Siege of Perekop (1736)

Siege of Perekop (1736)
Part of the Russo-Turkish War of 1735–1739
Date19 May – 12 November 1736
Location
Result Russian victory
Belligerents

Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire

 Crimean Khanate
 Russia
Commanders and leaders
Fetih II Giray
Ibrahim Pasha
Russian Empire Burkhard Christoph von Münnich
Russian Empire Vasily Dolgorukov
Strength
Garrison:
Ottoman Empire 3–4,000 soldiers[1][2] and 84 cannons
Field:
20,000 cavalry[1]
50–58,000 soldiers[2][1]
Casualties and losses
Ottoman Empire up to 1,400 killed, wounded, or missing; up to 2,600 captured; 60 cannon captured[2] From 202 in all[2] to 500 dead and 200 wounded

The siege of Perekop (Russian: Штурм Перекопа; storming of Perekop) on June 1 (OS: 21 May), 1736, was part of the Russo-Turkish War (1735–1739). Russian field marshal Burkhard Christoph von Münnich (known in Russia as Minikh) successfully stormed the Turkish fortifications at the Isthmus of Perekop and left the Tatar fortress Fortress Or Qapi (known as Perekop Fortress in Russian) in ruins. As a result, the Russian Empire for the first time gained access into the Crimean Peninsula. This was a serious blow to the independence of the Crimean Khanate.[3]

Approaching Perekop on 30 May (OS 19 May), the vanguard repelled an attack by Crimean cavalry in the Chorna Dolyna (tract), 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Perekop. Approaching the fortifications, Minikh immediately began an assault.[1] Minikh feigned a false attack on the right flank, and the major attack on the fight flank broke through the fortifications.[3][4] The stormtroopers crossed the ditch, and then, using pikes and chevaux de frise, climbed the rampart. Half an hour later, they were at the top. Only a detachment on one of the watchtowers put up fierce resistance, defending itself for an hour. It was completely exterminated. The rest surrendered on the condition of going home.[1] V. M. Dolgorukov distinguished himself during the storming.[5]

The army proceeded to the capital of the Khanate, Bakhchisaray, and Akmescit (now Simferopol). However epidemic, epizooty, and mutiny in the army forced Minikh to leave Crimea.[3][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Shefov 2002, p. 411.
  2. ^ a b c d Velichko et al. 1915.
  3. ^ a b c Полководцы России. Полная энциклопедия, pp. 60-61
  4. ^ a b "Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: P-Z"[1] (?mutiny and animal disease are not mentioned in other sources)
  5. ^ "ДОЛГОРУКОВ-КРЫМСКИЙ ВАСИЛИЙ МИХАЙЛОВИЧ". Great Russian Encyclopedia. 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  • Velichko, Konstantin I.; Novitsky, Vasily F.; Schwarz, Alexey V. von; Apushkin, Vladimir A.; Schulz, Gustav K. von (1915). Военная энциклопедия Сытина [Sytin Military Encyclopedia] (in Russian). Vol. 18: Паукер – Порт-Артур. Moscow: Типография Т-ва И. Д. Сытина. pp. 363–364. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  • Shefov, Nikolay (2002). Битвы России. Военно-историческая библиотека. Moscow: AST. ISBN 5-17-010649-1.