Eastern Army (Ottoman Empire)
Encyclopedia
The Eastern Army of the Ottoman Empire
(Turkish
: Şark Ordusu) was one of the field armies
of the Ottoman Army. It was formed during the mobilization phase of the First Balkan War
. It confronted Bulgarian
forces. On October 29, 1912, it was reorganized and renamed as the First Eastern Army (Birinci Şark Ordusu).
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
(Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
: Şark Ordusu) was one of the field armies
Field army
A Field Army, or Area Army, usually referred to simply as an Army, is a term used by many national military forces for a military formation superior to a corps and beneath an army group....
of the Ottoman Army. It was formed during the mobilization phase of the First Balkan War
First Balkan War
The First Balkan War, which lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League against the Ottoman Empire. The combined armies of the Balkan states overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies and achieved rapid success...
. It confronted Bulgarian
Kingdom of Bulgaria
The Kingdom of Bulgaria was established as an independent state when the Principality of Bulgaria, an Ottoman vassal, officially proclaimed itself independent on October 5, 1908 . This move also formalised the annexation of the Ottoman province of Eastern Rumelia, which had been under the control...
forces. On October 29, 1912, it was reorganized and renamed as the First Eastern Army (Birinci Şark Ordusu).
Order of Battle, October 17, 1912
On October 17, 1912, the army was structured as follows:- Eastern Army HQ (Kavaklı, commander: FerikFerik (rank)Ferik was a military rank of the Ottoman Army. It is translated as Major General or Lieutenant General . It was superior to a Mirliva and junior to a Birinci Ferik .The title of Ferik was abolished with Act No...
Abdullah PashaAbdullah PashaAbdullah Pasha or Abdullah Kölemen was an Ottoman general in the First Balkan War, notable as the Ottoman commander in the Battle of Kirk Kilisse in 1912, the Battle of Lule Burgas, and the Battle of Adrianople in which the Ottoman forces were defeated by the Bulgarians.-External links:* * * * *...
, chief of staff: Miralay Djevat BeyCevat ÇobanliCevat Çobanlı was a military commander of the Ottoman Army, War Minister of the Ottoman Empire and a general of Turkish Army.-Family and schools:...
)- I Corps
- II Corps
- III Corps (commanded by MirlivaMirlivaMirliva or Mîr-i livâ was a military rank of the Ottoman Army. It corresponds to a Brigadier General or Major General . Mirliva is a compound word composed of Mir and Liva...
Mahmud Muhtar Pasha) - IV Provisional Corps (commanded by Ferik Ahmed Abuk Pasha)
- VII Provisional Corps
- Adrianople Fortified Area Command (commanded by Ferik Mehmed Shukur Pasha)
- Kırcaali DetachmentKırcaali DetachmentThe Kırcaali Detachment of the Ottoman Empire was one of the Detachments under the command of the Ottoman Eastern Army...
First Eastern Army
On October 29, 1912, the army was structured as follows:- First Eastern Army HQ: Ferik Ahmed Abuk Pasha
- I Corps
- II Corps
- IV Provisional Corps
- Independent Cavalry Division