Great Catherine. Born to rule Sorotokina Nina Matveevna
Second Turkish War (1787–1791)
Back in 1780, Elizabeth changed the course of foreign policy. Previously, Prussia was Russia's ally, but now it began to focus on Austria. Each of these states laid claim to new lands and did not want the strengthening of allies, as well as opponents. These are the laws of diplomacy.
In 1779, Catherine's second grandson, Konstantin, was born. I repeat, he had a Greek nurse, even for children’s games they selected Greek boys for him - play, and at the same time learn the language. According to Catherine’s plan, Constantine was supposed to finish the work of Peter the Great - to establish dominance in the Black Sea, and also to implement the plans of the Great Grandmother - to free Christians suffering from the oppression of the Turks. True, the grandmother will also liberate, and she will create a new state of Dacia on the liberated lands, which will include Moldova, Volachia and Bessarabia. And then, you see, Constantinople will be taken, and a new sovereign will be placed on the throne - Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich. The Turks have owned Constantinople for almost 350 years, they own it illegally, and it’s time to stop this outrage. These plans were quite serious. It was not for nothing that during a trip with Catherine in 1787, the Austrian Emperor Joseph II opened his mouth in amazement when he saw the inscription above an arch somewhere in the Crimea: “Forward to Byzantium.”
The intrigue for the implementation of this plan began to emerge back in 1781, when Catherine entered into a secret agreement with Joseph II. Bezborodko, it was at this time that his brilliant career began, wrote memos, Potemkin threw up new ideas. And now two emperors, Catherine and Joseph, are sharing the skin of an unkilled bear. The Austrian emperor demanded a lot of lands, he wanted to “round off his empire,” and for this Belgrade, Khotin, solid lands belonging to Venice, etc. were not enough for him, he also wanted to pinch off a mighty piece from Dacia, which existed only on paper. Against this background, Catherine looked almost disinterested; she only laid claim to Ochakov and one or two islands in the Greek archipelago for the security of our trade, but she considered the whole and indivisible Dacia to be her main task.
In general, until an agreement was reached, the offended Joseph wrote to Catherine that, perhaps, it was too early to fight with Turkey, while everything was needed controversial issues remove peacefully. Catherine has not yet found an ally in this huge enterprise and decided to complete the work she had already begun - to resolve the issue with Crimea. As already mentioned, Crimea became a province of Russia. Because of this, the 2nd war with the Turks began.
The Ottoman Empire did not like Russia’s demonstration of its strength - we are talking about the empress’s trip to the Novorossiysk region. All of Europe was talking about this. In Istanbul, everything started according to a pre-established pattern. The Russian envoy Bulgakov was invited to the Divan for a meeting. The first time we just talked, and the second time we put forward demands: return Crimea to Turkey and abandon the terms of the Kyuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace.
The Turks did not wait for a response from Russia to their request, and on August 13, 1787, the Porte declared war on Russia. Bulgakov was sent as a prisoner to the Seven Tower Castle and immediately the Turkish fleet stationed at Ochakov attacked our fortress of Kinburg. A.V. arrived at the fortress. Suvorov. The next day, the Turks resumed their artillery bombardment, after which they landed 5,000 selected Janissaries ashore. Suvorov led his squad into battle. He managed to defeat the Janissaries; few of the attackers reached the ships. Suvorov was wounded, but did not leave the battlefield.
The Empress was very nervous, Potemkin remained in Novorossiya, she believed that she had no one to consult with. On September 12, 1787, she signed the War Manifesto. Khrapovitsky in his diary indicated the empress’s mood that day with a short word: “They cried.”
Joseph II, after some hesitation, joined Russia. The Greek project had not yet disappeared from the mind of the Austrian emperor, and he, together with Catherine, hoped for the division of Turkey. Neither Russia nor Turkey were ready for war, so they fought little for the first year and prepared more for future battles. Potemkin was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian army; military general Rumyantsev was already playing a supporting role in the war.
D.F. Maslovsky, a recognized authority in matters of military strategy, wrote about Potemkin: “Commanding the troops of the entire southern border area, the military settlements he created, commanding the revived region by him, managing the irregular troops and, finally, managing the affairs of the Military Collegium for almost 14 years, Potemkin is the commander-in-chief by right, certainly irreplaceable under the circumstances of that time and fully responsible before history for the consequences of his special military and administrative activities in the period from the end of the 1st to the beginning of the 2nd Turkish War.” That’s how it is, but in the initial period of hostilities our affairs went from bad to worse. N.I. Pavlovsky is not a military strategist, he is a brilliant historian, but he is very accurate in his assessment: “It seems that Potemkin Tauride was least famous as a commander... If he had not been surrounded by brilliant commanders, among whom A.S. Suvorov and P.A. Rumyantsev, if the Prince of Tauride had not been supported and inspired by the Empress when he was at a loss, then the course of military operations could have taken a completely different turn.”
After Suvorov's victory, Kinburn had setbacks. Potemkin had great hopes for the Russian fleet. He sent him to reconnaissance and search for Turkish ships, but there was a storm that greatly damaged our ships. One frigate went missing, another with its masts torn off was carried to the Turkish borders and captured by the enemy. The remaining ships with torn sails barely returned to Sevastopol Bay.
Whether the failure of the first expedition or chronic illnesses was to blame, Potemkin fell into a terrible depression. In his letters, he complained to Catherine that “the spasms were tormenting,” that he was “greatly weak,” immediately reported that there was practically no fleet, and added philosophically: “God beats, not the Turks.” The empress’s answer: “I pray to God that he gives you strength and health and calms down hypochondria. Damn defensive state. I don't love him. Try to quickly turn it into an offensive one: then it will be easier for you and all of us.” Potemkin did not heed the advice, he saw everything in a black light and even proposed leaving the Crimean peninsula, that is, withdrawing our troops from there “to concentrate forces.”
This is something Catherine could no longer accept; in her letters she is firm and self-confident: “... you are impatient, like a five-year-old child, while the affairs entrusted to you at this time require unshakable patience.” And what should we do with the Sevastopol fleet? – the empress is surprised. “I ask you to take heart and think that a cheerful spirit can overcome failure.” But the “cheerful spirit” had clearly left Potemkin; sometimes there was no news from him for weeks. Then he gathered his courage for the next message: “I want to end my life in solitude and obscurity, which, I think, will not last.” The prince asked for resignation and transfer of powers to Rumyantsev. But Rumyantsev’s army in Bessarabia was also in a deplorable state. What could Catherine do? She did not give Potemkin’s resignation and continued her cheerful exhortations: “...You can’t do anything worse than deprive me and the empire by deposing your merits as a self-reliant, capable, loyal, and, at the same time, best friend.”
I finally persuaded Potemkin, and then the illness subsided somewhat. The prince decided to take possession of Ochakov, and a long, grueling siege began. Potemkin was cautious, delayed the matter, waited especially favorable conditions. He himself climbed into the thick of it and more than once put his life in danger. But for the commander-in-chief, personal courage is not at all the main thing. Potemkin appeared near Ochakov in September 1788. Catherine expected that the fortress would be taken by November, but the end of the siege was not in sight.
Echoes of the Greek project prevented the empress from sleeping. What did you think? Now is the time to raise Orthodox world Mediterranean against Turkey, it didn’t work out before, but it will work out now. We just need to help them repeat the victory of the Russian fleet in the Battle of Chesme. For this, the smallest thing was needed - to send the Baltic fleet to the Mediterranean Sea, but this fantastic idea was not allowed to come true. The Baltic Fleet was needed directly on the spot; Sweden declared war on Russia.
Now Russia was fighting a war on two fronts. In December 1788, Ochakov was taken with very heavy losses. The victory, by all accounts, was secured by Suvorov, but he was wounded in the battle and did not participate in the final assault. All the glory went to Potemkin. Catherine was delighted. In honor of the victory at Ochakov, a medal was knocked out, she presented Potemkin with a field marshal's baton studded with diamonds, and awarded him the Order of St. George, 1st degree, there were also monetary gifts - you can’t count them all. Catherine expected that her “heart friend” would immediately rush to St. Petersburg, but Potemkin did not go to the capital, but headed to Iasi, then to Bendery. There the prince arranged a luxurious life for himself. “Winter quarters” were also prepared for the army.
To the surprise of the Empress, Potemkin again asked for his resignation, citing the fact that “it was time to calm the spirit.” He was not afraid of work - “vigilance on several thousand miles of borders”, he was not afraid of the enemy, but was wary of his internal enemies. “Villains whom I despise, but I fear their intentions; This gang of ungrateful people, not thinking about anything other than their own benefits and peace, armed with deceit, are doing dirty tricks on me with images. There is no slander that they would level against me.” Potemkin is clearly not self-critical. Describe the “villain” one day of Prince Tauride in Iasi or Bendery, that’s slander for you. The Empress did not allow Potemkin to resign this time either.
The war with Sweden ended in Russian victory. On the southern front they fought as usual. Second Turkish war is firmly connected with the name of the great commander A.V. Suvorov (1729–1800). He began serving as a corporal in the Seven Years' War and rose to the rank of generalissimo. Suvorov is a brilliant strategist and author of works on military theory: “Regimental Institutions” and “The Science of Victory.” Suvorov had his own tactics of warfare - offensive, and his own view on the education of soldiers. Suvorov was not only ahead of his time, many of his military commandments have survived to this day. In his entire life, Suvorov did not lose a single battle. At court he was a harmful, caustic person, but Catherine II forgave him for any eccentricities.
Even before the conclusion of peace with the Swedes in September 1789, Suvorov won a victory at Rymnik. Austrian troops also took part in the battle, but the entire battle plan was developed by Suvorov. Relations between Potemkin and Suvorov can generally be called good. Anything can happen at the front, especially given the eccentricity of the characters of these two heroes, but Potemkin greatly appreciated the military and human qualities of our great commander. It was he who ensured that the Empress added Rymninsky to Suvorov’s surname and granted him the title of count. Catherine wrote to Potemkin: “Although a whole cartload of diamonds has already been laid on Count Suvorov, I am sending the cavalry of Yegor the Grand Cross at your request: he is worthy of it.”
In the same 1789, Potemkin took Ankerman and Bendery without a fight. “There is no kindness, my friend, that I would not like to say to you,” writes Ekaterina. “You are charming for taking Bendery without losing one person.” During the war, the tone of the empress's letters to Potemkin was very warm, and an echo of previous love relationship. In all matters relating to military operations, Catherine always took Potemkin’s side. She believed him boundlessly, fulfilling not only his wishes, but also his whims. She did not give him his resignation because the prince was really ill, and besides, the empress knew better than Potemkin himself what he needed. Obeying his demand, she finally agreed to unite the Ukrainian army, commanded by Rumyantsev, with Potemkin’s Yekaterinoslav army, placing the latter at the head of the combined forces. Rumyantsev found himself out of work. One can imagine the resentment and indignation of the honored commander, who could give a competent assessment of our failures in the Turkish war. Of course, he blamed Potemkin for everything, often unfairly, but the prince did not want to hear any criticism. He openly called it slander and sincerely believed in it himself. How often people do not see themselves from the outside and cannot evaluate themselves fairly and impartially. What could Rumyantsev-Zadunaiskogm do? He wrote letters of complaint to the Empress, asking for his resignation, and Catherine brushed him off like a bothersome fly.
And Potemkin led a carefree and cheerful life in Bendery. Who stuck this concept on him - a harem? Apparently, life itself. Here is the story of the young Richelieu, later named Emmanuel Osipovich. It's about about Duke Richelieu, the founder of Odessa, who left France even before Great Revolution, wanting to serve in the Russian troops. To take part in the assault on Izmail in 1790, Richelieu had to obtain Potemkin's permission. The headquarters was then in Bendery. Potemkin received Richelieu in a huge room, flooded with candlelight. It was full of officers, and on the sofa under a huge canopy sat six beautiful ladies. Nearby, of course, is Potemkin in a dressing gown.
And here is a description of the same hall in Bendery by Prince Langeron: “During my absence, the prince ordered to destroy one of the halls of the house where he lived, and built a kiosk in that place where the wealth of two parts of the world was squandered in order to seduce the beauty whom he wanted to conquer . Gold and silver sparkled everywhere you looked. On a sofa upholstered in pink fabric with silver, framed with silver fringe and decorated with ribbons and flowers, the prince sat in an elegant home toilet next to the object of his worship, among several women who seemed even more beautiful because of their attire. And in front of him perfume was smoking in golden incense burners. The middle of the room was occupied by dinner, served on golden dishes.” But let’s leave this topic; we can talk endlessly about Potemkin’s insane luxury and his irrepressible love for the fairer sex.
After the capture of Bendery, the path to Constantinople was open, but Catherine decided it was time to make peace. Prussia threatened Russia with war; loyal ally Joseph II was ill (he died on February 9, 1790). “Try, my friend, to make a useful peace with the Turks,” the Empress writes to Potemkin, “then many troubles will disappear, and let us be respectful: after your current company we can expect.”
In February 1791, Potemkin went to St. Petersburg. This was his last visit to the capital. He no longer had the strength to fight, prove, or intrigue. He was ill and spoke seriously about the monastery. The last broad gesture, a generous gift to Catherine, was the April ball he organized in the newly built Tauride Palace. Everything that his exotic fantasy, love of luxury and ostentation could inspire in the prince, was put into action to organize this holiday. The residents of St. Petersburg could not forget about him for many years and told each other the details of this ball. During the feast, Potemkin himself stood behind the empress’s chair and served her, emphasizing that he was the empress’s servant forever, but this was more like a wake for the past.
On July 24, 1791, Potemkin went to the active army. On the way he felt very bad and had difficulty getting to Iasi. Doctors called his illness intermittent fever. There was a high temperature, a complete loss of strength, sometimes the patient lost consciousness and became delirious. He ordered to be taken to the city of Nikolaev, he considered it a “healthy place.” Potemkin was transferred to a “bed” stroller. They drove slowly, but the very next day the prince suddenly ordered him to be taken out into the air, “so that they wouldn’t let him end his life in the carriage.” They carried him out and laid him on the ground. It was here in the steppe that Potemkin died. This happened on October 5, 1791. The courier brought the sad news to the palace only on October 12. The Empress became so ill that doctors were forced to perform bloodletting.
The year 1790 was marked by the victory of Admiral Ushakov at sea and the capture of the Izmail fortress. The siege of Izmail began in September. The fortress was superbly protected by artillery, and the garrison was huge - about 35 thousand people. On December 10, the Izmail fortress was taken by Russian troops.
On December 29, 1791, peace was concluded with the Turks in Iasi (two and a half months after the death of Potemkin). The Russian side was represented by Bezborodko. The Kyuchuk-Kainardzhi peace was confirmed, the annexation of Crimea was recognized, Russia acquired the territory between the Bug and the Dnieper, where the wonderful city of Odessa was eventually built.
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The first Russian-Turkish war took place in 1768-1774. Both sides of the conflict did not solve their problems in that war, so it was clear to everyone that a new war between Russia and Turkey was inevitable.
Russian-Turkish War 1787-1791 began in 1787. The reason for the war was the following events in Crimea. In Crimea, shortly before the start of the war, a military coup took place, as a result of which the Crimean Khanate began to submit to the protege of Turkey. Russia was not happy with this plot, and as a result, in 1783, Catherine 2 issued a manifesto, according to which Russia did not recognize the Crimean Khanate and announced the inclusion of all its lands into Russia. At the beginning of 1787, the Russian Empress, accompanied by the Emperor of Austria, made a trip to Crimea, thereby making it clear that from now on Crimea was the territory of the Russian Empire.
Of course, such events could not leave Turkey indifferent. The Ottoman Empire issued an ultimatum to Russia, which demanded that Russia give Crimea to Turkey. The Russians refused, and as a result, war began in August 1787.
This time, the Russian Empire knew about a possible war and prepared well for it. As a result, the Turks did not have any advantage; the Russians took advantage from the first months of the war.
In the fall of 1787, the Turkish army landed in Crimea. They expected to capture the Kinburn fortress, which was under the protection of the Russian army, commanded by A.V. Suvorov. The Russians completely destroyed the Turkish army.
In 1788, the Russian commander Potemkin G.A. made a trip to the Ochakov fortress, which, after short resistance, was taken by Russian troops.
In the summer of 1789, perhaps the key event of the war happened. In the battle that took place between settlements Focsani and Rymnik, General Suvorov defeated the superior forces of the Turkish army. Russian-Turkish War 1787-1791 acquired a turning point, which ended with the siege of Ishmael. Ishmael was considered an impenetrable fortress that no one had yet managed to conquer. The garrison was protected by a Turkish army of 35 thousand people. Suvorov, who was tasked with capturing Izmail, demanded that the Turks surrender the fortress to him, to which the Turks replied that the sky would sooner fall to earth than anyone could take Izmail. Suvorov began massive artillery preparations for the offensive. The attack on Izmail itself began on December 11, 1790. The battle continued for ten hours. The impregnable Ishmael fell. What Suvorov did under the walls of Izmail will forever go down in history. world history. There has never been such a glorious and such unconditional victory. The Turks lost almost their entire garrison. Twenty-six thousand Turks were killed. The losses of the Russian army amounted to only two thousand people! It should be noted that during the assault on Izmail, one of the directions was commanded by Suvorov’s student, General Kutuzov.
Russian-Turkish War 1787-1791 continued in the Balkans. In 1791, the Turks were again defeated there, which Turkey could not survive and again asked for peace. In 1791, the Yassy Peace Treaty was signed, according to the results of which Turkey recognized Crimea as Russia, and the Dniester River became the border between the two Empires.
Russia's victory in this war was extremely important for our state, since for the first time Russia received direct access to the Black Sea.
Throughout its existence, Russia has taken part in almost a hundred military operations. Each war and opponents were not easy for our country. Most of all, ours entered into the fight with Turkey, which was first called the Ottoman Empire.
Total: between these countries. Based on the facts, I would also like to note that the “rest” between wars was on average 19 years. Probably the bloodiest of them can be considered the battles of 1853-56, as it is otherwise called Crimean. Read more about it. But this does not confirm that others were easy and simple.
The Russian-Turkish War of 1787-1791 played an important role in history. This is exactly what today’s article will be about and will examine the main events that occurred during these years. Brief outline of the article:
Warring parties
As many people think, the participants are, naturally, Russia and the Ottoman Empire. But each side had allies. And this played a big role, since if there were no allies, it would probably have been impossible to name the winner of the battles.
In the year the war began, Russia signed an alliance with Austria. Also on the Russian side were Germans and Serbian rebels. Russia at that time was led by Catherine the Great. Among the commanders of the army were people such as A.V. Suvorov, G.A. Potemkin, P.A. Rumyantsev, N.S. Mordvinov, F.F. Ushakov and others. From Austria, they were led by A. Khadik and E. G. Loudon. The kings of Germany at that time were Joseph II and Leopold II.
As for the Ottoman Empire, they had no obvious allies, but they received support from Great Britain, Prussia and France. Also on the side of the Turks were soldiers of the Budzhak Horde and North Caucasian highlanders. Commanders of the Ottoman Empire: Abdul-Hamid the First, Selim the Third and others. The Budjak horde was led by Shahbaz and Bakht Giray. The head of the mountaineers was Sheikh Mansur.
Reasons
There were many reasons for the Turks to start the war, although only 13 years had passed since the last hostilities with Russia. Maybe if the Turks did not have allies from the West, they would hardly have started a war. But it was support from the West that forced the Ottoman Empire to start this. It will probably be easier to show everything in a table.
Parties and Participants
Territorial disputes
- England, Prussia, France nthey didn’t want expansion of Russian territory
- Türkiye x return calving lost territories
- Austria, Russia nThey didn’t want to return the territories, they supported their ally (Austria)
Before the start of the war, Turkey gave Russia an ultimatum: either give up the lost territories in Crimea and Georgia and allow inspection of ships passing through the Bosphorus, or war. Russia, of course, did not agree. And it was already clear that there would be war. Türkiye declared war on Russia on August 23, 1787. Austria entered the war in January 1788.
The state of the warring countries before the war
Before the battles began, the Ottoman Empire had approximately 280,000 soldiers. As for Russia - 100,000, Austria - approximately 135,000 soldiers.
As we see, the Ottoman Empire had more soldiers, but this, as we now know, did not in any way affect the course of hostilities.
First battle
The first battle took place a week after the declaration of war. It is called the Battle of Kinburn. Turkish troops attacked two Russian ships stationed at a port near Kinburn. But in the fall, the Turks were unable to do anything, since Kinburn was defended by about 4 thousand Russian soldiers under the leadership of Suvorov. On October 12, Russia celebrated its victory in the Battle of Kinburn.
Battles in 1788
Siege of Khotin. In the spring, Russia formed two armies: under the leadership of Potemkin (about 80 thousand soldiers), and under the leadership of Rumyantsev (about 35-40 thousand people). The siege took place in May-September 1788. Turkish troops wanted to take Khotyn, but Russian-Austrian soldiers did not allow them to do so. Result: victory for Russia and Austria.
Siege of Ochakov. At the end of May of the same year, about 40 thousand Russian soldiers moved towards Ochakov. On June 7, Türkiye attacked the Russian side with 60 ships. But it failed. After 10 days, an attack was organized again, but here the Turks suffered a complete defeat.
Result: victory of the Russian army.
Battle of Fidonisi. July 14 Russian army under the command of Voinovich, she began to “finish off” the remaining Turkish soldiers who had fled from Ochakov. Result: victory of the Russian side without a single loss (only 22 wounded soldiers).
Battles in 1789-91
1789 military operations continued. It was probably in the summer of this year that the key battle took place. A battle took place between the settlements of Focsani and Ramnic. The Russian side was led by Suvorov.
1790 began very unsuccessfully for Austria: first the Prince of Coburg and his soldiers were defeated, and in February Emperor Joseph II died. The new Emperor Leopold wanted peace negotiations, but Catherine rejected his offer.
As for Russia, in 1790 the army inflicted several defeats on the Turks. The most significant event- capture of Izmail by Suvorov. Türkiye did not want to give up the city of Ishmael, “even if the sky falls.” This is exactly how the commanders-in-chief of the Turkish army responded to Suvorov. Well, perhaps the outcome is already clear: Russia won an unconditional victory. Also interesting is the fact that during the storming of the city, one of the commanders was Kutuzov.
In 1791 The army of the Ottoman Empire was almost completely defeated. Apart from peace negotiations, the Turks had no choice, and they were forced to make peace.
Results
Peace between the Ottoman Empire and Russia was concluded on December 29, 1791 in Iasi. Now Crimea, Ochakov, and Taman were considered Russia in the maps. After the battles with the Turks, Russia became even more “strong”. It especially consolidated its position in the Black Sea. As for Turkey, their financial affairs were in disarray.
Holy Roman Empire Holy Roman Empire
Ottoman Empire
Russo-Turkish War(1787-1791) - a war between the Russian Empire and the Holy Roman Empire, on the one hand, and the Ottoman Empire, on the other. The Illustrious Porte planned in this war to regain the lands that had gone to Russian Empire during the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774, as well as Crimea annexed to the Russian Empire in 1783. The war ended with the victory of the Russian Empire and the conclusion of the Peace of Jassy. In pre-revolutionary historiography, this war was called Potemkin: in honor of the commander-in-chief of the Russian troops.
Encyclopedic YouTube
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✪ Russian-Turkish War (1787 - 1791)
✪ Russian-Turkish war (1787-1791)
✪ Foreign policy under Catherine II.
✪ Russian-Turkish War 1787-1791.
✪ Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878 (narrated by historian Oleg Alpeev)
Subtitles
Background
End of the Crimean Khanate
Protectorate of Eastern Georgia
1788 Campaign
Siege of Khotyn
Naval siege of Ochakov
Main article: Naval siege of Ochakov *
Assault on Ochakov
Meanwhile, Potemkin moved forward extremely slowly and only around August 20 approached Bendery, where he attracted a significant part of the Russian troops located in Moldova.
Then the vizier again went on the offensive, thinking to take advantage of the weakening of Russian forces in the principality. Having gathered up to 100 thousand troops, at the end of August he crossed the Danube and moved to the Rymnik River, but here on September 11 he suffered a complete defeat from the troops of Suvorov and the Prince of Coburg. Earlier, on September 7, another Turkish detachment was defeated on the Salcha River by Prince Repnin. The Rymnik victory was so decisive that the allies could cross the Danube without hindrance; but Potemkin, satisfied with it, continued to stand at Bendery and only ordered Gudovich to take possession of the fortifications of Khadzhibey and Akkerman. When this was accomplished, Bendery finally surrendered on November 3, ending the campaign.
On the part of the Austrians, the main army did nothing during the summer and only on September 1 crossed the Danube and besieged Belgrade, which
Russian-Turkish war
Russian-Turkish War 1787 - 1791 was unleashed by the Ottoman Empire, which imposed an ultimatum with a number of absolutely impossible demands. By that time, an alliance had been concluded between Russia and Austria.
The first successful military operations of the Turkish army against the Austrian troops soon gave way to heavy defeats inflicted by Russian troops under the command of Field Marshals Potemkin and Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky. At sea, during the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1792, despite the accrued superiority, the Turkish fleet also suffered defeats from rear admirals Ushakov, Voinovich, Mordvinov. The result of this war was the Peace of Yassy concluded in 1791, according to which Ochakov and Crimea were ceded to Russia.
Incited by England and Prussia, hostile to Russia, the Sultan of the Ottoman Porte in the summer of 1787 demanded from Russia the return of Crimea to Turkish rule and the general annulment of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace. The Turkish government was made clear that the lands of the Northern Black Sea region returned to Russia and, in particular, Crimea are an integral part of its territory. Proof of this is the fact that on December 28, 1783, Turkey signed a solemn act according to which, confirming the Kyuchsuk-Kainardzhi Peace of 1774, it recognized the Kuban and Taman Peninsula as being under the jurisdiction of the Russian Empress and renounced all claims to the Crimea. Even earlier, on April 8, 1783, Catherine II issued a manifesto in which she declared herself free from previously accepted obligations on the independence of Crimea in view of the restless actions of the Tatars, who more than once brought Russia to the danger of war with the Porte, and proclaimed the annexation of Crimea, Taman and the Kuban region to the empire . On the same April 8, she signed a rescript on measures to fence off new areas and “repel force with force” in the event of Turkish hostility. At the beginning of January 1787, the empress, who, by the way, renamed Crimea to Taurida, which she considered undoubtedly belonged to Russia, moved with a large retinue to this fertile region.
After Catherine II's trip to Crimea, relations between Russia and Turkey sharply worsened. The Russian government was not interested in bringing matters to war. It took the initiative to convene a conference for a peaceful settlement of relations between the two states. However, the Turkish representatives took an irreconcilable position there, continuing to put forward the same conditions that were completely unacceptable to the other side. In essence, this meant a radical revision of the Kuchuk-Karnayji Treaty, which Russia, of course, could not agree to.
On August 13, 1787, Turkey declared a state of war with Russia, gathering large forces (over 100 thousand people) in the Ochakov-Kinburn region. By this time, to counter the Turks, the Military College had established two armies. The Ukrainian Army came under the command of P.A. Rumyantsev with a secondary task: to monitor the security of the border with Poland. The command of the Yekaterinoslav army was taken over by G.A. Potemkin, who was supposed to solve the main tasks of the campaign: capture Ochakov, cross the Dniester, clear the entire area up to the Prut and reach the Danube. He moved A.V. Suvorov’s detachment to his left flank for a “vigil for Kinburn and Kherson.” In this second war with the Porte, Catherine managed to gain an ally - Austria, so that Turkish troops came under attack from different sides. The strategic plan of G.A. Potemkin was to unite with the Austrian troops (18 thousand) at the Danube and, pressing the Turkish troops against it, inflict defeat on them. The war began with action Turkish troops At sea on September 1, at 9 o’clock in the morning, at the Bienki tract, 12 versts from Kinburn up along the shore of the estuary, 5 Turkish ships appeared. The enemy attempted to land troops, but failed. Suvorov prudently sent troops there under the command of Major General I.G. Rek. They thwarted the enemy command's intentions with fire. Having suffered damage, the enemy was forced to retreat. But these actions of his were of a distracting nature. The enemy decided to land his main forces on the cape of the Kinburn Spit in order to strike the fortress from there.
And indeed, a large number of Turkish soldiers were soon discovered concentrated there. Their number continuously increased. The enemy began to gradually advance towards the fortress.
After a large enemy army approached Kinburn to a distance of one mile, it was decided to repel him. Under the command of Suvorov were the Oryol and Kozlovsky infantry regiments, four companies of the Shlisselburg and a light battalion of the Murom infantry regiments, a light horse brigade consisting of the Pavlograd and Mariupol regiments, the Don Cossack regiments Colonel V.P. Orlov, Lieutenant Colonel I.I. Isaev and Prime Major Z.E. Sychov. They numbered 4,405 people. A brutal hand-to-hand fight ensued. Suvorov fought in the battle formation of the Shlisselburg regiment.
Around midnight, the battle ended with the complete defeat of the Turkish landing. Its remains were thrown into the sea behind the overpass. There, enemy soldiers stood up to their necks in water all night. At dawn, the Turkish command began to transport them to ships. “They rushed so hard at the boats,” wrote Suvorov, “that many of them drowned...”
During the campaign of 1788, the Ukrainian army of P.A. Rumyantsev also operated successfully. She captured the Khotyn fortress and liberated a significant territory of Moldova between the Dniester and Prut from the enemy. But, of course, the greatest strategic success was the capture of Ochakov. Türkiye lost the only major stronghold remaining in its hands in the Northern Black Sea region. The Yekaterinoslav army could now be turned towards the Balkans.
After the capture of Ochakov, Potemkin withdrew the army to winter quarters.
During the campaign of 1789, Rumyantsev was ordered to go with an army of 35 thousand to the Lower Danube, where the main forces of the Turkish army were located. Potemkin with 80 thousand troops was to capture Bendery. Thus, His Serene Highness Prince Potemkin took most of the Russian army to solve the relatively easy task of capturing one fortress. Chasing the retreating Turks on their heels, he reached Galati, found Ibrahim there and defeated him.
These brilliant victories were the last that the troops of the elderly Field Marshal Rumyantsev won. It's time for him to retire.
P.A. Rumyantsev, of course, remained in history as an outstanding commander who enriched military art new, hitherto unprecedented methods of armed struggle.
The troops moved to Bendery only in July.
The commander of the Turkish troops, Osman Pasha, seeing that the Southern Army was inactive and Potemkin was not there, decided to defeat Russia's ally - the Austrians, and then the Russians. But I miscalculated.
The Prince of Coburg, the commander of the Austrian corps, turned for help to Suvorov, who at that time, appointed by Potemkin to command a division of 7,000 bayonets, concentrated his units in Byrlad. The Prince of Coburg and Suvorov coordinated their actions and immediately made a connection. And on July 21, early in the morning, having united troops and forestalling Osman Pasha, they themselves went on the offensive against Focsani, which was 12 miles away. It was in the spirit of Suvorov. No wonder they called him “General “Forward!”
The battle at Focsani lasted 9 hours. It began at 4 o'clock and ended at 13 o'clock with the complete victory of the allied forces.
In August, Potemkin besieged Bendery. He concentrated almost all Russian forces near Bendery, leaving only one division in Moldova, the command of which he entrusted to Suvorov.
The Turkish vizier Yusuf again decided to defeat the Austrians and Russians one by one, and then help the besieged Bendery. And again the Turkish command miscalculated.
Suvorov, having guessed Yusuf's plan, made a quick march to join the Austrians who were still standing at Focsani. In two and a half days, along a very wet road, through mud and in the rain, Suvorov's division covered 85 miles and on September 10th united here with the Austrians. There was a battle ahead at the Rymnik River.
Suvorov's sudden attack took the Turks by surprise.
The allies formed their battle formation at an angle, with the top in the direction of the enemy. The right side of the corner was made up of Russian regimental squares, the left - battalion squares of Austrians. During the offensive, a gap of about 2 versts formed between the left and right sides, occupied by the Austrian detachment of General Andrei Karachai.
The Prince of Coburg moved forward his corps a little later and, repelling the attacks of the Turkish cavalry, quite quickly brought it to another Turkish camp in front of the Kryngu-Meilor forest, connecting with Suvorov at a right angle. The vizier considered this convenient for breaking the connection between the Russians and Austrians. He threw 20 thousand cavalry from the village of Bokzy into the junction of their adjacent flanks. The detachment of A. Karachay’s hussars covering the center, that is, this very junction, rushed to attack seven times and each time he had to retreat. And then another blow from the Turks shook the battalion squares of the Prince of Coburg. Suvorov reinforced the ally with two battalions. The battle was approaching its climax. By noon, attacks by Russian and Austrian battalions forced the Turks to retreat to the Kryng-Meilor forest, that is, to their main position.
The Turks lost 10 thousand killed and wounded. The winners took 80 guns and the entire Turkish convoy as trophies. Allied losses amounted to only 650 people.
Suvorov's services were highly appreciated. The Austrian Emperor granted him the title of Count of the Holy Roman Empire. He was elevated to the dignity of count by Catherine II with the addition of Rymniksky. Diamond rain rained down on Suvorov: diamond insignia of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, a sword sprinkled with diamonds, a diamond epaulette, a precious ring. But what pleased the commander most of all was that he was awarded the Order of St. George, 1st degree.
By the beginning of the 1790 campaign, the military-political situation continued to be difficult. Russia again had to fight two wars simultaneously: against Turkey and Sweden. The Swedish ruling elite, taking advantage of the fact that the main forces of Russia were involved in the war with Turkey, launched military actions against it in July 1789. She would like to return the lands conquered by Peter I, crossing out the eternal peace with Russia established by the Nishtat Treaty. But this was an illusory desire. Military actions did not bring her success. On August 3, peace was concluded with Sweden. On the border with “restless” Poland we had to keep two corps. Two divisions with a total strength of 25 thousand people remained on the Turkish front. But Catherine II was more concerned about Prussia. On January 19, 1790, she concluded an alliance treaty with Turkey, by which she pledged to provide the Sultan’s government with all possible support in the war against Russia. Frederick II deployed large forces in the Baltic states and Silesia and ordered the recruitment of new recruits into the army. “All our efforts,” Catherine II wrote to Potemkin, “used to calm the Berlin court, remain fruitless... It is difficult to hope to keep this court both from harmful intentions directed against us and from attacking our ally.” And indeed, Prussia began to put strong pressure on Austria, an ally of Russia. She sought to get her out of the war with Turkey. Joseph II died in February 1790. His brother Leopold, who had previously been the ruler of Tuscany, ascended the Austrian throne. In foreign policy Changes have occurred in Austria. The new emperor, unlike his predecessor, was opposed to the war and sought to end it. This circumstance favored the intentions of the Prussian king.
Turkey's situation was difficult. Over the course of three campaigns, its armed forces suffered crushing defeats on land and at sea. It was especially sensitive to the destructive blows of A.V. Suvorov’s troops in the battles of Kinburg, Focsani and Rymnik. At the beginning of 1790, Russia proposed to its enemy to make peace. But the Sultan's government, which was under strong influence England and Prussia refused. Hostilities resumed.
Catherine II demanded that Potemkin take decisive action in defeating the Turkish army. Potemkin, despite the empress’s demands, was in no hurry, slowly maneuvering with small forces. The entire summer and early autumn passed with virtually no activity. The Turks, having strengthened themselves on the Danube, where their support was the Izmail fortress, began to strengthen their positions in the Crimea and Kuban. Potemkin decided to stop these plans. In June 1790, the Kuban corps of I.V. Gudovich besieged the heavily fortified Turkish fortress of Anapa.
Not having come to terms with the fall of Anapa in September 1790, the Turks landed the army of Batai Pasha on the Kuban coast, which, after being reinforced by mountain tribes, became 50 thousand strong.
Ishmael was considered impregnable. It was located on a slope of heights sloping towards the Danube. A wide ravine stretching from north to south divided it into two parts, of which the western was called the Old Fortress, and the eastern - the New Fortress. The siege of Ishmael was carried out sluggishly. Bad autumn weather made combat operations difficult. Sickness began among the soldiers. The situation was complicated by the weak interaction of the troops besieging the city.
However, the general situation in Russia in the second half of 1790 improved markedly. F.F. Ushakov, who had recently become commander of the Sevastopol flotilla, defeated the Turkish flotilla at Tendra on August 28. This victory cleared the Black Sea of the Turkish fleet, which prevented Russian ships from passing to the Danube to assist in the capture of the fortresses of Tulcea, Galati, Brailov, Izmail. Although Austria came out of the war, the strength here did not decrease, but increased. The rowing flotilla of de Ribas cleared the Danube of Turkish boats and occupied Tulcea and Isaccea. Potemkin's brother Pavel approached Izmail on October 4. Soon the detachments of Samoilov and Gudovich appeared here. There were about 30 thousand Russian troops here. In the interests of radical improvement of affairs, it was decided to send A.V. Suvorov to Izmail. On November 25, G.A. Potemkin, who led the operations of the Russian army in the theater of military operations, gave the order to appoint Suvorov as commander of the troops in the Izmail region. In a handwritten note sent on the same day, he wrote: “According to my order to you, your personal presence there will connect all the parts. There are many generals of equal rank, and this always results in some kind of indecisive Diet.” Suvorov was endowed with very broad powers. He was given the right, having assessed the situation, to independently decide on the methods of further action. Potemkin’s letter to him dated November 29 says: “I leave it to your Excellency to act here at your best discretion, whether by continuing the enterprises in Izmail or abandoning it.”
The appointment of Suvorov, who was known as an outstanding master of bold and decisive actions, was received with great satisfaction by the general and the troops.
Preparations for the assault were carried out carefully. Not far from the fortress, they dug a ditch and poured a rampart, which resembled those of Izmail, and the troops persistently trained in overcoming these fortifications.
The losses of Russian troops were considerable. 4 thousand comfortable and 6 thousand wounded; out of 650 officers, 250 remained in the ranks.
Despite the defeat of Turkish troops near Izmail, Türkiye did not intend to lay down its arms. Catherine II again demanded that Potemkin take decisive action against the Turks beyond the Danube. In February 1791, Potemkin, having transferred command of the army to Prince Repnin, left for St. Petersburg.
Repnin began to act according to the command of the empress and sent troops of Golitsyn and Kutuzov to Dobruja, where they forced the Turkish forces to retreat. The Turkish army of 80 thousand people was defeated and fled to Girsov. The defeat at Machin forced the Porte to begin peace negotiations. However, only the new defeat of the Turkish fleet by the Russian fleet under the command of Admiral F.F. Ushakov on July 31, 1791 at Cape Kaliakria (Bulgaria) actually ended the Russian-Turkish war. The Turkish Sultan, seeing the losses suffered on land and at sea and fearing for the safety of Constantinople, ordered the vizier to make peace.
On December 29, 1791, a peace treaty was signed in Iasi. The Porta fully confirmed the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Treaty of 1774, renounced claims to Crimea and ceded Kuban and the entire territory from the Bug to the Dniester to Russia, together with Ochakov. In addition, it was agreed that the rulers of Moldavia and Wallachia would be appointed by the Sultan with the consent of Russia.
Feature new war with Turkey was its protracted, sluggish character. It lasted from 1787 to 1791. The main reason for the prolongation of hostilities was the decline in the level of leadership on the part of Potemkin. His Serene Highness felt that his influence at court was declining, that young favorites were replacing him, and he was over fifty years old. Perhaps that is why he spent most of his time in St. Petersburg, trying to strengthen his position. All this had a detrimental effect on the leadership of the troops. Moreover, not having sufficiently expressed military leadership talent, he at the same time limited the initiative of his talented subordinates. The real hero, who showed his highest military leadership talent in this war, is A.V. Suvorov. The victory at Turtukai made Suvorov famous. Fokshani and Rymnik glorified his name, and Izmail made Suvorov legendary.
Russian military art at the end of the eighteenth century stood at a very high level. This was evidenced by numerous victorious battles and successfully conducted military campaigns.
