Elviye-i Selase in the National Struggle

Abstract

Elviye-i Selâse; It was the name given to Kars, Ardahan and Batum Sanjaks during the Ottoman period. This region was conquered during the period of the Seljuks, then Genghis Khan, İlhanlıs, Çobanlılar, Celâyirliler, Karakoyunlular, Timballu, Akkoyunlular, Safavids and finally XVI. It was under Ottoman rule in the 16th century. With the Berlin Treaty signed after the 1877-1878 Ottoman-Russian War, these three banners were given to the Russians as war compensation. Despite all their efforts, the Russians could not erase the traces of Turkishness and the "consciousness of nationality" of the Turks during their occupation, which prevailed for forty years in the region.