Battle of Oshakan
| Battle of Oshakan | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Russo-Persian War (1826–1828) | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
|
Russian Empire Armenian volunteers |
Iran Persia Erivan Khanate | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| A. I. Krasovsky [ru] |
Abbas Mirza Hossein Khan Sardar | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
2,300–3,000 men 12 guns Persian sources: 6,000–8,000 |
30,000 men 22–24 guns | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
|
24 officers 1,130 lower ranks all provisions Persian data: 3,200 men and 6 guns there are other data |
3,000–3,500 men according to Persian data: 1,000 men | ||||||||
The Battle of Oshakan (Armenian: Օշականի ճակատամարտ) was a battle that took place on 29 August 1827 during the Russo-Persian War (1826–1828) between the army of the heir to the Persian throne Abbas Mirza and the Russian detachment of Lieutenant General Afanasy Krasovsky.
At the beginning of August 1827, the Persian army invaded Eastern Armenia, and, joining with the troops of sardar Husayn Khan Qajar of the Erivan Khanate, besieged the Etchmiadzin Monastery. The Russian military detachment of General Krasovsky, which was located 35 versts from Etchmiadzin, along with Armenian and Georgian volunteers who joined him, set out to aid the besieged monastery and, despite the tenfold numerical superiority of the Persian army, managed to break through the enemy's blocking lines, after which the siege was lifted that same night. During the battle, the Russian detachment suffered heavy losses. This was the greatest damage to the Russian army in all wars with Persia.
The most valuable information about the battle was left by its direct participants: the detachment commander A. Krasovsky, Captain M. Sobolev and the Decembrist Yevdokim Lachinov.
The course of the battle was greatly influenced by the heat that prevailed that day and the lack of water sources along the route of the Russian detachment. The detachment's actions were significantly constrained by the supply train with provisions. The columns moved under dense artillery and rifle fire from the enemy. While the Russian vanguard "cleared the way with bayonets," the rearguard repelled attacks by the Persians from the rear. The enemy, occupying an advantageous position, inflicted flanking strikes on the Russian detachment. The successful passage of Krasovsky's detachment was also facilitated by the competent actions of the Russian artillery, which occupied the most advantageous heights, and the guns, under the cover of riflemen, restrained the enemy's attacks as much as possible. The ferocity of the Iranians reached the point that, despite heavy losses from canister shot and rifle fire, they broke into the ranks of the Russian infantry, which repelled the enemy back with bayonets.
Significant assistance and support to the Russian army was provided by the local Armenian population and Armenian volunteers.
In 1833–1834, at the initiative of the Catholicos of All Armenians Ep'rem I Zoragetts'i and Archbishop Nerses Ashtaraketsi, with funds from the monastery and local residents, a commemorative obelisk was erected in honor of the battle.
On 19 April 2011, the solemn opening of the Oshakan Memorial Complex To the Russian Warrior-Saviors of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Fallen in the Battle of Oshakan in 1827 took place.