Battle of Akhaltsikhe (1853)

For 1828–29 battles, see Battle of Akhaltsikhe.

Battle of Akhaltsikhe
Part of the Crimean War
The scheme of the battle in Russian
Date 13 November 1853 Location Akhaltsikhe 41°38′36.35″N 42°59′36.40″E Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Ivane Andronikashvili	Selim Pasha
Strength
7,000	18,000 24 guns
Casualties and losses
362	3,500

The Battle of Akhaltsikhe (Russian: Ахалцихское сражение, Georgian: ახალციხის ბრძოლა) occurred on 13 November 1853 during the Crimean War when a Georgian-Russian force of 7,000 defeated a Turkish army of 18,000 men near the Akhaltsikhe fortress in the Caucasus.

At the outbreak of the Crimean War, Ali Pasha immediately launched a Turkish offensive to capture the Akhaltsikhe fortress. As the Ottoman force neared the city of Akhaltsikhe, the Turks were met by a Georgian-Russian detachment commanded by Ivane Andronikashvili.

Despite the numerical superiority of the Turkish forces led by Selim Pasha, Prince Andronnikov divided his cavalry into two columns and attacked. One of the Russian columns attacked the Turks head-on while the second column rode to the side and attacked their enemy in the left flank. After a fierce struggle, the Turks were beaten and retreated to Kars. The Russian force lost 361 men while the Turkish casualties amounted to 3,500 men killed, wounded, and captured.

The Battle of Akhaltsikhe was the first major Russian Imperial military success in the Caucasus theater of operations during the Crimean War. After this victory, the Turks ended their offensive actions in the South Caucasus.

References

• Badem, Candan (2010). The Ottoman Crimean War (1853-1856) (Ottoman Empire and Its Heritage). Leiden: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-18205-9.
• Shefov, Nikolay (2002). Battles of Russia (in Russian). Military History Library.

General references

Bogdanovich, M.I. (1876). Eastern War 1853-1856, Volume 1 (in Russian).