The second period of the 19th century witnessed the rivalry of thegreat powers over the world. In this rivalry especially England, Russia *Bu makale Crosscheck sistemi tarafından taranmış ve bu sistem sonuçlarına göre orijinal bir makale olduğutespit edilmiştir.** Yrd. Doç. Dr. Bingöl Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi Tarih Bölümü El-mek: s_uluerler@hotmail.com804 Sıtkı ULUERLERTurkish StudiesInternational Periodical For the Languages, Literature and History of Turkish or TurkicVolume 10/1 Winter 2015and France together with other effective power groups created zone ofinfluence in some regions and protected them. Ottoman and Iranappeared like governments torn between these power groups because oftheir weak condition.Another significant detail was the fact that especially England andRussia had different intentions on their territory of sovereignty andcould not agree with each other. Thus, starting with 19th Century,England tried to resist Russia’s expansionist intentions. Englishgovernment, aware of the fact that Russian expansionist policies were athreat against England, realized that if Russia would not be halted atthe Danube, she should be stopped at the shores of Indus River. Afterlosing the Crimean War, Russia began the policy of expansion from thenorth of Caspian Sea Region to the south, to weaken the hand of and toavenge England.In the initial phase, Russia attempted to use Iran against Englandto expand her influence in Asia and to create tensions in Indian Region,primarily in Afghanistan and tried to disenfranchise England in thelight of her own political priorities. However, historical developmentsproved that it was not a simple task and England, a world power duringthat period, had her own agenda to rebut these plans of Russia. In thiscontext, a strategic door of entry into India, Herat became the center ofthe conflict due to its strategic importance.To clarify the issue, a review of Herat’s geographical location andhistorical course would show that it is an ancient town dating back toprehistoric period, located in northeastern Afghanistan. The city’sstrategic location always attracted the interest of powers to be. It wasalways in the top of the list to defend for the states that held it inhistory, such as Ghaznevids, Seljuks, Ghurids, Mongolians, Ilkhanids,and Timurids. Herat Region became the center of conflict betweenSafavid Iran and Transoxania Uzbeks in the 16th Century on. The factthat Herat was one of the significant centers of Sunni-Shi’ite conflictresulted in its destruction several times in history. The era of conflictcontinued even with the conquest of the city by Ismail I in 1510because of the Uzbeks’ continued resistance against Shi’ite Safavids.Concurrently, Shamlu Turkmens were influential in the administrationof Herat until 1717. However, Afghan Abdalis took over theadministration of Herat after that date. Iran conquered Herat during thereign of Nader Shah, however after his death in 1749 Abdalis solidifiedtheir influence in the city.Durrani dynasty became sovereign in Herat under theadministration of Abdali Ahmad Shah Durrani. In the later periods,even though Durranis lost the control of several areas in Afghanistan,they were able to keep Herat under their sovereignty. Beginning withthe 19th Century, Herat witnessed the fierce rivalry of local Afghans andIranians because of its strategic location in one hand, and in the otherit became the arena of conflict for England and Russia to include theregion in their respective zones of influence. Herat’s strategicimportance derived from the fact that it provided an effective getawayfor India facilitating a move towards India from the region through thewest and the north.Herat Meselesi ve İran-İngiliz Savaşının (1856-1857) Osmanlı Devleti’ne Etkileri 805Turkish StudiesInternational Periodical For the Languages, Literature and History of Turkish or TurkicVolume 10/1 Winter 2015At that point in time, Herat issue became a significant front ofEngland’s Asian policy in that era. While the developments shaped inthe axis of England, Iran, Russia, France and Ottoman, the generalcourse of history demonstrated that Iran experienced problems basedon Herat issue, and especially the passive outlook of the OttomanEmpire in internel and foreign affairs became prominent due to thesedevelopments.Russia tried to extend its influence to Afghanistan and Indiaunder the premise of supporting Iran to paint England into a corner.Iran organized several military operations into Herat during the dynastyof Qajar (1837-1838, 1842-1843, 1856-1857). Iranians failed to succeedin these operations and faced with English opposition and resistanceagainst all. England managed to use local powers in the region insteadof sending her own troops, and also used her diplomatic efficiency tomaintain England’s supremacy in India and Afghanistan.In this regard, the process that begun with Iran’s occupation ofHerat province in Afghanistan, as its historical bygone with impact areain 1856 turned into international issue between the years of 1856-1857.England perceived this action of Iran as a threat oriented to India,which is their colonial land and began to warn and threat Iran towithdraw from Herat. Emphasizing that the government which wasfound in abusive approach regarding the Herat was England, Iran triedto get support from Ottoman and France against England. İn the frameof contract signed with England in 1853.Herat conflict of 1856-1857 had not only affected the two sides ofthe conflict, namely Iran and England, but it had substantial effects onOttoman Empire, Russia and France. Thus, the resulting picture of theconflict demonstrated the current states, areas of conflict and zones ofinfluence of the states accepted as world powers in the second half ofthe 19th Century. In this c