"Get out of those Persian affairs...": general V. V. Dolgorukov and the expedition corps in the "newly acquired" provinces of Iran in 1726-1727

The paper is devoted to the actions of general-in-chief V. V. Dolgorukov, the commander of Russian army's expedition corps, and his subordinates at Iran provinces in 1726-1727. Position of Russian army in the Gilani region and Russian administration's efforts to establish peace and utilize the acquired territory are studied on the basis of documents from Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts, Russian State Military History Archive and Russian Federation Foreign Policy Archive. This episode can be considered as a large-scale experiment for organizing management and operation in the regions that were distinct from metropolis in its natural conditions, lifestyle and culture of its inhabitants. Old veteran, prince Vasily Vasilyevich Dolgorukov, was appointed as «chief commander» of the Lower corps by Catherine I in February, 1726; his general-in-chief rank was also regained. The Russian military command in Iran faced the lack of required human and financial resources, needed to exploit newly acquired lands and alienate the local population; interior troubles of Iran did not give any option to get revenue from taxes and trade. The incomes turned out to be smaller ten times than was expected. In 1726-1728, V. V. Dolgorukov managed to get 345,829 roubles, but this revenue was much lower than his costs. Payments for Baku oil wells decreased; there were no hopes for getting earnings from silk production. The troops suffered from unfamiliar climatic conditions and diseases. Russia had to subordinate once conquered lands again and again; these efforts required sending new troops. Local Khans and Sultans were afraid of Russian soldiers and their commanders, but immediately moved to a side of Shah of Iran or Turks as soon as Russian army had departed. The military command was forced to start retreat of the troops from the Kura river in September, 1727. This buried the idea of Peter I to create the center of «Eastern commerce» there. This failure of Russian policy led to refusal of the conquered territories. Russian empire surrendered Gilani and Astara to Iran under the Rasht treaty of 1732, because the empire was been ready to develop the economy and to control upon these faraway provinces. In 1735, Anna Ioannovna made final decision: according to the new treaty of alliance between two countries, Iran got back Baku and Derbent.