Siege of Varna

For a conflict in 1201, see Siege of Varna (1201).

Siege of Varna
Part of the Russo–Turkish War, 1828–1829
Painting by Alexander Sauerweid (1836)
Date July 13 – September 29, 1828 Location Varna, Ottoman Bulgaria 43°12′28.01″N 27°55′0.98″E Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire Imperial Russian Navy	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Nicholas I Pavel Suchtelen Pavel Ushakov Alexander Menshikov (WIA) Vasily Perovsky Mikhail Vorontsov Vasily Shenshin Yevgeny Golovin Karl von Bistram Eugen of Württemberg Aleksey Greig Faddey Bellingshausen	Izzet Mehmed Omer Vrioni
Strength
40,519 men, 170 cannons	Garrison: 12,000 Omer Vrioni: >20,000
class=notpageimage| Location within Bulgaria Siege of Varna (Black Sea)

The siege of Varna (July 13–September 29, 1828) took place during the Russo-Turkish War, 1828–1829.

History

Varna was held by the Ottoman army. An approach to Varna by Russian forces was first attempted on June 28, but the Russian advance guard under Adjutant General Count Pavel Suchtelen was met by significant Turkish forces, and the siege was postponed. On 6 July the detachment of General Pavel Ushakov arrived, which was to replace Suchtelen's detachment. Ushakov strengthened the position of encirclement and repelled a sortie and attack near the village of Gebeji on 8 July. Fearing exhaustion of the forces from sorties, Ushakov took his detachment to Dervent-Kioy, covering communications with Shumla and watching the road to Kavarna, where he remained until 19 July, when the detachment was reinforced by 2 brigades that arrived from Anapa.

By the end of July, the Black Sea Fleet under the command of Admiral Aleksey Greig approached Varna and delivered the landing forces. In mid-August the Guards Corps arrived at Varna, with Emperor Nicholas I. The siege was put under the command of Adjutant General Prince Menshikov, with total forces of 23,000 personnel and 170 artillery pieces against the 12,000 garrison of Varna. When Menshikov was wounded the siege was entrusted to General Field Marshal Count Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov, but before that, command was temporarily transferred to Major General Vasily Perovsky.

In an attempt to relieve the siege of Varna, Omer Vrioni brought an army of 20,000 but was successfully held off. At the battle of Kurtepe the Russians under Prince Eugen of Württemberg attacked but they were defeated and retreated. However the Turks did not follow up this victory and waited 11 days at the place. In the meantime Varna capitulated.

Eventually Varna was taken with 6,900 prisoners and 140 artillery pieces. The town was surrendered by Yusuf Pasha.

However, the Russians suffered big losses during the summer-autumn campaign and withdrew from Varna and the Danube to resume the campaign in the following spring. The Russians had lost 6,000 men in the siege from battles and disease.

References

• Kersnovsky, Anton, History of the Russian Army, Belgrade, 1933–1936, reprinted by Golos, 1992-1994 [1].
• Velichko, Konstantin I.; Novitsky, Vasily F.; Schwarz, Alexey V. von; Apushkin, Vladimir A.; Schoultz, Gustav K. von (1911). Военная энциклопедия [Military Encyclopedia] (in Russian). Vol. V: Бомбарда – Верещагин. Moscow: Типография Т-ва И. Д. Сытина. pp. 239–241. Retrieved 4 November 2023.