PC: Russia conquers Dzungaria

If Russia's western ambitions are stomped or curbed and Russia began to significantly focus itself eastward instead might it conquer Dzungaria? In this scenario to the west Russia would be faced with far stronger opposition from Sweden, Poland, and the Ottomans. Meanwhile in the east missions like the 1717 Khiva Expedition would meet more success then OTL, slowly drawing Russia's attention eastward. And then after decades of being drawn eastward could Russia potentially conquer Dzungaria in the 1740s or 1750s.
 

CaliGuy

Banned
If Russia's western ambitions are stomped or curbed and Russia began to significantly focus itself eastward instead might it conquer Dzungaria? In this scenario to the west Russia would be faced with far stronger opposition from Sweden, Poland, and the Ottomans. Meanwhile in the east missions like the 1717 Khiva Expedition would meet more success then OTL, slowly drawing Russia's attention eastward. And then after decades of being drawn eastward could Russia potentially conquer Dzungaria in the 1740s or 1750s.
What about doing this in the 1870s instead while Yakub Beg's rebellion is still vibrant and alive, though?
 
What about doing this in the 1870s instead while Yakub Beg's rebellion is still vibrant and alive, though?

Was Dzungaria conqerable then? Didn't the Qing settle Dzungaria heavily after the Dzungar Genocide, or was it still not majority Han by 1870? Because if its majority Han I don't see how the Russians can retain it for any length of time.
 

CaliGuy

Banned
Was Dzungaria conqerable then? Didn't the Qing settle Dzungaria heavily after the Dzungar Genocide, or was it still not majority Han by 1870? Because if its majority Han I don't see how the Russians can retain it for any length of time.
I think that it might have been majority Han in 1800; however, the Muslim rebellions in the 1860s and/or 1870s might have caused a lot of these Han to flee--thus possibly giving Russia a ripe opportunity to conquer Dzungaria.
 
I think that it might have been majority Han in 1800; however, the Muslim rebellions in the 1860s and/or 1870s might have caused a lot of these Han to flee--thus possibly giving Russia a ripe opportunity to conquer Dzungaria.
That's not true. Yaqub Beg's rebellion did not extend north of Urumchi and Zungharia was largely unaffected.
 
If you can avoid the Russo-Japanese War Russia might annex Mongolia in 1911 during the revolution there and if they're feeling cocky they might hack Dzungaria on on to it too. I don't think it's too much of a stretch, though Britain would probably blow a fuse over the whole thing.
 
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