Battle of Kozludzha
1774 battle of the Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774)
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The Battle of Kozludzha (also known as the Battle of Kozludža or the Battle of Kozluca), fought on 20 June (Old Style — June 9) 1774 near the village of Kozludzha (now Suvorovo, Bulgaria), was one of the final and decisive battles of the Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774).[5] The Russians managed to rout the Ottoman army, scoring a major victory.[5] This battle, alongside several others in this campaign, established the reputation of the Russian Lieutenant-General Alexander Suvorov as a brilliant commander of his time.[6][7] As a result of the council, however, the Russians did not undertake a further offensive beyond the Balkan Mountains deep into Ottoman territory due to the bad local roads and the lack of provisions, which were available only until 12 July. The commander-in-chief General-Feldmarshal Pyotr Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky was furious at the operational outcome and placed the responsibility for not moving the TO beyond the Balkan Mountains on Lieutenant-General Count Mikhail Kamensky, Suvorov's assistant at the battle of Kozludzha and the senior among the 6 generals (including Suvorov) who were at the council. Nevertheless, a peace treaty favorable to Russia would soon be signed—owing to the battle.[3]
changes Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca
| Battle of Kozludzha | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774 | |||||||||
Battle of Kozludzha by Johann Friedrich Anthing | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Ottoman Empire | Russian Empire | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Abdul-Rezak Pasha |
Alexander Suvorov Mikhail Kamensky | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 40,000[1][2] | 8,000[1][2][3] | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
|
3,000[4] 29 guns[3]107 standards[3] | 209[4] | ||||||||
The Ottoman forces were estimated at 40,000.[5][1][2] Russian numbers were much lower,[8] 8,000 men who participated in the battle.[1][2] All in all, Suvorov had about 19,500 men available. This was his corps (14,000), and part of Kamensky's forces (approximately 5,500 out of 11,000).[9] The Ottoman forces were demoralized due to previous defeats and had poor logistics (including a year of withheld back pay).[10]
Battle
The Russian army under Lieutenant-Generals[3] Alexander Suvorov and Mikhail Kamensky encountered the Ottoman forces of Abdürrezzak Pasha.[5][11] Although Abdürrezzak Pasha was a bureaucrat, he was one of the rare Ottoman statesmen who commanded a large military force.[12] After scouts reported to Suvorov, he immediately ordered the attack.[13] The Russian army, divided into four squares, attacked the Ottomans.[13] Ottoman cavalry charges were repulsed by the Russians,[14] while a Russian cavalry attack from the rear resulted in the capture of all of the Ottoman artillery.[13] Russian artillery fire is also said to have been highly devastating to the Ottoman forces.[15] Casualties were 3,000 for the Ottomans[4] and 209 for the Russians.[4][13] The Russians captured the Ottoman camp with its supplies, while the Ottomans abandoned Kozludzha[15] and retreated to Shumla/Shumen, where they were soon blockaded, suffering from further defeats and attrition.[8][11][13][15][16]
Aftermath
The Russian victory was one of the major reasons why a month later, on 21 July, the Ottomans were forced to sign the unfavorable Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca.[5][8][17]