Turkish Prisoners of War in the Belgorod Province during the Russian-Turkish War of 1768–74

Abstract

This article examines the role of the Belgorod Province in the evacuation and internment of enemy POWs during the Russian-Turkish War of 1768–74. The author quantifies the number of the POWs, indicates their quartering sites and placement difficulties; examines financial, material, and other questions regarding their provision, and explores their daily lived experience. He concludes that the Belgorod Province authorities made a significant contribution to the improvement of both the process and legislative framework for the naturalization of former Turkish prisoners in Russia.

Keywords

• russian-turkish war
• belgorod province
• prisoners of war
• the turks
• internment
• provision
• prisoner transfer
• naturalization