Russian possessions in Africa during/after the Scramble

Thande

Donor
This shows up occasionally in some AHs (I'm thinking of Tony Jones' Monarchy World in particular). African colonies would obviously be of use to a Russia that sees itself as a superpower and wants to project power far overseas, not "only" in Eurasia.

However, the country is not geographically or geopolitically well placed to colonise Africa, particularly at the time of the Scramble (not long after the Russo-Turkish War, for example) and so we need to provide an important motivation. This could just be a German-style flashy operation to gain colonies for the sake of having colonies, but how about this: I seem to remember reading somewhere that the Ethiopian Church is considered close to the Russian Orthodox (no idea why, I thought they were Monophysites) so could we perhaps see Tsarist Holy Russia as the protector of Ethiopia against, e.g., the Italians?

Any other ideas on how we could get Russian colonies in Africa by 1914?
 

Philip

Donor
I seem to remember reading somewhere that the Ethiopian Church is considered close to the Russian Orthodox (no idea why, I thought they were Monophysites) so could we perhaps see Tsarist Holy Russia as the protector of Ethiopia against, e.g., the Italians?

The Ethiopians are Oriental (Miaphysite) Orthodox. They would probably hesitate to Russian Eastern Orthodox overlordship. I see something not unlike the Greeks preferring the Sultan to the Pope.
 
Well, if the Russians get control of Persia and the Bosporus, then there is an incentive for them to get access to the Red Sea.
 
This shows up occasionally in some AHs (I'm thinking of Tony Jones' Monarchy World in particular). African colonies would obviously be of use to a Russia that sees itself as a superpower and wants to project power far overseas, not "only" in Eurasia.

However, the country is not geographically or geopolitically well placed to colonise Africa, particularly at the time of the Scramble (not long after the Russo-Turkish War, for example) and so we need to provide an important motivation.
Russians had VERY active shipping through Suez in 1870-1900, as it was the easiest and fastest way to get to the Russian Far East pre-TransSib. Could it provide motivation?
 
There is no possibility of this whatsoever, and I don't usually say this. British hostility to the Russians was way too high during the period of the Scramble. Can you imagine Britain allowing Russia to have naval bases along the route to India after fighting the Crimean War and forcing Berlin just to keep them away from Ottoman territory?

This shows up occasionally in some AHs (I'm thinking of Tony Jones' Monarchy World in particular). African colonies would obviously be of use to a Russia that sees itself as a superpower and wants to project power far overseas, not "only" in Eurasia.

However, the country is not geographically or geopolitically well placed to colonise Africa, particularly at the time of the Scramble (not long after the Russo-Turkish War, for example) and so we need to provide an important motivation. This could just be a German-style flashy operation to gain colonies for the sake of having colonies, but how about this: I seem to remember reading somewhere that the Ethiopian Church is considered close to the Russian Orthodox (no idea why, I thought they were Monophysites) so could we perhaps see Tsarist Holy Russia as the protector of Ethiopia against, e.g., the Italians?

Any other ideas on how we could get Russian colonies in Africa by 1914?
 
There is no possibility of this whatsoever, and I don't usually say this. British hostility to the Russians was way too high during the period of the Scramble. Can you imagine Britain allowing Russia to have naval bases along the route to India after fighting the Crimean War and forcing Berlin just to keep them away from Ottoman territory?

All good points and it also brings to mind the Russian Alaska. If the Russians had worried about being unable to defend Alaska from Britain, why would any African possessions be any different? Why actually provide targets and war prizes for another power, that has greater access to the high seas.
 
Top