The Romanovs' Quest for the Bosporus

Catherine the Great's Greek Project gave way to a century of Russian ambition for Constantinople. This episode follows the Eastern Question through the reigns of Nicholas I and Alexander II, from the secret Treaty of Hünkâr İskelesi in 1833 to the humiliating Treaty of Paris in 1856 that ended the Crimean War. We discuss the role of the Straits, the clash with the Ottoman Empire, and the European powers that blocked Russian expansion. Lucas and Luna explore how this relentless drive southward shaped Russian identity, military strategy, and the eventual unraveling of the Romanovs. Specific focus on the naval clash at Sinope in 1853—the last major battle of the Age of Sail—and the diplomatic isolation that followed. Listeners will learn about key figures like Admiral Nakhimov, Tsar Nicholas I, and the forgotten Treaty of Unkiar Skelessi. A tale of ambition, miscalculation, and the limits of autocratic power. #EasternQuestion #CrimeanWar #NicholasI #OttomanEmpire #Straits #Constantinople #Sinope #Nakhimov #RussianNavy #TreatyOfParis #UnkiarSkelessi #GreatGame #ImperialExpansion #BlackSea #RomanovDynasty #History #FexingoHistory #19thCentury #RussianHistory #TsarNicholasII Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo