Storming of Varna
| Storming of Varna (1773) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774) | |||||||
 Map of the fortress of Varna | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Ottoman Empire |
 Russian Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Osman Pasha Ali Pasha |
Karl Ungern-Sternberg Prince Anhalt-Bernburg Vikenty Reisser Fyodor Denisov (WIA) | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown |
211[2]–300[3][4] killed 700 wounded Creasy: 2,000 killed and wounded[5] 10 cannons 100 ammunition wagons[4][5] | ||||||
  Location within Europe  Storming of Varna (Bulgaria) | |||||||
The storming of Varna[a] was an operation of the Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774) and occurred on 10 November 1773 when a Russian force under the general command of Karl Karlovich Ungern-Sternberg stormed the Ottoman city of Varna. It ended in failure,[6] and was the final engagement of the war in 1773; which ended favourably for the Ottoman Empire.[7]
Prelude
[edit]After quarrelling with each other, Prince Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgorukov and Baron Karl Karlovich Ungern-Sternberg split their forces on 8 November; the prince went towards Şumnu whilst the baron moved to attack Varna. Hearing of this, Grand Vizier Muhsinzade Mehmed Pasha sent Abdurrezzak Pasha to recapture Pazarcık. Upon hearing this, the Russian garrison (under the command of Dolgorukov) fled in panic "whilst raw meat was still boiling in the pot" since they believed that a large Ottoman force was advancing onto the city. By this time, Ungern had reached Varna on 10 November.[8] He was accompanied by 9,000 men (of which 6,000 were infantry and 3,000 were cavalry).[4][9]
Ungern's army formed the core out of the three squares sent to besiege Varna. Whilst his force was at the centre, the two other squares were commanded by Prince Victor Amadeus of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym on the left flank and Major general Vikenty Reisser on the right; there was a Don Cossack regiment led by Fyodor Denisov. Arnaut (Albanian) Ali Pasha was the Ottoman defender of the 1,200-strong garrison, which was equipped with 32 cannons (most could not be used due to their poor conditions, but also because the garrison lacked enough experienced men to work them).[10]
Storming
[edit]At daybreak on 10 November [O.S. 30 October] 1773, the Russians reached Kadıköy, a village 50 minutes away from Varna. By 8 AM, they reached Varna and attacked it with artillery fire. When the infantry reached the Ottoman trenches, the artillery ceased firing on the fortress. As they had forgotten to bring fascines with them, and they had insufficient ladders to scale the fortress, the Russian force came under intense fire and suffered heavy casualties.[11] Whilst this was happening, Kelleci Osman Pasha, the chief of the Ottoman navy in the Black Sea, sent ashore 600 marines (led by the kethüda) to aid the garrison. Meanwhile, he blockaded the Christian quarters of the city from sea so that Russian naval reinforcements did not arrive.[3]
Joining in the defence of the garrison were young boys (mostly 13 and 14 year olds) who manned the parapets and fired their guns or threw stones down, worsening the situation for the Russian attackers. Although Prince Anhalt-Bernburg reached the escarpment, he and his men were unable to climb the ramparts to enter the city. The six cannons brought up to the obstacles surrounding the trenches were abandoned as the operating force came under heavy fire. The Russians entered the Christian quarters of the city, but had to withdraw very soon thereafter, leaving behind four more cannons.[4] With this, the infantry fell into a state of disarray and fled; they were followed by all other remaining soldiers. Despite the Turkish army not intending to pursue them, the Russians stopped every 100 steps and went into a defensive position until they exited the city.[3] Russian losses were estimated at 211[2] to 300[4] killed, and 700 wounded (including Fyodor Denisov).[3] Another estimate is 2,000 killed and wounded.[5] They left behind 10 cannons, as well as 100 ammunition wagons.[4]
Aftermath
[edit]Prince Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgorukov stopped his march towards Şumnu as he thought that his force was too weak, having lost 1,500 men on the way.[4] Upon hearing of Karl Ungern's failure, the prince withdrew to Babadağ. Ungern, on the other hand, retreated to Acemler right after his failed storming of Varna, and then made his way to Izmail after sailing through Balçık, Kavarna, and Mankalya.[12] Thus, the campaign of 1773 ended in favour of the Ottomans.[2][7]
Notes
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ Somel, Selçuk A. [in Turkish] (2010). The A to Z of the Ottoman Empire. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. p. LV. ISBN 9780810875791.
- ^ a b c Davies, Brian L. (2016). The Russo-Turkish War, 1768–1774: Catherine II and the Ottoman Empire. London: Bloomsbury. p. 200. ISBN 9781472512932.
- ^ a b c d Ungermann 1906, p. 225.
- ^ a b c d e f g von Hammer-Purgstall, Joseph. Çevik, Mümin (ed.). Büyük Osmanlı Tarihi [Great Ottoman History] (in Turkish). Vol. 16. Translated by Özdek, Refik. Istanbul: Üçdal Neşriyat. p. 226.
- ^ a b c Creasy 1856, p. 253.
- ^ Sytin, Ivan (1911). Varna. Military Encyclopedia, Vol. 5. Saint Petersburg.
- ^ a b Creasy 1856, p. 254.
- ^ Ungermann 1906, p. 223.
- ^ Creasy 1856, p. 252.
- ^ Ungermann 1906, p. 224.
- ^ Ungermann 1906, pp. 224–225.
- ^ Ungermann 1906, p. 226.
References
[edit]- Creasy, Edward S. (1856). The Ottoman Turks: From the Beginning of their Empire to the Present Time (PDF). Vol. 2. London: Richard Bentley.
- Ungermann, Richard (1906). Der Russisch-Türkische Krieg, 1768–1774 [The Russo-Turkish War, 1768–1774] (in German). Vienna: Kaiserliche und Königliche Hofbuchdruckerei und Verlagshaus Carl Fromme.