Battle of Eski Zagra

Battle of Eski Zagra
Part of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)

Defending of the Samara flag (1909) by Pyotr Morozov
Date19 July 1877
Location
Result Ottoman victory
Territorial
changes
  • Stara Zagora was captured and burned by the Ottoman troops
  • Russian troops have been driven back from central Bulgaria to the Balkan Mountains
Belligerents
Ottoman Empire Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Süleyman Hüsnü Pasha Iosif Gurko
Nikolai Stoletov
Units involved
Süleyman Land Army

Advance squad

Strength

35,000 to 48,000

  • 17,500 to 24,000 engaged
    8 cannons
4,500 to 5,000
4 cannons
Casualties and losses
c. 200 to 1,500 casualties 567 casualties
14,000 to 20,000 Bulgarian civilians were killed

The Battle of Eski Zagra was a military engagement that took place in the city of Stara Zagora on 19 July 1877 during the Russo-Turkish War. As a result of a well-planned counteroffensive, the Ottoman troops were able to unexpectedly strike at the Russians and force them to retreat to the Balkan Mountains.