Siege of Azov (1696)

The siege of Azov was a military campaign organized by the Russian Tsar Peter I (Peter the Great) against the Ottoman Empire during the Russo-Turkish War (1686–1700). The siege was aimed at capturing the strategically important Azov Fortress as part of Russia's aim to reach the Black Sea.

Siege of Azov
Part of Azov campaigns (1695–1696)
Date 1696 Location Azov, Ottoman Empire Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Tsardom of Russia	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Peter the Great	Unknown
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

In 1695, the first siege attempt failed because the Russian army lacked sufficient naval support. Learning from this experience, Peter I had a navy built on the Don River and laid siege to the Azov Fortress from both land and sea in 1696. The Ottoman garrison in the fortress surrendered on August 6, 1696, unable to resist the intense Russian bombardment and blockade.^[1]

The capture of Azov Fortress by Russia posed a serious threat to the Ottoman Empire in the Black Sea. This situation led the Ottoman Empire to efforts to create a defense line in the Black Sea and accelerated the fortification of the fortresses in the region.^[2]