War of Independence(1877–1878)
Romania wins sovereignty from the Ottoman Empire
Battles of the War of Independence
Ottoman batteries at Vidin opened fire on Calafat. Battery Elisabeta returned fire — Romania's first shots of the war.
Romanian torpedo launch Rândunica with Russian boats sank the 400-ton Ottoman monitor Seyfi using spar torpedoes.
Romanian engineers built a massive pontoon bridge. Three divisions crossed into Bulgaria unopposed — formal entry of 40,000+ troops into the Bulgarian theater.
Four successive frontal assaults. The fourth wave breached the earthworks in bayonet combat, capturing the Grivița 1 redoubt.
Assault on the adjacent Grivița 2 redoubt defeated by crossfire from Ottoman interior lines.
"I surrender to the young and brave Romanian army" — Osman Pasha to Colonel Cerchez.
Osman Pasha's final breakout attempt. Ottoman forces briefly broke through before a counterattack. Osman wounded, surrendered his sword to Col. Cerchez.
Romanian forces captured the Danube fortress of Rahova — first major objective taken solely by Romanians.
Romanian Western Corps advanced through the Lom valley, capturing Lom-Palanka on Jan 11–12 with skirmishing at Archar and Florentin.
14 Romanian artillery batteries at Islaz and Turnu Măgurele silenced Ottoman guns at Nikopol within 30-60 minutes. Sustained bombardment over two weeks destroyed Ottoman defensive works.
Final engagement near Vidin. Romanian forces cleared remaining Ottoman resistance along the Danube.
100+ Romanian guns bombarded the Vidin fortress with complete encirclement until capitulation on Feb 23.
Romanian cavalry blockaded the mountain fortress of Belogradchik. Garrison surrendered after receiving armistice news.