M.N. De Giers's embassy in İstanbul and Ottoman-Russian relations (1912-1914)

Mikhail Nikolayevich von Giers was a prominent statesman who served in the final years of the Ottoman Empire, representing Russian foreign policy in Istanbul, particularly before the Balkan Wars and World War I. Serving as the Russian ambassador in Istanbul during the 1912-1914 period, a period of critical developments in Ottoman-Russian relations, Giers was at the center of both inter-imperial rivalries and regional tensions. Born in 1856, De Giers began his diplomatic career at a young age, gaining experience by serving in many important centers, particularly European capitals. He continued his higher education at the Faculty of Law of St. Petersburg University between 1875 and 1877. Upon the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, he abandoned his education to complete his military service. He was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th Class, for his service in this war. Giers, who left the military in 1878, began his diplomatic career by joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that same year, serving as consul and chargé d'affaires in various European cities, including Ragusa, Zadar, and Belgrade. In 1883, he was appointed second secretary to the Russian Embassy in Istanbul. He subsequently served on diplomatic missions in Iran and Bavaria, and served as ambassador to Brazil and Argentina between 1895 and 1898. During his time in Latin America, he also engaged in cultural activities for the Orthodox community, supporting the construction of a Russian church in Buenos Aires. Appointed ambassador to China in 1898, to Bavaria in 1901, and to Romania in 1902, Giers was ultimately appointed Russian Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire in Istanbul in March 1912. During his service in the Ottoman Empire between 1912 and 1914, he represented Russian policy toward the protection of Christian elements in Ottoman territory, particularly during the Balkan Wars, and played a direct role in sensitive issues such as the Armenian Reformation. He is notable for the policies he pursued during the entry into World War I. This study examines the diplomatic events that occurred during De Giers's tenure in Istanbul.