Gazi Osman Pasha
Encyclopedia
Osman Nuri Pasha also Gazi Osman Pasha (1832-April 5, 1900) was an Ottoman Turkish
field marshal
and the hero of the Siege of Plevna in 1877. He was awarded the title 'Gazi' (Turkish for 'hero that have survived a battle') as a result of that siege.
in Central Anatolia. His father was a civil worker. Soon after Osman's birth, his father was appointed to a position in the Ottoman capital, and the family moved to Constantinople
(Modern Istanbul), where Osman did his studies. He graduated from the Military Academy in 1852, and entered the cavalry at the beginning of the Crimean War
, where he showed such distinction that he was rapidly promoted.
In 1861 Osman skillfully dealt with the Cretan rebels and the Yemen troubles in 1864. He returned from Yemen bearing the title of "pasha". He was then assigned as the military commander of the İşkodra (Shkodër
) region and of Bosnia
. Because of his success in quelling the Bulgarian rebellion of 1876
, he was raised to the rank of Field Marshal (Müşir).
, where Osman’s forces were garrisoned having just defeated the Serbs.
While Osman's forces were in Vidin
, his erstwhile commander Suleiman Pasha was on the Montenegro
border, and Abdülkerim Pasha
, the other divisional commander, was in Greece. There were only 186,000 Ottoman troops in the Balkans, of which Osman had less than 20,000. When the Russians crossed the Danube
and invaded Bulgaria at Svishtov
in July, the Ottoman high command sent Osman to reinforce the city of Nikopol
. Before Osman could reach Nikopol, the Russian vanguard had taken the city in the Battle of Nikopol
(16 July) and Osman settled on Plevna
to the south. Plevna was a more strategic location being the center of transport and communication lines in northern Bulgaria. Osman started by ordering trenches dug around the city. These trenches are considered an early example of modern bastion
defensive works. He literally took his artillery and men under the ground. While Osman was still constructing these fortifications, the Russian forces began to arrive (19 July). However, the Russians were used to warfare in open territory, and sent columns of infantry to directly attack the fortifications. Osman’s defence repelled two Russian attacks with huge casualties on the Russian side. Most analysts agree that a counter-attack at this point would have allowed the Ottoman forces to gain control and destroy the bridge at Svishtov. However, Osman had explicit orders to stay fortified in Plevna, and so did not take advantage of the opportunity.
The Russians continued to bring troops across the Danube, including a Romanian contingent; while Osman was only reinforced by the troops retreating from the Battle of Lovcha
which had cut the Ottoman supply lines.
The death-toll was high in the trenches as well as among the Russians. The city of Plevna Murat itself partially burned from artillery fire. Indeed, as time passed, starvation began in Plevna and munitions were running out. With no help coming from the outside, and Suleyman Pasha's attempts to open a breach for the Ottoman forces in the key Shipka Pass
of the Balkan Mountains
having failed several times, Osman finally decided in October to end the siege and retreat. Osman requested permission to abandon Plevna, but the Ottoman high command
refused him (24 October). After another month, with supplies exhausted, Osman finally made an attempt to breakout from the Russian siege, together with the civilian Turkish population of the city (9 December). The siege had lasted 145 days (about five months).
Osman managed to cross the Vit River
, and attacking along a 2-mile front broke through the first line of the Russian trenches. However, the Russians turned their artillery and the Ottomans were driven back. Osman himself was wounded in the left leg by a splinter of an artillery shell and was taken to a mill where his injury was bandaged. The next day two Romanian officers came to the mill and requested his "unconditional surrender". Osman surrendered his sword to the Romanian colonel Mihail Cerchez
, who nevertheless refused to accept it waiting for orders from the commander of the Romanian expeditionary corp - the Romanian prince Carol I. Osman and his aide-de-camp Talat Bey were being taken back to Plevna city in a cart when they came across Russian commander, Grand Duke Nicholas, on the way. Grand Duke Nicholas said to Osman Pasha: "I congratulate you for your success in defending Plevna. This defense is one of the brightest military occurrences in defensive history." The next day when Osman was taken before Czar Alexander II
he was asked why he had not surrendered sooner. Osman replied: "My state gave those weapons to me for fighting, not to drop them at the sight of the enemy. They sent me here to fight." The Czar returned Osman’s sword as a mark of esteem.
Fifteen days later, the Russians took Osman to Harkov
where he remained in captivity for the duration of the war. Upon Osman’s return to İstanbul, he was acclaimed by large crowds. Soon afterwards, Sultan Abdul Hamid II
appointed him as Marshal of the Palace. Osman wrote a book about the Siege of Plevna entitled Défense de Plevna, d'après les documents réunis par Mouzaffer Pasha et Taalet Bey (Paris, 1889).
Gaziosmanpaşa
(GOP), a district in Istanbul
is named after Osman Pasha.
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
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...
and the hero of the Siege of Plevna in 1877. He was awarded the title 'Gazi' (Turkish for 'hero that have survived a battle') as a result of that siege.
Early life
Osman Nuri Pasha was born into a prominent family (Yağcıoğulları) of the city of TokatTokat
Tokat is the capital city of Tokat Province of Turkey, at the mid Black Sea region of Anatolia. According to the 2009 census, the city of Tokat has a population of 129,879.-History:Tokat was established in the Hittite era....
in Central Anatolia. His father was a civil worker. Soon after Osman's birth, his father was appointed to a position in the Ottoman capital, and the family moved to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
(Modern Istanbul), where Osman did his studies. He graduated from the Military Academy in 1852, and entered the cavalry at the beginning of the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
, where he showed such distinction that he was rapidly promoted.
In 1861 Osman skillfully dealt with the Cretan rebels and the Yemen troubles in 1864. He returned from Yemen bearing the title of "pasha". He was then assigned as the military commander of the İşkodra (Shkodër
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
) region and of Bosnia
Bosnia Province, Ottoman Empire
The Bosnia Vilayet was an Ottoman vilayet, mostly based on the territory of the present-day state of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as most of Slavonia, Lika and Dalmatia in present-day Croatia. It bordered Kosovo Vilayet to the south. Before the administrative reform in 1864, it was called the...
. Because of his success in quelling the Bulgarian rebellion of 1876
April Uprising
The April Uprising was an insurrection organised by the Bulgarians in the Ottoman Empire from April to May 1876, which indirectly resulted in the re-establishment of Bulgaria as an autonomous nation in 1878...
, he was raised to the rank of Field Marshal (Müşir).
Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)
After the Russo-Turkish War was declared (24 April), Russian troops under the command of the Czar's brother Nicholas marched south toward the Danube. The only well-manned Ottoman fortress opposing them was at VidinVidin
Vidin is a port town on the southern bank of the Danube in northwestern Bulgaria. It is close to the borders with Serbia and Romania, and is also the administrative centre of Vidin Province, as well as of the Metropolitan of Vidin...
, where Osman’s forces were garrisoned having just defeated the Serbs.
While Osman's forces were in Vidin
Vidin
Vidin is a port town on the southern bank of the Danube in northwestern Bulgaria. It is close to the borders with Serbia and Romania, and is also the administrative centre of Vidin Province, as well as of the Metropolitan of Vidin...
, his erstwhile commander Suleiman Pasha was on the Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
border, and Abdülkerim Pasha
Abdulkerim Nadir Pasha
Abdi Pasha or Abdul Kerim Pasha was an Ottoman soldier, born in Chirpan, Stara Zagora Province, Ottoman Bulgaria. He graduated from the military academy in Istanbul and was sent to Vienna to continue his education...
, the other divisional commander, was in Greece. There were only 186,000 Ottoman troops in the Balkans, of which Osman had less than 20,000. When the Russians crossed the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
and invaded Bulgaria at Svishtov
Svishtov
Svishtov is a town in northern Bulgaria, located in Veliko Tarnovo Province on the right bank of the Danube river opposite the Romanian town of Zimnicea. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Svishtov Municipality...
in July, the Ottoman high command sent Osman to reinforce the city of Nikopol
Nikopol, Bulgaria
Nikopol is a town in northern Bulgaria, the administrative center of Nikopol municipality, part of Pleven Province, on the right bank of the Danube river, 4 km downstream from the mouth of the Osam river. It spreads at the foot of steep chalk cliffs along the Danube and up a narrow valley...
. Before Osman could reach Nikopol, the Russian vanguard had taken the city in the Battle of Nikopol
Battle of Nikopol
The Battle of Nikopol, or Nicopolis, was one of the early battles of the Russo-Turkish War . As the Russian army crossed the Danube River, they approached the fortified city of Nikopol . The Turkish high command sent Osman Pasha with the troops from Vidin to oppose the Russians' crossing of the...
(16 July) and Osman settled on Plevna
Plevna
Plevna may refer to:* Plevna, an old name for the city of Pleven, Bulgaria. Pleven was known by English speakers as Plevna during the Russo-Turkish war in 1877, when the Siege of Plevna became the key for claiming victory in the war...
to the south. Plevna was a more strategic location being the center of transport and communication lines in northern Bulgaria. Osman started by ordering trenches dug around the city. These trenches are considered an early example of modern bastion
Bastion
A bastion, or a bulwark, is a structure projecting outward from the main enclosure of a fortification, situated in both corners of a straight wall , facilitating active defence against assaulting troops...
defensive works. He literally took his artillery and men under the ground. While Osman was still constructing these fortifications, the Russian forces began to arrive (19 July). However, the Russians were used to warfare in open territory, and sent columns of infantry to directly attack the fortifications. Osman’s defence repelled two Russian attacks with huge casualties on the Russian side. Most analysts agree that a counter-attack at this point would have allowed the Ottoman forces to gain control and destroy the bridge at Svishtov. However, Osman had explicit orders to stay fortified in Plevna, and so did not take advantage of the opportunity.
The Russians continued to bring troops across the Danube, including a Romanian contingent; while Osman was only reinforced by the troops retreating from the Battle of Lovcha
Battle of Lovcha
The Battle of Lovcha, or Loftcha , was a battle of the Russo-Turkish War which occurred during the siege of Plevna...
which had cut the Ottoman supply lines.
The death-toll was high in the trenches as well as among the Russians. The city of Plevna Murat itself partially burned from artillery fire. Indeed, as time passed, starvation began in Plevna and munitions were running out. With no help coming from the outside, and Suleyman Pasha's attempts to open a breach for the Ottoman forces in the key Shipka Pass
Shipka Pass
Shipka Pass is a scenic mountain pass through the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria. It marks the border between Stara Zagora province and Gabrovo province. The pass connects Gabrovo and Kazanlak. The pass is part of the Bulgarka Nature Park.The pass is 13 km by road north of the small town of...
of the Balkan Mountains
Balkan Mountains
The Balkan mountain range is a mountain range in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The Balkan range runs 560 km from the Vrashka Chuka Peak on the border between Bulgaria and eastern Serbia eastward through central Bulgaria to Cape Emine on the Black Sea...
having failed several times, Osman finally decided in October to end the siege and retreat. Osman requested permission to abandon Plevna, but the Ottoman high command
High command
The phrase High command may refer to:* Command * Chain of command* Commander-in-Chief* Defence minister* Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, the WWII command structure popularly known as "German High Command"Compare:* Staff...
refused him (24 October). After another month, with supplies exhausted, Osman finally made an attempt to breakout from the Russian siege, together with the civilian Turkish population of the city (9 December). The siege had lasted 145 days (about five months).
Osman managed to cross the Vit River
Vit
The Vit also Vid is a river in central northern Bulgaria with a length of 18 km. It is a tributary of Danube. The source of the Vit is in Stara Planina, below Vezhen Peak at an altitude of 2,030 m, and it empties into the Danube close to Somovit...
, and attacking along a 2-mile front broke through the first line of the Russian trenches. However, the Russians turned their artillery and the Ottomans were driven back. Osman himself was wounded in the left leg by a splinter of an artillery shell and was taken to a mill where his injury was bandaged. The next day two Romanian officers came to the mill and requested his "unconditional surrender". Osman surrendered his sword to the Romanian colonel Mihail Cerchez
Mihail Cerchez
Mihail Cristodulo Cerchez was a Romanian general. Rumours that he was of Circassian descent are based strictly on his family name and are counterintuitive to his anti-Turkish stance...
, who nevertheless refused to accept it waiting for orders from the commander of the Romanian expeditionary corp - the Romanian prince Carol I. Osman and his aide-de-camp Talat Bey were being taken back to Plevna city in a cart when they came across Russian commander, Grand Duke Nicholas, on the way. Grand Duke Nicholas said to Osman Pasha: "I congratulate you for your success in defending Plevna. This defense is one of the brightest military occurrences in defensive history." The next day when Osman was taken before Czar Alexander II
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
he was asked why he had not surrendered sooner. Osman replied: "My state gave those weapons to me for fighting, not to drop them at the sight of the enemy. They sent me here to fight." The Czar returned Osman’s sword as a mark of esteem.
Fifteen days later, the Russians took Osman to Harkov
Kharkiv
Kharkiv or Kharkov is the second-largest city in Ukraine.The city was founded in 1654 and was a major centre of Ukrainian culture in the Russian Empire. Kharkiv became the first city in Ukraine where the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed in December 1917 and Soviet government was...
where he remained in captivity for the duration of the war. Upon Osman’s return to İstanbul, he was acclaimed by large crowds. Soon afterwards, Sultan Abdul Hamid II
Abdul Hamid II
His Imperial Majesty, The Sultan Abdülhamid II, Emperor of the Ottomans, Caliph of the Faithful was the 34th sultan of the Ottoman Empire...
appointed him as Marshal of the Palace. Osman wrote a book about the Siege of Plevna entitled Défense de Plevna, d'après les documents réunis par Mouzaffer Pasha et Taalet Bey (Paris, 1889).
Aftermath
Over the next 20 years Osman Pasha served the Ottoman Empire four times as the Minister of War. He died on 5 April 1900 at the age of 67. He was buried in the garden of the Fatih Mosque as he had requested. An Ottoman military march called Plevna March was composed for his achievements during the Russo-Turkish War.Gaziosmanpaşa
Gaziosmanpasa
Gaziosmanpaşa is an impoverished working class municipality and district of Istanbul, Turkey, on its European side. With a population of 400,000 plus, it is one of the most populous districts. In 2009 Gaziosmanpaşa district were the divided to three districts: Gaziosmanpaşa, the central;...
(GOP), a district in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
is named after Osman Pasha.