Battle of Stavuchany
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Stavuchany was a battle between the Russian and Ottoman armies, which took place on August 17(28) of 1739 during the Russo-Turkish War of 1735-1739
.
Stavuchany (Ставучаны) is a small village some 12 km southwest of Khotyn
(today's Chernivtsi Oblast
in Ukraine
). The Russian army (approx. 61,000 men and 250 cannon
s) under the command of Field Marshal
Burkhard Christoph von Munnich
approached Stavuchany, where the Ottoman army (80,000 to 90,000 men) under the leadership of serasker
Veli-pasha occupied fortified heights. The Ottoman commander attempted to surround the Russian troops, but Munnich was able to repel numerous enemy attacks from flanks and rear. The Russians managed to distract the Ottomans by their "window-dressing" activities on the left flank and then attacked the central positions of the Ottoman army with main forces, and captured. The Russian army captured some 50 cannons and other trophies. The Ottoman army lost up to a 1,000 men dead, the Russians lost 13. As a result of the Battle of Stavuchany, the Ottoman fortress of Khotyn was captured on August 19(30) and the Russians occupied most of the Wallachia
in September.
Despite the victory, Russia had to agree to the terms of the Treaty of Belgrade
(September 18(29), 1739) due to Austria
's withdrawal from the war, which practically reduced the achievements of the Russian army to zero.
Russo-Turkish War, 1735-1739
Russo–Turkish War of 1735–1739, a war between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, caused by intensified contradictions over the results of the War of the Polish Succession of 1733–1735 and endless raids by the Crimean Tatars...
.
Stavuchany (Ставучаны) is a small village some 12 km southwest of Khotyn
Khotyn
Khotyn is a city in Chernivtsi Oblast of western Ukraine, and is the administrative center of Khotyn Raion within the oblast, and is located south-west of Kamianets-Podilskyi. According to the 2001 Ukrainian census, it has a population of 11,124...
(today's Chernivtsi Oblast
Chernivtsi Oblast
Chernivtsi Oblast is an oblast in western Ukraine, bordering on Romania and Moldova. It has a large variety of landforms: the Carpathian Mountains and picturesque hills at the foot of the mountains gradually change to a broad partly forested plain situated between the Dniester and Prut rivers....
in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
). The Russian army (approx. 61,000 men and 250 cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
s) under the command of Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Burkhard Christoph von Munnich
Burkhard Christoph von Munnich
Count Burkhard Christoph von Münnich was a Danish-born German soldier-engineer who became a field marshal and political figure in the Russian Empire. He was the major Russian Army reformer and founder of several elite military formations during the reign of Anna of Russia. As a statesman, he is...
approached Stavuchany, where the Ottoman army (80,000 to 90,000 men) under the leadership of serasker
Serasker
Serasker or Seraskier is a title formerly used in the Ottoman Empire for a Vizier who commanded the army, and later for the National Minister of Defence....
Veli-pasha occupied fortified heights. The Ottoman commander attempted to surround the Russian troops, but Munnich was able to repel numerous enemy attacks from flanks and rear. The Russians managed to distract the Ottomans by their "window-dressing" activities on the left flank and then attacked the central positions of the Ottoman army with main forces, and captured. The Russian army captured some 50 cannons and other trophies. The Ottoman army lost up to a 1,000 men dead, the Russians lost 13. As a result of the Battle of Stavuchany, the Ottoman fortress of Khotyn was captured on August 19(30) and the Russians occupied most of the Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
in September.
Despite the victory, Russia had to agree to the terms of the Treaty of Belgrade
Treaty of Belgrade
The Treaty of Belgrade was the peace treaty signed on September 18, 1739 in Belgrade, Habsburg Kingdom of Serbia , by the Ottoman Empire on one side and the Habsburg Monarchy on the other....
(September 18(29), 1739) due to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
's withdrawal from the war, which practically reduced the achievements of the Russian army to zero.