Constantinople, Russia, and the political prize of Gallipoli

After a successful Gallipoli campaign, Turkey might have retained territory on the Asian side while Constantinople and the European approaches passed to Russia or a Russian client. Returning Hagia Sophia to Orthodox control would have supplied the tsarist government with a powerful religious and political victory. Such a prize could have helped keep Russia committed to the war while also transforming the postwar balance around the Black Sea. Gallipoli's objective involved passage for ships and control of a strategically and symbolically exceptional capital.