Storming of Varna (1773)

1773 operation during the Russo-Turkish War

For other uses, see Siege of Varna.

Storming of Varna (1773)

Part of the Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774)

Map of the fortress of Varna
| Date| 10 November [O.S. 30 October] 1773

|

Location|

Varna, Ottoman Empire

43°12′40.950″N 27°54′39.888″E﻿ / ﻿43.21137500°N 27.91108000°E﻿ / 43.21137500; 27.91108000
Result|  Ottoman victory[1]
Belligerents
Ottoman Empire|  Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Osman Pasha
Ali Pasha|  Karl Ungern-Sternberg [ru]
Prince Anhalt-Bernburg
General Reisser
Strength

* 3,300
* 1,500 levends
* 1,200 garrison
* 600 marines

32 cannons|

* 9,000
* 6,000 infantry
* 3,000 cavalry

Dozens of cannons
Casualties and losses
Unknown|  211[2]–300[3][4] killed
700 wounded

10 cannons
100 ammunition wagons

class=notpageimage|

Location within Europe

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Storming of Varna (1773) (Bulgaria)

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* v
* t
* e

Russo-Turkish War
(1768–1774)

1769

* New Serbia
* Pashkivtsi
* Babshin
* Khotyn
* Şorapani
* Comana Monastery

1770

* Focşani
* 1st Brăila
* 1st Giurgiu
* Aspindza
* Nauplia
* Navarino
* Ryabaya
* Chios
* Orlov revolt
* Modon
* Chesma
* Larga
* Lemnos
* Kagul
* Bender
* Kiliia
* Akkerman
* 2nd Brăila
* Kastro
* Mudros
* 1st Poti

1771

* 2nd Giurgiu
* 3rd Giurgiu
* Ochakov
* Turno
* Vocareşti
* 4th Giurgiu
* Kinburn
* Giurgiu (battle)
* Bucharest

1772

* Beirut
* Patras

1773

* Licorești
* Tabanu
* Rusçuk
* Turtucaia
* 1st Karasu
* Silistra
* Kaynarca
* Balaclava
* Sujuk-Kale
* 1st Bodrum
* Kos
* Hirsovo
* 2nd Karasu
* Stanchio
* Varna

1774

* Chkheri
* 2nd Bodrum
* Kozludzha
* Kerch
* Crimea

The storming of Varna[a] was the storming of the Ottoman city of Varna on 10 November 1773 by a Russian force under the general command of Karl Karlovich Ungern-Sternberg [ru]. The conflict was part of the Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774), and resulted in the Ottomans repelling the attacks on the city.[5]

## Prelude

[edit]

After quarrelling with each other, Prince Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgorukov and Baron Karl Karlovich Ungern-Sternberg [ru] 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 [tr] 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.[6] He was accompanied by 9,000 men (of which 6,000 were infantry and 3,000 were cavalry).[4]

Prince Anhalt-Bernburg, c. 1778

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 General Reisser on the right. Arnaut 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).[7]

## 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.[8] 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.[3] 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 [ru]'s failure, the prince withdrew to Hırsova via Pazarcık. Ungern, on the other hand, retreated to Izmail after sailing through Balçık, Kavarna, and Mankalya.[9] Thus, the campaign of 1773 ended in favour of the Ottomans.[2]

Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgorukov, c. 1780s

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Turkish: Varna Baskını; Russian: Штурм Варны; Bulgarian: Щурм на Варна

## Citations

[edit]

1. ^ Somel, Selçuk A. [in Turkish] (2010). The A to Z of the Ottoman Empire. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. p. LV. ISBN 9780810875791.
2. ^ 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.
3. ^ a b c d Ungermann 1906, p. 225.
4. ^ a b c d e f 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.
5. ^ Sytin, Ivan (1911). Varna. Military Encyclopedia, Vol. 5. Saint Petersburg.
6. ^ Ungermann 1906, p. 223.
7. ^ Ungermann 1906, p. 224.
8. ^ Ungermann 1906, pp. 224–225.
9. ^ Ungermann 1906, p. 226.

## References

[edit]

* 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.

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