Siege of Ochakov (1737)
Encyclopedia
The Siege of Ochakov was a siege in which the Russian
army, led by Burkhard Christoph von Münnich
, captured the Ottoman
fortress of Ochakov. It took place in 1737 in the town of Ochakov.
attack was repelled with heavy losses, but as a result of Russian
mortar fire on the houses within the fortress,
fire broke out, and on the second day of the siege the powder magazine within the city blew up, killing an estimated 6,000 defenders.
Thereafter the fortress capitulated, and in the ensuing slaughter, in spite of the white flag
, all but 3,000 of the garrison were killed. The stench of decaying corpses was such that the Russians
had to withdraw 15 miles from the fortress.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
army, led by Burkhard Christoph von Münnich
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...
, captured the Ottoman
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...
fortress of Ochakov. It took place in 1737 in the town of Ochakov.
The Siege
The first RussianRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
attack was repelled with heavy losses, but as a result of Russian
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
mortar fire on the houses within the fortress,
fire broke out, and on the second day of the siege the powder magazine within the city blew up, killing an estimated 6,000 defenders.
Thereafter the fortress capitulated, and in the ensuing slaughter, in spite of the white flag
White flag
White flags have had different meanings throughout history and depending on the locale.-Flag of temporary truce in order to parley :...
, all but 3,000 of the garrison were killed. The stench of decaying corpses was such that the Russians
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
had to withdraw 15 miles from the fortress.