The military cooperation between Russia and Greece has a long history. The numerous wars with Turkey have always been accompanied by the strengthening of military and political ties with the Christians of the Balkans, who not only openly fought against the Turks but also actively joined the ranks of the Russian army and navy. According to the calculations of the author of this book, S. Pinchuk-Galani, during the period 1770-1856, at least 15,000 Greeks underwent Russian military service. In comparison, on the eve of the Crimean (Eastern) War, the entire Greek regular army had only 8,600 men. However, if Russia was the "training ground for officers" for the Greek armed forces, then the Greeks significantly contributed to the victories of the Russian arms. The exploits of dozens of them have been honored with the Order of Saint George.

With the outbreak of the Crimean (Eastern) War, a movement for the annexation of Thessaly, Epirus, and Macedonia had emerged in Greece as a national idea. The secret organizations preparing for the anti-Ottoman uprising were led by a group of Phanariot intellectuals who were united by familial and corporate ties, as well as by common ideas for the future of the Balkans. They were joined by the highest generals of the Greek army and the royal court. Their plans were based on the political support of Russia, which, for its part, was interested in a joint military action against the Ottoman Empire. In 1854, rebellions broke out simultaneously in various Turkish provinces, with the unofficial support of the Greek authorities, who organized the supply of weapons, provisions, money, and volunteers. Thus, Greece was de facto the only ally of Russia among all European states.

This edition provides an overview of the Russo-Greek military cooperation, which presents great interest and shows the emergence of the Greek Legion as a natural continuation of the traditions of previous wars and decades.