Battle of Cetate facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Cetate
Part of the Crimean War
The Battle of Cetate
Date 31 December 1853 – 6 January 1854 Location Cetate, Wallachia Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Ottoman Empire	Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Ahmed Pasha	Col. Alexander Karlovich Baumgarten
Strength
18,000 24 guns	First Engagement: 2,500 6 guns Second Engagement: 5,000
Casualties and losses
3,000 6 guns lost	2,000

The Battle of Cetate was an important fight during the Crimean War. It happened near the village of Cetate. Here, a large army from the Ottoman Empire tried to take control of Cetate. But the village was held by Russian soldiers led by Colonel Alexander Baumgarten. The Ottoman forces did not succeed in capturing it.

What Led to the Battle?

This battle was part of the Crimean War. This big war involved many countries. Before the war started, Russia moved its soldiers into two areas. These areas were called Moldavia and Wallachia. They are known as the Danubian Principalities.

These lands were on the northern side of the Danube River. The Danube River was the border with the Ottoman Empire. So, the Ottomans also moved their soldiers. They placed them on the southern side of the river.

In the western part of the region, Russian troops were in Cetate. Across from them, in the fortress of Vidin, were Ottoman forces.

The Ottoman Empire told Russia to leave these lands. Russia did not leave. So, on October 4, 1853, the Ottomans acted. Their leader, Ahmed Pasha, led his troops across the river. They took over the town of Calafat. They made Calafat a strong base for their army.

The Battle Begins!

The fighting began on December 31, 1853. Ahmed Pasha led thousands of Ottoman soldiers. They had cavalry (soldiers on horses) and infantry (soldiers on foot). They attacked Cetate.

Cetate was defended by a small group of Russian soldiers. They were led by Colonel Alexander Baumgarten. The Russians fought back hard. They stopped the Ottoman attack. After this first fight, both sides called for more soldiers. They needed reinforcements.

On January 6, 1854, Ahmed Pasha attacked again. This day was Christmas Day for the Russian Orthodox calendar. This time, he had a huge army of 18,000 men. The Russians fought bravely. They stopped many attacks. But they were running out of cannon shells. Many Russian soldiers were also getting hurt.

However, more Russian soldiers arrived during the day. Ahmed Pasha worried about his own base. He feared the Russians might attack Calafat. He also worried his army might get trapped. So, he decided to leave Cetate. He took his troops and went back to Calafat.

What Happened Next?

The Battle of Cetate ended without a clear winner. Both sides lost many soldiers. After the battle, both armies were back where they started.

The Ottoman forces were still strong in Calafat. They kept the Russians from connecting with the Serbs. The Serbs were a group the Russians hoped would help them. But the Ottomans also failed in their main goal. They wanted to push the Russians out of the Danubian Principalities. The battle did not help them do that.

Gallery

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  Battle of Cetate by Karl Lanzedelli

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  Arrival at Calafat of the wounded from Cetate

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  Distribution of the Medjidie, after the Battle of Cetate

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  Colonel Alexander Karlovich Baumgarten, sometimes between 1858 and 1861

See also

• Battle of Oltenița