Battle of Plovdiv

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Battle of Plovdiv
Part of Russo-Turkish War, 1877-1878
Date January 17, 1878 Location Plovdiv, Bulgaria Result Decisive Russian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire	Ottoman Empire
Commanders
Joseph Gourko	Suleiman Pasha
Strength
12,000	6,000
Casualties and losses
1,300 killed and wounded	3,000 killed and 2,000 prisoned

Russo-Turkish War, 1877–1878 Kızıl-Tepe – Simnitza – Svistov – Nikopol – 1st Shipka Pass – 2nd Shipka Pass – Lovcha – 3rd Shipka Pass – Gorni-Dubnik – Kars – Pleven – Tashkessen – 4th Shipka Pass – Plovdiv

Following the crushing Russian victory at the last battle of Shipka Pass, Russian commander Joseph Vladimirovich Gourko began to move southeast towards Constantinople. Blocking the route was the Turkish fortress at Plovdiv under Suleiman Pasha. On January 17, 1878 the squadron of Russian dragoons lead by Captain Burago stormed the city. The defenses of Plovdiv were strong but superior Russian numbers overwhelmed the defenses and the Turks retreated almost to Constantinople. At this time foreign powers intervened and Russia agreed to the Treaty of San Stefano.

[edit] See also

• Battles of the Russo-Turkish War, 1877–78

[edit] Sources

• Compton's Home Library: Battles of the World CD-ROM