The First Cold War: Anglo-Russian Relations in the 19th Century

Britain and Russia had a frosty civility for a few years after Napoleons defeat in 1815, but their relations degenerated into constant acrimonious rivalry over Persia, the Ottoman Empire, Central Asia, and East Asia. The First Cold War presents the Russian perspective on this 'game, drawing on the archives of the Tsars Imperial Ministry. London and St Petersburg were at war only once in the 1800s, but Russophobia and Anglophobia became ingrained on each side.

Format: Hardback
Length: 544 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2024
Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd

Britain and Russia maintained a frosty civility for a few years after Napoleon's defeat in 1815. However, by the 1820s, their relations degenerated into constant acrimonious rivalry over Persia, the Ottoman Empire, Central Asia, and, towards the end of the century, East Asia. The First Cold War presents the Russian perspective on this 'game, drawing on the archives of the Tsars Imperial Ministry. Each world power became convinced of the expansionist aims of the other, and considered these to be at its own expense. When one was successful, the other upped the ante, and so it went on. London and St Petersburg were at war only once in the 1800s, during the Crimean War. But Russophobia and Anglophobia became ingrained on each side, as these two great empires hovered on the brink of hostilities for nearly 100 years.

Not until Britain and Russia recognized that they had more to fear from Wilhelmine Germany did they largely set aside their rivalries in the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907, which also had major repercussions for the balance of power in Europe. Before that came a century of competition, diplomacy, and tension, lucidly charted in this comprehensive new history.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781805260578