The history of Russia is mostly military history. The confrontation of Russia and Turkey took place in more than ten wars. In most of them, the then-existing Russian Empire emerged victorious. The truly heroic page of the military pastOur homeland was the battle for the fortress of Ochakov. The war of Russia and Turkey of 1787-1791 strengthened the position of the Russians on the Black Sea and the Crimean Peninsula. The fall of the fortress was of great importance for the victory in the whole war.
Causes of the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791
Turkey sought to take revenge from Russia for the FirstTurkish war and return the lost territory of the Ottoman Empire. The beginning of the war was due to its desire to prevent the growing influence of the Russian Empire on the territory of the Transcaucasus and to return the lands of Crimea. Relying on diplomatic relations with Austria, Russia planned to increase ownership in the Caucasus and establish itself in the Northern Black Sea region. In August 1787, the Turkish government put forward an ultimatum to Russia, demanding the transfer of Crimea, recognition of the Turkish Sultan of Georgia as a vassal, and permission to inspect Russian merchant ships passing through the straits. In addition, the goal was also to strengthen the Black Sea coast and the Crimean Khanate. The Russian Empire refused to comply with the terms of the ultimatum, and Turkey declared war.
By launching hostilities, Turkey violated the terms of the Kucuk-Kaynardzhiy Treaty. The Russian ambassador Yakov Bulgakov, whom they imprisoned in the seven-tower castle, was taken prisoner by the Turks.
Military operations took place in the Crimea and in the North Caucasus. The capture of the fortress of Ochakov was a key battle in the war of the Russian Empire and Turkey of 1787-1792.
The ratio of military forces
The Ekaterinoslav and Ukrainian armies of the Russian Empire fought against Turkey, with a population of 80,000 and 40,000, respectively. Turkish fortress Ochakov in the summer of 1788 was protected by a garrison numbering from 15 to20 thousand military. The fortress was surrounded by a rampart and moat and protected by 350 guns. The Russian Black Sea Fleet arrived in the harbor of Ochakovo due to the fact that there were about 100 combat units of the Turkish fleet here.
On the approaches to Ochakov
Taking the fortress Ochakov became главной целью российской императорской армии after liberation from the Turkish fleet of the Dnieper-Bug estuary and victory on the Kinburn Spit. Ochakov fortress was located within the borders of the Turkish territory of the Black Sea near the confluence of the Bug River. The fighting for Ochakov began at sea.
About 50 thousandsoldiers of the Yekaterinoslav Army began their advance towards Ochakov in May 1788. This army under the command of G. A. Potemkin approached Ochakov. The commander decided on a long siege of the fortress.
Siege of the Turkish Fortress
27 июля 1788 года большой отряд турок предпринял outing from the fortress. The units of the Russian army under the command of A.V. Suvorov engaged in a tough battle with the enemy. To help the detachment of the Turks came reinforcements. According to A.V. Suvorov’s calculations, at that moment it was necessary to strike from the side of the opened flank and thus take the fortress. However, G. A. Potemkin did not show decisive action, so the favorable moment for seizing the Turkish fortress Ochakov was missed.
Less than a month later, in August, the Turksmade a repeated sortie with an attempt to destroy the Russian battery, which was commanded by M. I. Golenitsev-Kutuzov. Through short runs and shelters in the beams and ditches, the Turks reached the established guns, which is why a hard battle began. As a result of the undertaken counterattack, the rangers managed to throw the Turkish Janissaries back to the walls of the fortress. They wanted to enter Ochakov on their shoulders. However, at that moment M. I. Kutuzov was seriously injured. The bullet struck him in the left cheek and went out through the back of his head when the commander was holding a white scarf to give troops a conventional signal. This was the second most severe wound of Michael Illarionovich, from which he almost died.
The summer of 1788 did not bring the Russian armyvictories, commanders and troops were in an anxious wait, which also did not give any tangible results. Meanwhile, the fortification plans of the city have already been bought from the French engineers. Prince Potemkin still did not dare to launch an assault on the fortress. He was stopped by Turkish artillery, which is located on a small island Berezan south of Ochakov, near the entrance to the estuary. The possibility of a successful assault was from the sea, but the artillery fire reached Kinburn and made it impossible to start the assault on Ochakov. Repeatedly the Russian sailors tried to take "this impregnable fortecia", but the fortress guards kept a keen eye on the actions of the Russians and promptly raised the alarm, the opponents put up fierce resistance with fire weapons.
Protracted standoff
Autumn was coming, Prince Potemkin continuedadhere to the tactics of waiting, the army has long been in the trenches in the rain and cold. The Russian army suffered huge losses not only because of the battles, but also because of the shortage of food, diseases that began because of the frosts, and famine. Rumyantsev sarcastically called the seat under the Ochakov stupid. Admiral Nassou-Siegen suggested in the summer that the fortress could be conquered in April.
From summer to autumn 1788 near its wallsincredible efforts defenders of Ochakov restrain the onslaught of the Russian army under the command of G. A. Potemkin. The garrison of the fortress was very exhausted, but did not give up its positions.
Potemkin G. A.he did not seek to collude with the Cossacks, recalling the rebel Pugachev, but there was no other way out. "Faithful Cossacks", former Cossacks were famous for their ability to decide the outcome of any battle in their favor. Ochakov fortress could be taken only with their participation. But the Cossacks for a long time could not start the operation. Some of them went to Hajibey (Odessa), destroying equipment and food supplies destined for Ochakov. Prince G. Potemkin decided that now the exhausted defenders of the fortress would not last long. However, the garrison did not give up over the next month. The difficult and tense situation finally led the commander to proceed to an active offensive.
Assault on the Ochakov Fortress
Within six months, Russian troops unsuccessfullytried to take the Turkish fortress, after which it was decided to follow the plan of A. V. Suvorov and take Ochakov by storm. The coming cold and frost influenced the withdrawal of the Turkish fleet from under Ochakov into the sea. Given the difficult situation of the Russian forces, G. A. Potemkin decided to start taking the fortress of Ochakov. date The battle took place on December 6, 1788.
Условия сильной метили и крепкого мороза не prevented the six columns of the Russian army from simultaneously launching the assault on Ochakov from two sides — the western and the eastern. The earthworks between the castle of Gassan-pasha and Ochakov were captured by the first major general Palen. After that, he sent Colonel F. Meknob to Gassan Pasha’s castle, and along the trench Colonel Platov. The troops successfully occupied the trench, which allowed F. Meknobu to enter the castle, and almost three hundred Turks remaining in it laid down their arms. The central earthworks were attacked by a third column, its commander - Major General Volkonsky - died, after which Colonel Yurgenets took command and reached the walls of the fortress. Lieutenant-General Prince Dolgorukov with the fourth column occupied the Turkish fortifications and went out to the gates of the fortress. Through the earthworks fortifications, the fifth and sixth columns approached the bastions of Ochakov. The sixth column of Lieutenant Colonel Zubin proceeded to the south side of the fortress, dragging guns across the ice. This allowed the troops to approach the bastions and gates of the Turkish fortress. Under the cover of heavy fire from artillery guns, the grenadiers overcame an impregnable wall and entered the fortress.
Military losses of Russia and Turkey
According to various sources, within one to two hourscontinued bloody, brutal fight. Ochakov was taken. According to some reports, the loss of the Russian army amounted to about 5 thousand people. According to researchers, it was Ochakov’s long siege that led to the death of a large number of soldiers in the Russian army. 180 Turkish banners and 310 guns became trophies. About 4 thousand Turkish soldiers were captured in Russian. Historians believe that the rest of the Turkish garrison and a significant part of the urban population were destroyed during the assault. The news of the assault on Ochakov turned into shock for Sultan Abdul-Hamid I, as a result of which he died of a heart attack.
The fall of Ochakov: meaning
The capture of the fortress of Ochakov opened the way for Russiaaccess to the Danube and helped establish control over the Dnieper estuary, shallow bay, which had strategic importance. Ochakov was annexed to the Russian Empire in 1791, when the opposing sides signed the Yassky peace treaty. These military victories gave Russia the right to establish itself and take up its position in the Dnieper estuary. The security of Kherson and Crimea from Turkey was finally ensured.
Awards and honors for the winners
За победу над Очаковым императрица Екатерина The second was granted to G. A. Potemkin by the field marshal's imperative wand decorated with laurels and diamonds. AV Suvorov was presented with a diamond feather for a hat worth 4,450 rubles. M.I. Kutuzov, who also distinguished himself in the battles of the Russian-Turkish war, was awarded the orders of St. Anne, I degree and St. Vladimir, II degree. To the officers of the Russian army who showed outstanding ability in the course of the battles of Ochakovo, the empress bestowed the Order of St. Vladimir and St. George of the fourth degree. The rest were awarded with gold signs intended to be worn on a tape in a buttonhole with black and yellow stripes. Signs had the form of a cross with rounded ends, they were something between award medals and orders. The lower ranks for the victory over the Turkish fortress received silver medals "For Bravery".
Significant victories of 1788
The capture of the fortress of Ochakov was not the only onethe successful battle of the Russian army in the war of Russia and Turkey of 1787-1791. A year earlier, the Kinburn battle took place. The battles of 1788 were also won at Khotyn and in Fidonisi. In the summer and autumn of 1789, the Russian army won a victory at Focsani and at Rymnik, in 1790 - at the Kerch Strait. The storming of another fortress, Ishmael, also in 1790, became a significant event in the history of the Russian-Turkish war. The last battle in the military confrontation of the two great empires was the battle of Kaliakria on July 31, 1791.
The participation of Austria in the battles of 1787-1791
During the Russian-Turkish war in 1788, the Austro-Turkish war began, которая была обусловлена договорными obligations of Austria and Russia in 1781. With the entry into the war, Austria failed, and only with the first victories of the Russian imperial army, in the autumn of 1789 did Austrian troops take Bucharest, Belgrade and Craiova. In Sistovo (Bulgaria) in August 1791, Austria and Turkey signed a separate peace treaty. Under the influence of Prussia and England, who were interested in weakening the Russian Empire, Austria withdrew from the war and returned almost all of the occupied territories to Turkey.
The outcome of the war
Турция вновь потерпела поражение в войне 1787-1791 years. She did not have strong allies who were able to ensure the confrontation of Russia and Austria. In addition, Turkey was unable to fully restore military forces and combat effectiveness after the First Turkish War. In the battles, the Turks did not adhere to a certain strategy and tried to crush the enemy with numbers, and not with competent tactics of combat. Not a single victory in the sea or on land could not be won during the war years. Turkey not only lost territory, but was also obliged to pay a contribution of 7 million rubles to Russia.
The memory of descendants of the victorious battle
The Russian poet G. R. Derzhavin wrote an ode on the occasion of the victorious capture of Ochakov. A year after the battle, A. I. Bukharsky dedicated his work to Empress Catherine II "... To the capture of Ochakov."
В июле 1972 года в здании бывшей турецкой мечети in Ochakov was opened Military History Museum. A. V. Suvorov. The main attraction of the museum was the diorama “Storming the fortress of Ochakov by Russian troops in 1788”, which was written by the artist M. I. Samsonov in 1971.
