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If the Russians somehow took Constantinople in the early 1800s, what would be the after effects on the rest of the Ottoman Empire.
- Where would they move their capital to?
- Would their authority be eroded in the rest of the Empire?
- How would the Muslim clerics in the Empire react? How would popular opinion on the street?
- What about if inflammatory events happened like Muslims being kicked out of Constantinople? Or the Hagia Sophia being reconverted to a church?
- Would their claim to the Caliphate be damaged? Could they lose it? Who to?
- Which regional powers could spring up in Arabia, Egypt, Syria, the Maghreb? Would they get formal independence?
- Can they hang on to any of the Balkans without a land bridge?
- If not, do the Turkish Ottomans face pressure from what is now an overwhemingly Arab population?
- Would other non-Russian powers try to stop the rest of the Empire breaking up? Could they be successful?
- If there is a breakup, could another Muslim power try to reunite it?
- Any other effects I haven't thought of?
I'm imagining this in a no Napoleon/French intervention timeline.