Battle of the Danube

Overview

The Battle of Slobozia was fought between Russia and the Ottoman Empire as a part of the Napoleonic Wars during the Rusçuk–Slobozia operation within the Russo-Turkish War of 1806–1812. The primary battle occurred on the left bank of the Danube River near the small village of Slobozia in Wallachia. Four miles to the southeast on the right bank of the Danube was the Ottoman fortress at Rusçuk. The Russian investment of the Ottoman forces at Slobozia, including the final battle, lasted approximately two and a half months, from 28 August to 14 November 1811, ending when Russian Commander Mikhail Kutuzov ultimately accepted the surrender of the Ottoman forces commanded by Ahmed Pasha.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of the Danube, fought as part of the Rusçuk–Slobozia operation during the Russo-Turkish War of 1806–1812, resulted in the surrender of the Ottoman forces under Ahmed Pasha to Russian commander Mikhail Kutuzov. The Russian force of 37,000 overcame an Ottoman army of 56,000, inflicting an estimated 22,000–24,000 Ottoman casualties over a siege and investment lasting approximately two and a half months on the left bank of the Danube near Slobozia in Wallachia. The destruction of so large an Ottoman force under these terms represented a decisive operational success for Russia in the closing phase of the war, one that materially weakened Ottoman capacity to continue the conflict. The outcome contributed to the conditions that brought the war to a negotiated end, freeing Russian forces to concentrate on the threat posed by Napoleon's impending invasion.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (3)