Battle of Kozludzha | |||||||
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Part of the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774 | |||||||
Battle of Kozludzha by Johann Friedrich Anthing | |||||||
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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 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 one of the brilliant commanders of his time.[6][7]
The Ottoman forces are 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 is 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]
The Russian army under Lieutenant-Generals[3] Alexander Suvorov and Mikhail Kamensky encountered the Ottoman forces of General Abdul-Rezak Pasha.[5][11] Abdul-Rezak Pasha was one of the most successful commanders of the Ottoman Empire at the time.[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, where they were soon blockaded, suffering from further defeats and attrition.[8][11][13][15][16]
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]