The Origins of the Caucasus Campaign: ‘Bellum’ Ante Bellum, Casus Foederis and Casus Belli
Journal: First World War Studies
Year: 2022

This work seeks to establish necessary context or, put another way, to examine details of the time and place that surrounded or influenced the onset of hostilities in the Caucasus. Discussion will focus on three key elements that give context to the campaign’s origins. First is <i>‘bellum’ ante bellum</i>, or ‘war’ waged in northern Persia and Russia’s Caucasus before the actual war started. Second is the <i>casus foederis</i>, which refers to the Ottoman decision to enter into a military allian