Siege of Varna facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Varna
Part of the Russo–Turkish War, 1828–1829
Painting by Alexander Sauerweid (1836)
Date July 13–September 29, 1828 Location Varna, Bulgaria 43°12′28.01″N 27°55′0.98″E / 43.2077806°N 27.9169389°E / 43.2077806; 27.9169389 Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Pavel Sukhtelen Alexander Menshikov Mikhail Vorontsov	Izzet Mehmed Omer Vrioni

The Siege of Varna was an important battle that took place from July 13 to September 29, 1828. It was part of a bigger conflict called the Russo-Turkish War, 1828–1829, which was fought between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire. This siege happened in the city of Varna, which is located in modern-day Bulgaria.

The Battle for Varna

At the time of the siege, the city of Varna was controlled by the Ottoman army. The Russians wanted to capture Varna because it was a key port city on the Black Sea.

Early Attempts and Russian Arrival

The Russian forces first tried to reach Varna on June 28, 1828. However, they met strong resistance from the Ottoman soldiers. Because of this, the Russians had to delay their attack on the city.

By the end of July, the Russian Black Sea Fleet arrived near Varna. These ships, led by Aleksey Greig, brought many more Russian soldiers to the area. In mid-August, even more Russian soldiers, including the elite Guards Corps, arrived. The Russian Emperor, Nicholas I, also came to Varna to oversee the siege.

Leading the Siege

The main attack on Varna was led by General Menshikov. The Russian forces were quite large, with about 23,000 soldiers and 170 cannons. Inside Varna, the Ottoman army had about 20,000 soldiers defending the city.

During the siege, General Menshikov was wounded. After he was injured, the command of the siege was given to another important Russian general, Mikhail Vorontsov.

Ottoman Counter-Attack and Varna's Fall

While the Russians were attacking Varna, an Ottoman general named Omer Vrioni tried to help the city. He brought an army of 20,000 soldiers to try and break the Russian siege. However, the Russians managed to stop Omer Vrioni's army from reaching Varna.

There was a battle at a place called Kurtepe. The Russians, led by Prince Eugen of Württemberg, attacked the Ottoman forces. The Russians were defeated in this battle and had to retreat. But the Ottoman army did not follow up on their victory. They waited for 11 days in the same spot.

During this time, the city of Varna surrendered to the Russians. Yusuf Pasha, the Ottoman commander in Varna, gave up the city. The Russians captured about 6,900 prisoners and 140 cannons.

Aftermath of the Siege

Even though the Russians won the Siege of Varna, they suffered many losses. About 6,000 Russian soldiers died during the siege, both from battles and from diseases. Because of these heavy losses, the Russians decided to pull back from Varna and the Danube River area. They planned to continue their military campaign the following spring.