Nicholas began courting Britain by means of conversations with the British ambassador, George Hamilton Seymour, in January and February 1853.:105 Nicholas insisted that he no longer wished to expand Imperial Russia:105 but that he had an obligation to the Christian communities in the Ottoman Empire.:105  The Tsar next dispatched a highly abrasive diplomat, Prince Menshikov, on a special mission to the Ottoman Sublime Porte in February 1853. By previous treaties, the sultan was committed "to protect the (Eastern Orthodox) Christian religion and its churches." Menshikov demanded a Russian protectorate over all 12 million Orthodox Christians in the Empire, with control of the Orthodox Church's hierarchy. A compromise was reached regarding Orthodox access to the Holy Land, but the Sultan, strongly supported by the British ambassador, rejected the more sweeping demands. COUNT 5
QSN1 Who was the British ambassador in 1853? ANS1 George Hamilton Seymour QSN2 Who declared they no longer wanted to spread Imperial Russian? ANS2 Nicholas QSN3 Who did the Tsar send on a mission to Ottoman Sublime Porte? ANS3 Prince Menshikov QSN4 In what year was Prince Menshikov sent to the Ottoman Sublime Porte? ANS4 1853 QSN5 Who wanted to ruled over the 12 million Orthodox Christians in the Empire? ANS5 Menshikov