The Russian capture of the supposedly impregnable Izmail fortress in 1790 marked a decisive blow in the Russo-Turkish War and cemented Suvorov's reputation as a military commander.
Key Facts
- War
- Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792)
- Date of storming
- 22 December 1790
- Russian commander
- Alexander Suvorov
- Naval commander
- José de Ribas (Black Sea rowing flotilla)
- Ottoman garrison commander
- Aydoslu Mehmed Pasha
- Fortress description
- Considered impregnable, called 'a fortress without weak points'
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The Izmail fortress on the Danube was a key Ottoman stronghold during the Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792). Previous Russian attempts by commanders Gudovich, Samoylov, Potemkin, and Deribas in November 1790, and an earlier effort by Repnin in 1789, had all failed to take the heavily fortified position, which was garrisoned by experienced Ottoman forces under Aydoslu Mehmed Pasha.
In December 1790, Alexander Suvorov took command of Russian forces besieging Izmail. He personally trained his troops and reconnoitered the fortress before launching a coordinated assault on 22 December 1790. The Black Sea rowing flotilla, commanded by Spanish admiral José de Ribas in Russian service, supported the attack. After intense fighting, Russian forces stormed and captured the fortress.
The fall of Izmail delivered a significant strategic blow to the Ottoman Empire during the Russo-Turkish War and enhanced Russian dominance in the region around the Danube delta and the Black Sea. The victory became one of the most celebrated episodes of 18th-century Russian military history, elevating Suvorov to legendary status among military commanders of the era.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Alexander Suvorov, José de Ribas (Iosif Deribas), Ivan Gudovich, Alexander Samoylov.
Side B
1 belligerent
Aydoslu Mehmed Pasha.