Battle of Kagul

The Battle of Kagul or Cahul (Russian: Сражение при Кагуле [Battle of the Kagul], Turkish: Kartal Ovası Muharebesi [Battle of the Eagle Plain]) occurred on 1 August 1770 (21 July 1770 in Julian Calendar) during the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774. It was the decisive and most important land battle of the war and one of the largest battles of the 18th century. It was fought in Moldavia, near the village of Frumoasa (now Cahul, Moldova), nearly a month after the Russian victory at Larga.

Battle of Kagul
Part of the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774

Battle of Kagul, by Daniel Chodowiecki
Date1 August 1770 (21 July at Julian Calendar)
Location
The Kagul River near Kagul, or Frumoasa, southern Moldavia; present-day Cahul, Moldova
Result Russian victory
Belligerents
 Russian Empire
Zaporozhian Sich
Principality of Moldavia (voluntaries)		 Ottoman Empire
Crimean Khanate
Commanders and leaders
Pyotr Rumyantsev Ivazzade Halil Pasha
Qaplan II Giray
Strength
Total: 35,000–42,000
 Total: 230,000
  •  • Ottoman: 150,000
    130–140 guns
  •  • Tatar: 80,000 cavalry (did not participate in battle)
Casualties and losses
c. 1,000–1,500 killed and wounded 20,000 killed, wounded
2,000 captured
140 guns

While the army of the Ottomans and its Crimean Tatar vassals greatly outnumbered the Russian force opposite them, the Russian commander, Field Marshal Pyotr Rumyantsev, deftly arranged his far smaller army in solid infantry squares and surprisingly chose to go on the offensive against the allied forces. Assisting it is the superb coordination and firing rapidity of the Russian artillery, which effectively neutralized the Ottoman artillery and largely negated the numerical superiority of the Ottoman army. The result was a decisive Russian victory.

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