Why were the Russian Empires rivals so against the recapture of Constantinople or Istanbul (whatever it was called at that point) during the Russo-Turkish War? It seems like all of Western Europe would want that city back in the hands of Christians, regardless of by whom.

by sap114
Webemperor

Nations of Europe were and still are, more connected through shared goals and political ambitions than religion, especially between Catholics, Protestants and Orthodoxes. All of the Western Europe would want to have Constantinople as a Europe city, but as a city belonging to them. Austrians or British wouldn't see the result differently if it was a Russian possesion, or an Ottoman possession, because in the end, it was not their possession. Even before recent years, nations were united more through common goals before values, like political ideas or religion, as it can be seen in Franco-Ottoman Alliance and Anglo-Morrocan Alliance.