The war began as a Russian-Turkish conflict. The Russian Empire, headed by Catherine the Great, had been involved in previous wars of conquest against the Ottomans, and the two nations were openly hostile. In August 1787, after "numerous Russian provocations" according to Hochedlinger, the Ottoman Empire declared war on the Russians. The Austrian Emperor Joseph II had concluded an alliance with the Russians in 1781, which (Hochedlinger) "obliged to assist the Russians with his full might ... Vienna felt that it had to act promptly so as not to annoy the [Empress. What Joseph had to make sure this time was that Austria did not come away empty-handed again, as over the Crimea in 1783–84."