On the Eve of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878: The Secret Mission of General Staff Colonel V. G. Zolotaryov in Bucharest (October 1876)

Abstract

Drawing on newly discovered archival documents (from the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Empire and the Russian State Military Historical Archive), this article sheds light on the secret mission of General Staff Colonel V. G. Zolotaryov in Bucharest in October 1876 — a subject virtually unknown in existing historiography. At Livadia, during negotiations between War Minister D. A. Milyutin, Chancellor A. M. Gorchakov, the Russian ambassador to Constantinople N. P. Ignatiev, and Romanian Prime Minister I. Brătianu, an agreement was reached to dispatch a Russian officer to Romania. His task was to observe the Principality’s military preparations on site and assist in readying the Romanian army for action against Turkey. However, as the international situation changed, Brătianu preferred to discuss diplomatic rather than military matters with Zolotaryov, emphasizing the need for a preliminary treaty recognizing Romania’s independence and guaranteeing the integrity of its territory. Colonel Zolotaryov did not fulfill his main assignment, as Brătianu considered it secondary at that time. However, St. Petersburg was informed of Bucharest’s demands and of the necessity to prepare a Russian-Romanian convention regarding the passage of the Danube Army through the Principality — an issue that became particularly urgent in light of the planned mobilization of the Russian army on November 1, 1876.

Received 26 November 2025

Revised 27 April 2026

Accepted 30 May 2026

For citation: Frolova, M. M., 2026. On the Eve of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878: The Secret Mission of General Staff Colonel V. G. Zolotaryov in Bucharest (October 1876). Slavic World in the Third Millennium, 21 (1–2), pp. 34–50. https://doi.org/10.31168/2412-6446.2026.21.1-2.02