Gazi Osman Pasha was a brave and loyal leader of the Ottoman Empire. He fought valiantly to defend Pleven from the enemy forces, and sacrificed his life for his country. His legacy is engraved in the history books, and his name is honored by generations.
Birth and Childhood:
Osman Nuri Pasha was his full name. He came from the distinguished Turkish Yağcıoğulları family of Tokat, a city in the central Black Sea region of Anatolia. His father worked as a civil servant and moved to the Ottoman capital with his family shortly after Osman was born. Osman studied at the Beşiktaş Military High School and then graduated from the Ottoman Military College in 1852 as a Lieutenant. He joined the Cavalry Arm at the start of the Crimean War.
Struggle for the Empire:
Osman Pasha's military career was characterized by numerous triumphs and accolades. His tactical brilliance and unwavering commitment to the empire earned him respect and admiration among his peers. Throughout his service, he demonstrated an unwavering dedication to safeguarding the Ottoman realm from external threats.
Siege of Plevna:
The Siege of Plevna was one of the most critical and dramatic battles of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. It showcased the bravery and skill of General Osman Pasha, who defended the city against overwhelming odds for five months.
The siege began when Osman Pasha, who was in Vidin with his army, received orders to reinforce Nikopol, which was under attack by the Russians. However, by the time he reached Nikopol, the city had already fallen to the enemy. Knowing that the Russians were planning to ambush him, Osman Pasha decided to fortify Plevna, a nearby town, with earthworks, trenches, and guns. He arrived there on 19 July 1877, with 20,000 soldiers.
The next day, the Russian forces, led by General Nikolai Kridener, reached Plevna and started shelling the town. They also launched an infantry assault, but they were repelled by the fierce resistance of the Ottoman troops. The Russians suffered 4,000 casualties, while the Ottomans lost only 1,000.
Both sides received reinforcements in the following days, as the siege intensified. The Russians were joined by the Romanian army, commanded by Prince Carol I, who took over the overall direction of the siege. The Ottomans were reinforced by troops from Sofia and Adrianople.
On 31 July 1877, the Russians and Romanians attacked Plevna again, hoping to break through the Ottoman lines. However, they were met with heavy fire and counterattacks from Osman Pasha’s men. The battle lasted for nine hours and ended with another failure for the attackers. The Russians and Romanians lost 10,000 men, while the Ottomans lost only 2,000.
The siege turned into a stalemate, as neither side could gain an advantage over the other. The Russians realized that they had to cut off Osman Pasha’s supply lines and communications if they wanted to force him to surrender. To achieve this goal, they captured Lovcha, a strategic town that controlled the road to Plevna. This move isolated Osman Pasha from the rest of the Ottoman Empire and prevented him from receiving any more reinforcements or supplies.
By October 1877, Osman Pasha’s situation became desperate. He had 30,000 soldiers left in Plevna, while the Russian-Romanian army had grown to 100,000. His men were running low on food, ammunition, and morale. He also faced a new enemy: General Eduard Ivanovich Todleben, a renowned expert in siege warfare who had arrived to advise Prince Carol I. Todleben devised a plan to encircle Plevna completely and starve out Osman Pasha.
On 11 September 1877, Todleben’s plan was put into action. The Russian-Romanian army resumed their bombardment of Plevna and launched a massive assault on Osman Pasha’s fortifications. They managed to capture some of his redoubts but he quickly recaptured them with a counterattack. The battle was bloody and brutal but inconclusive. The attackers lost 20,000 men while the defenders lost only 5,000.
After this third attempt to storm Plevna failed, the Russian-Romanian army decided to wait for Osman Pasha to surrender or try to escape. They tightened their grip on the town and prevented any movement in or out of it.
Osman Pasha held out for two more months but he knew that his chances of survival were slim. He decided to make one last attempt to break out of the siege on 9 December 1877. He led his remaining troops in a night attack on the Russian positions but he was outnumbered and outgunned by his enemies. He was wounded in the leg by a stray bullet and rumors of his death spread panic among his men. They were surrounded and overwhelmed by Romanian forces who had been waiting for them.Osman Pasha’s breakout attempt ended in disaster: he lost 4,000 men while the Russians lost only 2,000.
The next day, Osman Pasha admitted defeat and surrendered Plevna to Colonel Mihail Cerchez of Romania. He was treated with respect and honor by his captors who recognized his courage and skill as a commander. He was taken to Saint Petersburg where he met with Tsar Alexander II who also praised him for his valiant defense of Plevna.
The Siege of Plevna proved to be a pivotal and transformative event that altered the course of history. Although General Osman Nuri Pasha eventually surrendered following an arduous and valiant resistance, his tenacity and leadership had a profound impact on delaying the Russian advance towards Constantinople, the Ottoman Empire's capital. Furthermore, the fierce defense inflicted significant losses upon the Russian army.
British diplomatic historian AJP Taylor, in his acclaimed work "The Struggle for Mastery in Europe: 1848–1918," aptly observed that Plevna was one of those rare battles that "confirm[ed] the way that things [were] going already." He reasoned that had the Russians reached Constantinople in July, the Ottoman Empire's survival in Europe would have been highly uncertain, and it might have faced collapse in Asia as well. The prolonged resistance at Plevna, therefore, bestowed the Ottoman Empire with an additional forty years of existence.
General Osman Nuri Pasha's strategic and resolute defense of Plevna left an enduring legacy, shaping the empire's trajectory and preserving its sovereignty for years to come. Despite the eventual surrender, his heroic efforts during the siege cemented his place as an esteemed and revered figure in Turkish history, inspiring generations with his unwavering dedication to duty and homeland.
Death:
He breathed his last in the night between 4 and 5 April 1900 in Constantinople. He had wished to be laid to rest near the Mosque of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, and his wish was granted. Abdülhamit II, who esteemed him as one of his finest generals, personally ordered the construction of his tomb.
Conclusion:
General Osman Pasha’s legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of many, who admire his steadfast loyalty to his duty and his homeland. He was a remarkable hero, whose deeds and sacrifices influenced the course of history. His tomb in Istanbul is a testament to his extraordinary service to the Ottoman Empire, which earned him a lasting place in Turkish history. General Osman Pasha’s fame and respect have been preserved in songs, and many places have been named after him. His valiant defense of Plevna against the overwhelming Russo-Romanian forces during the Russo-Turkish War shows his devotion to the Ottoman cause, making him a respected figure in Turkish history.
Note:
Writer: ChatGPT 3.5
Editor: ChatGPT 4
Instruction by Usaid Hamim
Cover photo is designed by y A.F.
Comments
Post a Comment