“…5 In such an atmosphere of expectation, an ambitious sovereign like Catherine the Great (1762 -96) recognized the utility of creating 'dissident' movements among Balkan Slavs and Greeks, including wealthy merchants and celebrated prelates. 6 To improve contacts with Christians, Russia sent its fleet into the Mediterranean during the war of 1768 -74. Tsarist troops also crossed the Danube, causing the Ottoman authorities of Thessaloniki to doubt the loyalties of Christians, and thus they confiscated their weapons.…”