·Russia / Habsburg Austria victory·land·câmpie, zona Focșanilor
Background
The following is a list of the units that comprised the Austro-Russian army at Focșani. Russian units: *Apsheron Musketeer Regiment, *Rostov Musketeer Regiment, *Smolensk Musketeer Regiment, *Jäger regiment, *2 grenadier battalions, *Ryazan Dragoon Regiment, *Starodub Dragoon Regiment, *Chernigov Dragoon Regiment, *Cossacks. Austrian units: *Kaiser Infantry Regiment, *Kaunitz Infantry Regiment, *Schröder Infantry Regiment, *Wenzel Colloredo Infantry Regiment, *First Szekler Grenz Regiment, *Second Szekler Grenz Regiment, *Karl Toscana Grenadier Battalion, *Khevenhüller Grenadier Battalion, *Mittrowsky Grenadier Battalion, *Pellegrini Grenadier Battalion, *Levenher Chevauxleger Regiment, *Barco Hussar Regiment, *Kaiser Hussar Regiment, *Szekler Hussar Regiment, *Arnauten (Albanian auxiliaries) or local auxiliaries: Wallachian for Habsburg forces, "armed Moldavian" in Russian forces. File:Ordine de mars focsani 1789 A. VON WITZLEBEN.png|Battle of Focșani march-order File:Ordin de lupta focsani1 789 A. VON WITZLEBEN.png|Order of battle center|Deployment map
Campaign: Russo-Austro-Turkish War 1787–1792
Forces Engaged
Ordin de lupta focsani (c. 1856) — August von Witzleben. Public domain.
Victor
Russia / Habsburg Austria
Commander: General Alexander Suvorov (Rusia), Prințul Josias de Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (Austria)
Strength:25,000
Defeated
Ottoman Empire
Commander: Osman Pașa de Vidin
Strength:30,000
The Battle
Battle of Focșani — hand-colored engraving by Löschenkohl (1789) (c. 1789) — Johann Hieronymus Löschenkohl (1753–1807). Public domain.
Suvorov forced a 65 km march in 27 hours to unite with Coburg's Austrians, then immediately attacked the numerically superior Ottoman force at Focșani. The combined allied army crushed the Ottomans in an exemplary offensive action.
The Battle of Focșani took place during the Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792) on 1 August 1789 between the Ottoman Empire and the alliance of the Russian Empire and the Habsburg monarchy near Focșani, Moldavia. The Russians were led by Alexander Suvorov, the Austrians by Prince Josias of Coburg, and the Ottomans by Grand Vizier Koca Yusuf Pasha.
Casualties & Outcome
600
Russia / Habsburg Austria
casualties
1,600
Ottoman Empire
casualties
Approximately 600 allied casualties (Russians and Austrians); approximately 1,600 Ottoman casualties
Russia / Habsburg Austria achieved victory over Ottoman Empire.
With Osman Pasha beaten and driven from Moldavia, Yusuf Pasha's replacement as Grand Vizier, Cenaze Hasan Pasha, had to come up with a new strategy. In September, the Vizier himself went on the offensive with 100,000 men. Again, Suvorov joined Coburg, and the result was a great allied victory at the Battle of Rymnik.
Historical Record
Battle of Focșani 1789 — illustration by Carl Schütz after J. Petrich (c. 1789) — Carl Schütz / J. Petrich (1789). Public domain.Russian military map of the Battle of Focșani, 1789 (c. 1789) — Russian military cartography. Public domain."Gloreicher Sieg uber 30000 Türken bei Foksan, durch das K.K. Prinz Koburgische Truppenkorps in Vereinigung der Russisch-Kaiserl. Division den 31 Jul. in Jahr 1789" (1789). Prints, Drawings and Waterc (c. 1789) — S.K. Brown Military Collection. Public domain.Plan von der Schlacht bey Focksan den 31 1ulius 1789 " este o hartă colorată de 36,5 x 27 cm, cuprinzând regiunea Brăila - Buzău - Focşani - Trotuş, indicând poziţiile ocupate de beligeranţi in timpul (c. 1789) — L Unknown ithe author has signed with *L. Public domain.Battle of Focşani. 1789 — Carl Schütz after J. Petrich. Public domain.Focsani Battle 1 august 1789 Contributors Löschenkohl, Johann Hieronymus, 1753-1807 (artist) Date Issued 1789 Abstract Hand-col. engr. by and after Löschewnkohl; milit. group with prisoner and mounted (c. 1789) — Löschenkohl, Johann Hieronymus, 1753-1807 (artist). Public domain.Focsani Battle 1 august 1789 Contributors Löschenkohl, Johann Hieronymus, 1753-1807 (artist) Date Issued 1789 Abstract Hand-col. engr. by and after Löschewnkohl; milit. group with prisoner and mounted (c. 1789) — Löschenkohl, Johann Hieronymus, 1753-1807 (artist). Public domain.Medal of Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (1737-1815), General of the Holy Roman Empire (c. 2016) — Johann Christian Reich / Johann Mathias Reich. Public domain.Battle of Focșani Order Of Battle (c. 1856) — August von Witzleben. Public domain."Gloreicher Sieg uber 30000 Türken bei Foksan, durch das K.K. Prinz Koburgische Truppenkorps in Vereinigung der Russisch-Kaiserl. Division den 31 Jul. in Jahr 1789" (1789). Prints, Drawings and Waterc (c. 1789) — S.K. Brown Military Collection. Public domain.Plan von der Schlacht bey Focksan den 31 1ulius 1789 " este o hartă colorată de 36,5 x 27 cm, cuprinzând regiunea Brăila - Buzău - Focşani - Trotuş, indicând poziţiile ocupate de beligeranţi in timpul (c. 1789) — L Unknown ithe author has signed with *L. Public domain.Battle of Focşani. 1789 — Carl Schütz after J. Petrich. Public domain.Ordin de lupta focsani (c. 1856) — August von Witzleben. Public domain.Focsani Battle 1 august 1789 Contributors Löschenkohl, Johann Hieronymus, 1753-1807 (artist) Date Issued 1789 Abstract Hand-col. engr. by and after Löschewnkohl; milit. group with prisoner and mounted (c. 1789) — Löschenkohl, Johann Hieronymus, 1753-1807 (artist). Public domain.Focsani Battle 1 august 1789 Contributors Löschenkohl, Johann Hieronymus, 1753-1807 (artist) Date Issued 1789 Abstract Hand-col. engr. by and after Löschewnkohl; milit. group with prisoner and mounted (c. 1789) — Löschenkohl, Johann Hieronymus, 1753-1807 (artist). Public domain.Medal of Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (1737-1815), General of the Holy Roman Empire (c. 2016) — Johann Christian Reich / Johann Mathias Reich. Public domain.Battle of Focșani Order Of Battle (c. 1856) — August von Witzleben. Public domain.
Significance & Legacy
The first great combined Russo-Austrian victory of the 1787–1792 War; it established Suvorov's legendary reputation for speed and offensive boldness; it opened the Prut-Siret corridor for the allied advance southward.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Battle of Focșani?
The Battle of Focșani took place in 1789. 21 Jul 1789 (O.S.) / 1 Aug 1789 (N.S.).
Who won the Battle of Focșani?
The Russia / Habsburg Austria were victorious against the Ottoman Empire.
What was the significance of the Battle of Focșani?
The first great combined Russo-Austrian victory of the 1787–1792 War; it established Suvorov's legendary reputation for speed and offensive boldness; it opened the Prut-Siret corridor for the allied advance southward.
