Fire of Moscow (1571)

Fire of Moscow (1571)
Part of the Russo-Crimean Wars and the Russo-Turkish wars

Miniature of the Illustrated Chronicle, 16th century
Date24 May 1571
Location55°47′N 37°40′E / 55.78°N 37.67°E / 55.78; 37.67
Result Crimean–Ottoman victory
Territorial
changes
Most of Moscow destroyed by fire
Belligerents
Crimean Khanate
Ottoman Empire
Nogai Horde
Principality of Besleney
Tsardom of Russia
Commanders and leaders
Devlet I Giray
Divey-Murza
Ivan Belsky 
Ivan Mstislavsky
Ivan Sheremetev
Mikhail Vorotynsky
Pyotr Tatev
Vasily Temkin-Rostovsky
Strength
approx. 40,000 Tatar horsemen
13,000 irregular Ottoman troops and 7,000 janissaries
unknown number of Nogais and Besleney Circassians
36,000–40,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown Crimean ambassador in Warsaw claim:
  • approx. 60,000 killed
  • another 60,000 enslaved
Giles Fletcher claim:
  • approx. 800,000 killed (likely exaggerated)
Modern estimates: 200,000+, incl. citizenry
  • 10,000–120,000 dead
  • 60,000–150,000 enslaved
Moscow
Location within European Russia

The Fire of Moscow occurred on 24 May 1571, when the Crimean and Ottoman army (approx. 40,000 Tatar horsemen, 13,000 irregular Turks and 7,000 janissaries) led by the khan of Crimea Devlet I Giray, together with its allied tribal contingents bypassed the Serpukhov defensive fortifications on the Oka River, crossed the Ugra River into the Moscow suburbs, and rounded the flank of the 36,000–40,000 men of the Russian army.