Battle of Kozludzha

The Battle of Kozludzha (also known as the Battle of Kozludža or the Battle of Kozluca), fought on 20 June (Old Style - June 9) 1774 near the village of Kozludzha (now Suvorovo, Bulgaria), was one of the final and decisive battles of the Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774).^[5] The Russians managed to rout the Ottoman army, scoring a major victory.^[5] This battle, alongside several others in this campaign, established the reputation of the Russian Lieutenant-General Alexander Suvorov as one of the brilliant commanders of his time.^[6][7]

Battle of Kozludzha
Part of the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774
Battle of Kozludzha by Johann Friedrich Anthing
Date 20 June 1774 Location near the village of Kozludzha,—now Suvorovo,—Ottoman Bulgaria (part of the Empire) 43°19′45.9″N 27°35′33.91″E Result Russian victory Territorial changes Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca
Belligerents
Ottoman Empire	Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Abdul-Rezak Pasha	Alexander Suvorov Mikhail Kamensky
Strength
40,000[1][2]	8,000[1][2][3]
Casualties and losses
3,000[4] 29 guns[3] 107 standards[3]	209[4]

The Ottoman forces are estimated at 40,000.^[5][1][2] Russian numbers were much lower,^[8] 8,000 men who participated in the battle.^[1][2] All in all, Suvorov had about 19,500 men available. This is his corps (14,000), and part of Kamensky's forces (approximately 5,500 out of 11,000).^[9] The Ottoman forces were demoralized due to previous defeats and had poor logistics (including a year of withheld back pay).^[10]

Monument to the battle of Kozludzha in Suvorovo

Battle

The Russian army under Lieutenant-Generals^[3] Alexander Suvorov and Mikhail Kamensky encountered the Ottoman forces of Abdul-Rezak Pasha.^[5][11] Although Abdürrezzak Pasha was a bureaucrat, he was one of the rare Ottoman statesmen who commanded a large military force.^[12] After scouts reported to Suvorov, he immediately ordered the attack.^[13] The Russian army, divided into four squares, attacked the Ottomans.^[13] Ottoman cavalry charges were repulsed by the Russians,^[14] while a Russian cavalry attack from the rear resulted in the capture of all of the Ottoman artillery.^[13] Russian artillery fire is also said to have been highly devastating to the Ottoman forces.^[15] Casualties were 3,000 for the Ottomans^[4] and 209 for the Russians.^[4][13] The Russians captured the Ottoman camp with its supplies, while the Ottomans abandoned Kozludzha^[15] and retreated to Shumla, where they were soon blockaded, suffering from further defeats and attrition.^{[8][11][13][15][16]}

Aftermath

The Russian victory was one of the major reasons why a month later, on 21 July, the Ottomans were forced to sign the unfavorable Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca.^[5][8][17]