Siege of Calafat facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Calafat
Siege of Calafat by Fabrique de Pellerin
Date February – May 1854 Location Calafat, Wallachia Result Ottoman victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Joseph Carl von Anrep	Ahmed Pasha
Strength
40,000	30,000–36,000
Casualties and losses
23,000 (including the sick)	Unknown

The Siege of Calafat was an important event during the Crimean War in 1854. A siege happens when an army surrounds a town or fortress to cut off supplies and force the people inside to surrender. In this case, the Russian army tried to capture the town of Calafat from the Ottoman army. The siege lasted for four months, but the Russians were not successful and eventually had to leave.

Why the Siege Happened

The Siege of Calafat was part of the larger Crimean War. This war involved several big empires, including the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire.

Russia Moves In

In July 1853, the Russian army marched into an area called the Principality of Wallachia. Wallachia was a territory that was under the control of the Ottoman Empire. The Russian army was very large, with about 91,000 soldiers. They also had many cannons.

Ottoman Response

The Ottoman Empire did not like Russia invading Wallachia. So, they declared war. The Ottomans gathered their own army, led by a commander named Omar Pasha. This army had between 60,000 and 70,000 soldiers.

The Ottomans had strong forts along the Danube River. One of these important forts was at Vidin. The Ottomans planned to move their troops into Wallachia.

Setting Up at Calafat

On October 28, 1853, the Ottoman army from Vidin crossed the Danube River. They set up a base at a village called Calafat. They immediately started building strong defenses there.

Another Ottoman army tried a trick. They crossed the Danube near Ruse in early November. This was meant to make the Russians look away from Calafat. This trick did not work well, and that army had to retreat. But by then, Calafat's defenses were much stronger, and it was easier to get supplies from Vidin.

The Fighting Begins

The Russians soon realized how important Calafat was. They decided to attack the Ottoman forces there.

Early Clashes

The Russian army marched towards Calafat. They fought the Ottoman troops there in late December 1853. However, the Russians could not defeat them.

After this, the Russians dug in at a place called Cetate. But the Ottoman army, led by Ahmed Pasha, attacked them there. The Russian commander was General Joseph Carl von Anrep.

Battle at Cetate

There was fighting for several days, until January 10, 1854. The Ottoman forces fought hard. In the end, the Russians had to retreat towards Radovan.

The Long Siege

After January, the Russians brought many more soldiers to the area around Calafat. They started a long siege. This meant they surrounded Calafat and tried to cut off the Ottoman army inside.

The siege lasted for four months. The Russian army faced many problems. Many soldiers got sick from diseases. The Ottoman positions inside Calafat were very strong, and they often attacked the Russians.

Finally, on April 21, 1854, the Russians gave up. They had suffered heavy losses and could not capture Calafat. This was a victory for the Ottoman Empire.