825)

   

 

 
A historical overview of the
"Great Game" in Asia from 1816 to 1825
 

This section will give a history of the Russian 1848 Hungarian intervention.  For ease of reference the table below allows you to study each conflict year by year.  At the end of this section the costs of the war in both men and equipment will be discussed. With few exceptions noted in parenthesis, all dates given below are according to the Julian Calendar that was used by Russia during this period.  It was 12 days behind the Gregorian calendar used by the rest of the world.


Timeline of the Conflict
  

Russian Leaders
(1816-1825)
1801-1825 Alexander  Pavlovich Romanov
Back to
the Wars and Campaigns of Russia
during the Concert of Europe

 

 

Prelude to War

 

The revolutions of 1848 spread throughout Europe with astonishing speed as social democrats, reformers, and nationalists demanded an end to the traditional monarchies of Europe.  The wave of uprisings began in France, but soon spread to Italy, and then to Central Europe.  In the divided Austrian kingdom these revolutionary ideas found favor with Hungarian nationalists and freedom minded Poles (who had survived their own failed attempt at independence earlier in the decade).

When revolutionary elements began protesting and demanding civil liberties, the initial reaction of the Austrian government was to give in to their demands - at least legislatively.  Other factions took a harder line, and soon small loyalist groups began fighting against the Hungarian separatists.  This would soon erupt into a full scale revolt that threatened the weak Austrian monarchy.

 

Mention that Moorcroft angers ruler of Punjab.

   

Timeline 1816-1825 (1)

 

1816
  British General Sir Robert Wilson anonymously publishes anti-Russian work, “A sketch of the military and political power of Russia”
1817
     
1818
 
 
1819
  Spring William Moorcroft of the East India Company is granted funds for a 2000 mile expedition to look for markets north of the Himalayas and preempt Russia attempts  at doing the same.
16 March Moorcroft’s exhibition leaves India.  They travel to Kashgar to avoid an Afghan civil war.
Summer Captain Nikolai Muraviev undertakes mission to retrace route of ill  fated 1717 expedition to Khiva to deliver message of friendship and trade.
+1 month Muraviev sails from Baku to opposite side of Caspian sea.
17 September He joins caravan of Turkmen in disguise sets off into karakum desert towards Khiva 
? Muraviev arrives at Khiva.  He is detained for seven weeks.  He gains audience with Khan.
+2 months After two months, Muraviev sets out for Kraznovodsk with khan’s envoys
13 December Muraviev reaches Shores of Caspian.
24 Dec Arrive in Baku.  Khan’s envoys sent to Tigris to meet with governor General Yermolov.
1820
  20 September Moorcroft’s party arrives in Leh, after nearly a year of delays in Punjab.  In Leh he encounters Russian agent Aga Mehdi who dies soon after.
October Russian expedition sets out for Bokhara from Orenburg to secure new markets.  It was also to map out defenses and gain intelligence.
December Russian expedition reaches Bokhara frontier outpost where they wait for permission to continue.
1821
  February Emir of Bokhara sends word that Russians can proceed to his capital.
10 March Russian expedition leaves Bokhara.
25 March Russian expedition leaves Bokharan territory.
1822
     
1823
     
1824
 

Spring

 Moorcroft sets out from Leh for Bokhara via the Khyber pass in Afghanistan.  His expedition would lead him to be the first Europeans to see the Buddhist shrine at Bamayan.
1825
  25 February Moorcroft sets expedition reaches Bokhara to find that Russian envoys had already been there.
25 August Moorcroft dies (age 60) of fever.  His body would later be recovered and buried outside the town of Balkh.
November Russian troops under Governor-General Yermolov advance into disputed territory between Erivan and Lake Seven.  Persians demand their withdrawal, but Russians refuse.
December Decembrist revolt.

 

 

Aftermath of the Conflict

The end of hostilities marked a period of harsh repression in Hungary.  Russian General Haynau was appointed military governor of the region.  His attitude was best captured by his quote, "I shall uproot the weed." (1)  On his orders a dozen rebel generals were executed by firing squad on October 6th, 1849.  The first prime minister of Hungary - Batthyany was also shot.  Total executions numbered 114, with some 2000 people imprisoned.  General Görgei's life was spared on orders of the Tsar.

Other Hungarian rebels fled to the Ottoman Empire.  General Bem remained there, and after converting to Islam became the governor of Aleppo under the name Murad Pasha.  Kossuth left to the United States where he remained very popular.  Many other Hungarian troops also fled to the United States where they would aid the Union during that nation's Civil War.

The failed revolt did not quell the desire for Hungarian independence, however.  Later reforms would declare the Empire a dual state: the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  Its lands would have a degree of autonomy and its own parliament in 1867.  The conflict simply postponed the changes.

In Russia, the war did little other than to reaffirm Tsar Nicholas' fear of revolution.

 

Cost of the Russian 1848 Hungarian Intervention (1)

At this point I only have the very incomplete statistics for Russian losses during the Russian 1848 intervention in Hungary.  This will improve with time, but for now I have listed only the statistics that I have.  Those that I do not know at this time are marked as uncertain at present.  Suffice it to say that the Russians massed a force of 200,000 men with 80,000 more in reserve.  

Number of Russian military personnel who served in the Conflict: 200,000 men
 

Force Breakdown

Russian Army: 200,000
Austrian Army: 170,000

Total Killed and Wounded

Killed in Action: Uncertain at Present
Died of Illness: Uncertain at Present
Missing in Action: Uncertain at Present
Wounded: Uncertain at Present

 

Sources Cited

(1) Hopkirk, Peter, The Great Game, The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia, New York, NY: Kodnasha America Inc, 1990, Print.