A ‘Compassionate’ Episode in Anglo - Ottoman History: British Relief to the 93 Refugees (1877-1878)

The 1877-78 Russo-Turkish War, known in Turkish sources by its Rumi date: '93 Harbi, has been thoroughly studied through political and military lenses. The mass exodus of hundreds of thousands of Ottoman subjects before the advancing Russian armies was a major humanitarian calamity, one with possibly more long-term historical consequences than the mere shifting of borders.

Despite its significance, it has received relatively humble attention in the pages of history. This book attempts to illuminate a lesser known aspect of this subject, in particular, the general voluntary relief efforts on the part of the British people for the Ottoman refugees (the ’93 Refugees). This book covers the activities of both the institutions and the prominent figures of this endeavor, against the background of humanitarian diplomacy. In doing so, it provides the reader with an intimate look into a “compassionate” episode in late 19 th century Anglo-Ottoman history.