War between Russia and the Ottoman Empire breaks out in 1805–1806 against the background of the Napoleonic Wars.

In 1806, Sultan Selim III, encouraged by the Russian defeat at Austerlitz and advised by the French Empire, deposes the pro-Russian Constantine Ypsilanti as Hospodar of the Principality of Wallachia and Alexander Mourousis as Hospodar of Moldavia, both Ottoman vassal states, for inciting revolts in the two principalities.

Simultaneously, the French Empire occupies Dalmatia and threatens to penetrate the Danubian principalities at any time.

In order to safeguard the Russian border against a possible French attack, a forty thousand-strong Russian contingent advances into Moldavia and Wallachia.

The French ambassador to the Porte (Ottoman government) urges the sultan to declare war on Russia; the Porte obliges, blocking the Dardanelles to Russian ships.